We all know that the Land Rover Defender is the ultimate
utilitarian off-roader. But what's it like as an everyday
road car?
You have a large turning circle, but it's not as large as the
Defender 110.
The square corners mean you don't have to guess where the
corners are, but it also ... Read review
Advantages: load capacity, handling, visibility Disadvantages: relatively thirsty, large turning circle
We all know that the Land Rover Defender is the ultimate
utilitarian off-roader. But what's it like as an everyday
road car?
You have a large turning circle, but it's not as large as the
Defender 110.
The square corners mean you don't have to guess where the
corners are, but it also makes the turning circle effectively
larger.
You have good visibility, over the roofs ... ...visibility have rear side windows.
Otherwise, you can't look over your shoulder to check the
blind spot, and you have to be perfectly positioned when
turning right onto a road in order to see all the traffic
to your left.
The big mirrors are also excellent, allowing you to see
plenty of the road behind you. Combined with the straight
sides you can easily see where your rear wheels are when more
We all know that the Land Rover Defender is the ultimate utilitarian off-roader. But what's it like as an everyday road car?
You have a large turning circle, but it's not as large as the Defender 110.
The square corners mean you don't have to guess where the corners are, but it also makes the turning circle effectively larger.
You have good visibility, over the roofs of the rest of the traffic. For best visibility have rear side windows. Otherwise, you can't look over your shoulder to check the blind spot, and you have to be perfectly positioned when turning right onto a road in order to see all the traffic to your left.
The big mirrors are also excellent, allowing you to see plenty of the road behind you. Combined with the straight sides you can easily see where your rear wheels are when reversing on a bend, and you can more easily line yourself up when passing parked cars.
If you don't have power assisted steering, then low-speed manoeuvering can be hard work.
You have a good low first gear for pulling off, plus the option of the low ratio gearbox for the most challenging of off-road work.
The naturally aspirated diesel is not very powerful, and you will struggle to get over 50 mph. However, there is still plenty of torque for towing. The later turbo-charged diesels have a lot more power and make cruising at motorway speeds a doddle.
In the cockpit it may look like a long reach for the gears, but even 5'2" women can drive a Defender.
There is plenty of ventilation from the large flaps below the windscreen. But when things turn cooler, you have a powerful heater.
Naturally, there is a large load space in the rear which can seat four people or a lot of luggage right up to the roof.
In the front you have plenty of elbow room, provided you don't have 3 seats. In which case things would be rather cosy. With just 2 seats in the front a central cubby box provides a handy table, as well as practical storage.
The resistance of four wheel drive means that the engine will slow down a lot quicker when you take your foot off the throttle. So, you can drive around and hardly use the brakes at all, controlling your speed solely by the use of the throttle and the gears.
The higher centre of gravity also increases the body roll, so sharp corner at high speed is inadvisable. That said, I always find that I can maintain my pace on the bends while other vehicles following have to catch me up on the straights.
If you intend to buy, make sure that you get rear window wash-wipe and demister. The aerodynamics mean that a lot of road spray is deposited on the rear window, and the size of the interior means that the heat from the front will have a hard job making any impression on the window at the rear.
Also, if you want a diesel, the favourite is the 300TDi for its power. The newer TD5 engine has much more electronics like most other modern cars, removing maintenance from the owner and placing it with the garage.
Yes that is how the advertising slogan goes and I am a veteran Landrover buyer and I still beleive that it is true. True the 90 has its foibles but as they all say this gives it a little character. It is rugged tough and yet sprightly, The Lawrence Dallaglio of motoring. Occaisionally it will let you down in a small way but an unexpected way, I recently went over a quarry and everything went well but two days later whilst reversing in my drive the ... ...It starts first time it never has broken down and after 20 years, on my oldest one, there is still no real rust, a few dents maybe, and a few oil leaks but hey, I never have to paint the garage floor. Well worth the money, but Landrover could improve their after sales servicing a little. ...
cabletow 14.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Defender 90
Advantages: spacious, reliable, good handling, looks stunning, doesn't waste fuel and it's practicle. Disadvantages: difficult to fit in small parking spaces.
...90, due to going to land rover shows and off road events with my father and i can quite honestly say it is one of the best cars in the world for: families, farmers, men, women, people living in a remote area, off road lovers, spaciousness, long distance expeditions and i could go on and on for hours.
you may ask why buy this instead of a jeep, cherokee, toyota or any other 4x4, and the answer is land rover defenders are made to last, there are still ... ...legally.
The defender 90 has better handling than the defender 110 but not as much space, the 90 is optimised to be quick and nimble but also tough, strong, reliable, practacle and as good off road as it is on road.
you may ask "but why not buy a range rover, it is more modern, practacle and nicer to drive"? and my answer would be "because the range rover sport, vogue, hse, v8 and 2 door are all no where near as tough as the mighty defender 90 ...
yoyostevo 16.08.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Defender 90
Advantages: Comfortable, fairly quiet and it will go any-where Disadvantages: Diesel = smelly !
I have been off-roading for a few years now, and I have to say that the Landrover Defender 90 is a truley remarkable vehicle to off-road. It has come a long way from the Series vehicles (even though, these are te orignal off-roaders).
The driving position is well suited to the tsk in hand, and it was nice not to have the cab noise of a series IIA or III! The Defender pulled well thorugh the quagmire I was off-roading in, and I hardly lost traction ... ...engine, so there was a fair bit of low down 'grunt' -especically usefull in recovering stuck vehicles.
If you are going to go off-roading, choosing the Defender 90 is not a bad idea - comfortable, fairly quiet and a orignal go-anywhere vehicle. I can't wait to go agian next month. ...
Junon 07.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Defender 90
Advantages: THE BEST in off-road situations Disadvantages: not as comfy as other 4x4's
...not without experience, having driven Land Rovers for the last 24 years.
The Defender is not unstoppable but takes a hell of a lot to get it well and truly stuck. I am talking of real off road situations - deep mud, deep water, ruts, ditches, and tracks and fields not perhaps driven for years. This IS NOT a driving on the grass verge review.
Given the correct tyres for the use, this vehicle with a tdi engine has an absolute immense amount of power ... ...are confidently driven by taking your feet off all the pedals and, in low ratio 1st gear, letting the vehicle do all the work.
Steep uphill slopes can have the vehicle scrabbling for grip but it keeps going; you don't run 'out of steam' unless you are in the wrong gear.
I have driven in water well over bonnet depth and had no problem whatsoever; yes the water comes inside the driver compartment, but opening the door afterwards soon dispels this.
...
hobrover 15.12.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Defender 90
Land Rover as a marque is an enigma. There are so many features of them that are inferior to the (mainly) Japanese equivalents, but they still lead their field.
I am on my second Defender 90. Prior to them I had 2 Daihatsu Fourtraks. I am a farmer, so I am using these vehicles as workhorses. The Landrover is not so well appointed inside, having rubber mats and plastic seats in place of carpets and cloth seats. Much better for washing the thing out ... ...sheep. I haven't done this in a Land Rover. If you want a workhorse, then it has to be the Land Rover. If you want a 4FD that doesn't have to work, then go for something else.
The one undefineable thing is that Land Rovers have character, everything else doesn't. ...
joeboy 20.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Land Rover Defender 90
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Advantages: A tough vehicle, by far the best working 4x4 Disadvantages: suffers mechanical break downs
I drive the 110 12 seater LandRoverDefender TDI for work, and have driven the Defender90 previous to this as well.
One question people have is which is the best 4x4 vehicle to get?
This all depends on what your use for it will be in order to find the best for your needs.
If for example your a farmer or landscape gardener, and it will be solely used for humping equipment around, sometimes over difficult terrain, this vehicle is the one you should go for, provided you have the right type of tyre on.
Let me explain what I mean by this, I worked on the beach in a defender90 as part of my job, which was a Beach patrol unit which worked along side the Lifeguards.
The vehicles we had were painted a bright eye-catching yellow with red writing on the side to let people know who to contact in emergency situations, we had amber ...
Advantages: Great club benefits. Disadvantages: None
- 90" and 110" vehicles launched.
· 1990 - The 90" and 110" were re-branded and called the Defender.
~ ~ My interest in LandRovers ~ ~
We've had just about them all in one form or another in the family! We had a Series I we nicknamed Jimmy.
We then had a brief spell of having a Series II, but this was replaced with a very early Series III model, which we went on to use for a number of years. We then increased it to two Series III models in the household, and in 1991, we found out about a very early club being set up for owners of Series III LandRovers. We joined in 1992 and have been involved with the club on some level or another since then.
Since then our Vehicle may have changed from a Series III to a very early 90" truck cab, but so has the Club, allowing membership to now include the 90" and 110" versions ...
