“T he best 4X4 by far” was what they used to say at Land Rover and in most cases, its models still are, says Andrew English in The Daily Telegraph. This latest revamp of the classic Defender is no exception. It was already looking “pretty good” in the form of the long-wheelbase 110 model, but this shorter 90 version “is, if anything, even better”. It has better dynamics, the same “lovely interior” and “looks terrific, too”. It is also as much of a dab hand at “the tough jobs” as its forebears. After a test drive that “hauled me through a few miles of sopping, slippery mire that you wouldn’t tackle on a goat with crampons… it didn’t miss a beat”. It’s just as happy on a trundle to the shops. “Look out of the Defender’s large front screen and a world of adventure and potential beckons, even on the humblest of drives.”
On the road, the 90 feels fast, “a utility vehicle with sporty performance” rather than an SUV, says Tim Pitt of Motoring Research. It’s “a riot in a muddy field”, but with the right engine it can “out-run a hot hatchback” too. The automatic gearbox is quick to respond and the engine sounds “throaty” and has “plentiful muscle to shrink the straights”. Driving it feels like “an event”. Just don’t expect much more than 20mpg “if you get carried away”.
The engine, while effective, lacks “manners”, being short on refinement and sounding loud and coarse on the go, says Mike Duff of Car and Driver. But “to be fair”, this is only really that noticeable because the rest of the car is so good. The 90 cruises “remarkably quietly” for something with such a blunt aerodynamic profile, the seating position is comfortable even after “long stints at the wheel” and the uncluttered dashboard is a “model of clarity”. And although obviously smaller than the 110, the cabin doesn’t feel cramped, carrying up to six passengers comfortably.
MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
The top-of-the-range model, with a new straight-six, three-litre petrol engine, developing 400bhp, is the one to have, says Paul Horrell in Top Gear, being the version that’s “fastest on the road and the most capable off it”. That engine may not be “exactly dripping with high-rev aural charisma”, but it’s “pretty smooth in the mid-ranges” and the eight-speed automatic gearbox “anticipates your needs well”, overtaking smartly enough and delivering a dignified, supple and controlled ride. But it is off-road where the 90 excels. The engine “dispenses torque gingerly when you need to ease across slippery mud, but with vim when you’re pointing up a precipitous slope”. The traction is “awesome”; the wading depth “almost scary”. Whatever the terrain, it “just paws along like a hippo. So don’t stand in its way”.
Price: from £43,625. Engine: 1,998cc turbo petrol (£50,690). Power: 295bhp. Top speed: 119mph. 0-62mph: 7.1 secs.
-
Savills: Average house prices to grow by 22% over next five yearsHouse prices in Scotland, Wales and northern England are forecast to experience the biggest uptick
-
How to shield your money as Reeves refuses to rule out income tax hikes and warns of ‘necessary choices’Chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to lay the groundwork for higher taxes in the Autumn Budget on Tuesday morning and refused to stand by her manifesto pledge not to increase income tax.
-
LVMH is set to prosper as the wealthy start shopping againAfter two years of uncertainty, the outlook for LVMH is starting to improve. Is now a good time to add the luxury-goods purveyor to your portfolio?
-
Two of Britain's rarest gold coinsGold coins from Britain are sought after by collectors around the world, says Chris Carter
-
Review: Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives – a luxurious island retreatTravel Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives in the North Malé Atoll in the Maldives is a haven offering a wealth of activities and fabulous food
-
8 of the best smallholdings for sale nowThe best smallholdings for sale – from a medieval cross-passage farmhouse in Taunton, Somerset, to a former farmhouse with an orchard in the Welsh Marches
-
Review: Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre – explore a city of Arabian delightsTravel The Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre is a great base from which to set out on a foodie adventure of the emirate
-
Albert Einstein's first violin sells for £860,000 at auctionAlbert Einstein left his first violin behind as he escaped Nazi Germany. Last week, it became the most expensive instrument not owned by a concert violinist
-
Last orders: can UK pubs be saved?Pubs in Britain are closing at the rate of one a day, continuing and accelerating a long-term downward trend. Why? And can anything be done to save them?
-
Review: Grove of Narberth – a warm welcome in WalesTravel Grove of Narberth is a rustic and charming country retreat in Pembrokeshire all the year round
