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UNDERSTANDABLY FOR AN automotive icon, thousands were watching when the covers were nally taken o the new Land Rover Defender late last year, and thousands more waited for the rst verdicts to roll in. Fortunately, the wait was worth it, because the new

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Defender is an altogether more sophisticated machine than the car it replaces: in short, it’s not just for mud-plugging any more.

For a start, despite being even more capable o road than the old Defender, the new one is far more comfortable on it, with air suspension standard on the longer 110 model and optional on the smaller 90 version. We’ve only tried the 110 so far, but it has a supersmooth ride in most situations. And despite being a tall car, the Defender is surprisingly enjoyable to thread along a country road, with light, accurate steering and ne body control.

The engine choice consists of two 2.0-litre diesels, one 2.0-litre petrol and a mild hybrid

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Our pick xdrive30d

List price £74,230 Target Price £70,833

£781 MPG 33.6 CO2 219g/km

For Smooth-riding and quiet, with loads of room for seven and excellent infotainment.

Against It’s pricey to buy and feels its size, while the interior is a bit conservative.

WHAT CAR? SAYS

FEW SUVS,EVEN luxury ones, are as large as the BMW X7. Then again, few SUVS are as comfortable and spacious, or have as much on-board tech as BMW’S agship model.

A rival for the Mercedes-benz GLS and Range Rover, the X7 is as luxurious as Caesar’s palace inside, with swathes of leather and so -touch plastics to tease your ngertips and a class-leading infotainment system to please your eyes and ears. The interior is also incredibly spacious, with seating for seven as standard and a gigantic boot.

Our recommended 261bhp 3.0-litre diesel engine might as well be in a di erent postcode from the rest of the car, because you just won’t hear it, but don’t think that means the X7 can’t be hustled along. What’s more, its sheer scale gives it a presence that few rivals can match.

Our pick B5 Diesel Momentum

List price £54,810 Target Price £50,844

£520 MPG 42.7 CO2 171g/km

For Big, classy interior, with versatile seating and lots of standard equipment.

Against The ride isn’t as smooth as you’d expect and the suspension is noisy.

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Our pick 2.0 Sd4 SE

List price £54,660 Target Price £50,965

£484 MPG 33.6 CO2 220g/km

For Decent nance deals, a gutsy engine and adults will be comfortable in the third row.

Against Middle-row leg room isn’t brilliant, while the touchscreen is painfully slow.

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‘Few SUVS are as comfortable and spacious as the X7’

Our pick D240 110 SE 7 Seat List price £57,985 £57,985 £654 MPG 31.4 CO2 236g/km For Accomplished on road and exceptional o it; class-leading resale values; spacious. Against Pricey a er options, while fuel economy and CO2 emissions are poor. WHAT CAR? SAYS Our pick xdrive30d xline 7 Seat List price £61,675 £57,548 £612 MPG 36.7 CO2 202g/km For Punchy and smooth engine; super-supple air suspension; excellent infotainment. Against Not as practical as some rivals, both in terms of third-row leg room and boot space. WHAT CAR? SAYS Our pick 4.0 V8 7 Seat List price £141,790 £141,790 na MPG 21.2 CO2 302g/km For Opulent interior brimming with goodies; very rapid; lots of personalisation options. Against Cheaper alternatives o er more space and better infotainment systems. WHAT CAR? SAYS 3.0-litre six-cylinder petrol. So far, we’ve tried the higher-powered, 237bhp diesel, and while it isn’t fast, it does endow the car with a lot of low-down grunt – so it’s perfectly suited to the Defender’s character. Inside the utilitarian plastics and analogue dials of the old car have given way to so -touch materials, a large infotainment touchscreen and – on S models and above – a digital instrument panel. There’s still the same lo y driving position that fans of the old Defender will love, but now there’s even more usability, because, unlike its predecessors, there’s seating for up to seven people in the ‘5+2’ version, which adds a third row. Our pick 300d AMG Line 7 Seat List price £59,760 £53,592 £577 MPG 36.7 CO2 203g/km For Quiet cruiser with a swanky looking interior and loads of second-row leg room. Against Cramped third-row seats; rivals have biiger boots; not exactly sharp to drive. WHAT CAR? SAYS