FINAL REPORT
MILEAGE 4456
WHY WE RAN IT
To find out if the Defender’s breadth of appeal really does cover everything from disaster zone to congestion charge zone
There are few rational levels on which the Land Rover Defender 90 makes obvious sense – which is why I’m about to recommend you buy one, albeit with a few provisos and a caution that you will be joining the back of a very long queue.
That’s not to say it’s in any way a bad car; in fact, bar a few potentially cynically deliberate shortfalls, it’s extremely capable, remarkable as much for its breadth of abilities as the extremes of them.
It’s (almost) as good to drive on road as off it, comfortable even over long distances, practical and reasonably economical, just tipping 30mpg as an average at the end of our test. In all those regards, it hauls the shortcomings of its predecessor bang up to date. But therein lies the rub: it’s bang up to date yet a car everyone feels compelled to ask about.
And, frankly, who can blame them? As well as being out of step with the modern world in terms of its scale and unapologetic off-road bias, it is also irrationally expensive, has a boot that a Volkswagen Golf would smirk at, and rear seats that require a mountaineer’s mindset to climb in or out of. Most unforgivably of all, the rear seats don’t fold flat, alienating a core target market of owners who like to travel with their dogs in cages.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Poster car that went from rusty to trusty
One evening, two years ago, George Pappas was being driven down his local high street by a mate and mulling over whether to replace his Mk4 Golf diesel, a recent purchase that was boring him to death, when his girlfriend, also in the car, spotted an old BMW 3 Series at the side of the road with a 'for sale' sign in the window.
THE SEVEN-SEATER THAT VOLVO DARE NOT KILL OFF
The current-gen XC90 has been on sale since 2015 for good reason
GENESIS ELECTRIFIED G80
Where the story begins, in the Hyundai premium marque’s luxury saloon
LEXUSLBX
Can you shrink premium quality to fit an SUV this small? We now know
Rolls boss ready to 'define the next chapter'
Nine months into the job, Rolls-Royce CEO and car guy Chris Brownridge tells STEVE CROPLEY what he's learned and where the firm's heading
Once more, with feeling
AC Cars' recreation of the classic MkII Cobra is at first glance a faithful facsimile of a 1960s performance benchmark. SIMON HUCKNALL drives it
MERCEDES-BENZ CLE
Does a PHEV set-up work in a coupé that exudes such old-school vibes?
ANALOGUE SUPERSPORT
Lotus Elise specialist uprates 1990s icon with an eye on track days
ALPINE A290
The hot hatch is alive and well, and living in France. On both road and track, there's much to savour`
UK HANGS ON TO OLD CARS
Average car age climbs as high prices dampen demand for new models
