Land Rover Defender 90 (Price £26,815) (From Redditch Advertiser)

Land Rover Defender 90 (Price £26,815) Review

Land Rover Defender 90 (Price £26,815)

10:43am Tuesday 16th March 2010

Print
Email
Share
Comments(0)

TAKE a look at the options list for the Defender and you will understand why this isnt a car for the cosseted.

On most vehicles these days the little added extras include the likes of satellite navigation, bluetooth connection and heated seats.

On our car we got a tow ball drop plate, under ride protection bar and chequer plate protection - and I couldn't really tell you what they are!

The Defender resembles something straight out of the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu. In any other country it might have been consigned to history long ago, but here in Britain we think of it as quaint.

Still based on a design first penned 60 years ago, it is the crocodile of the automobile world, evolution, barring for cosmetic changes, seemingly having passed it by.

But to think like that is to ignore its true purpose. Though it may look like an exhibit, in practice, it's a willing workhorse that is almost unmatched for its ability off-road.

Tweaks have been made over the years and this latest incarnation is powered by a relatively new 2.4 litre common rail diesel engine. Its a thirsty beast, but provides plenty of pulling power.

Theres also a six-speed gearbox, with a lower first gear ratio, which ensures better off-road control, and a high sixth gear that makes life more comfortable when cruising on the open road.

Having never driven a Defender before, I must admit that, despite these improvements, I found it a little difficult at first.

I'm not the tallest of men and initially had trouble reaching reverse and first gears as the stick is located quite far to the left of the driver. It also needed a degree of elbow grease not normally required to manoeuvre it through the gate. The antiquated handbrake, situated forward and to the left of the steering column was also something I hadn't encountered before.

Steering also takes some getting used to. The wheel seems huge and the turning circle needed to get into spaces or onto drives is such that on more than one occasion I miscalculated and had to back out and try again. That said, I was surprised at how tight a space it would go into, when I got it right, considering its mass.

Away from its natural environment, the Defender lollops around a bit and the steering becomes a little vague, but as my experience grew, so did my confidence with it.

For a large vehicle, it is fairly cramped inside, especially for the driver who sits with his or her right arm wedged against the door. Land Rover has worked to make the seating more comfortable and once I realised that it was best to be upright as opposed to reclined, like in most cars, I was able to ride around in the belief I was King of the Road.

The high driving position certainly gives you a feeling of security, which is added to by the bullet-proof nature of the build quality. Though I wasn't keen to test the theory I felt that if I did get into a scrape I certainly wouldnt be the one that came off worst.

The switchgear, including those for the heater, the indicators, wipers and the wipers themselves, is reminiscent of those found in cars a couple of decades ago and so the addition in recent years of a CD player, though welcome, looks somewhat incongruous in comparison. Everything, as you might expect, is built to last and is easily wipe-downable.

In the main, the rear of the Defender will no doubt just be used for storage and carrying goods, but when the need necessitates there is a pair of full size, front-facing seats that fold down and stow sideways.

The Defender will not be to everyone's liking and there are other vehicles, both within its own stable and beyond, that can do some of what it does off road and a lot that it cannot on road.

But despite that, in our disposable era, it is heart-warming to think that as much as things change, there are some things that still remain the same and for that point alone, I raise a glass to the indomitable Defender.

SPEC ENGINE: 2.4 litre diesel MAX POWER: 120bhp MAX TORQUE: 266lb/ft MAX SPEED: 82mph 0-60MPH: 14.2 secs AVG FUEL CONSUMPTION: 28.2mpg EQUIPMENT (includes): Electric windows; six-speed gearbox; central locking; leather and cloth seats; Tow ball drop plate and electrics; under ride protection bar; chequer plate protection; CD/radio; 14-litre stowage box; manual air conditioning.