Seriously capable Defender
The new Land Rover Defender is a quality piece of machinery. The Stuff Motoring team had already tested the 110 version, when Nile Bijoux got a chance to take the smaller 90 for a trip.
We already know the new Defender is a supreme piece of kit if you’re looking for a do-it-all vehicle. The 110 version has been on the market for a year and a bit now, but the smaller 90 was hammered by Covid and factory pauses, and has taken longer to get here.
So, with a bit of a breather between tests, let’s see how the 90 fares with fresher eyes.
Outside
The Defender 90 uses the same styling cues as the 110, with the same square headlight clusters, grille split by lines and mesh, a vertically oriented rear end with full-size spare wheel mounted on the tailgate, and a strong, purposeful stance. Oh, and two doors instead of four, which makes it automatically look cooler.
This particular model is (correctly) specified with the 18-inch white steel wheels, which look brilliant with the other silvery bits, like the roof.
It also has a ladder to nowhere that can rattle at speed and a small side box that almost makes sense, but those are optional extras, so you don’t need to have them.
As it’s the 90, it is a lot shorter, and the 435mm difference comes in the shorter wheelbase. That means the overhangs are still tiny, allowing 38 degrees of approach and 40 degrees of departure, and a 25 degree breakover angle. You also still get 291mm of ground clearance, 500mm of articulation and awade depth of 900mm, the same as the 110.
Inside
Your standard Defender interior applies here. The surfaces are either hard-wearing plastic or rubber, covered in easily wipeablewetsuitlikematerial, cloth, or leather. It’s very functional but still looks great.
The centre screen is a good size, large enough to clearly display all the interesting off-road information you’ve got showing at all times without being so large it’s silly, and the digital dash is beautiful as well.
The optional centre seat in the front technically makes the 90 a sixseater, but you do need to be OK with close contact with the other passengers.
I would advise also speccing the ClearSight digital rearview camera, as the middle seat is quite tall for some reason.
You will also have to consider how you’d use the Defender 90. The shortenedwheelbase didn’t eat into passenger room – rear occupants actually have heaps of space – but it did drastically cut down the boot space compared to the 110.
If it’s just one or two of you using the 90, you can get away with dropping the rear seats for more storage, but if you have any more regular occupants you’d probably be better off with the 110.
Under the bonnet
The D200-spec Defender 90 gets a 2.0-litre diesel engine with two turbos attached, making 147kW/ 430Nm. For off-the-line poke it’s pretty good, and it doesn’t rattle much either. Jaguar Land Rover pairs it with an eight-speed auto, same as the rest of the range, and it’s about as smooth as they come.
Weirdly, this one isn’t listed on the local website any more. The range startswith the SE-spec D240 (same engine but making 177kW/ 430Nm).
You still get the same 4x4 setup as the 110, running on the same D7x platform, the auto centre differential (opening and locking depending on the situation) and the Terrain Response drive mode system.
One thing you don’t get, at least not in this model, is the air suspension from the 110. The 90 here makes do with coil springs instead.
On the road
Unsurprisingly, the Defender 90 drives much like you’d expect a diesel-powered Defender on coil springs to drive. It has a bunch of low-down torque – fantastic for offroading and quick getaways – and it’s incredibly comfortable. The shorterwheelbase of the 90 means it’s a bit better through the bends too, helped by light but accurate steering... well, as good as a twotonne SUV with nearly 300mm of ground clearance could really be.
The Terrain Response mode is as effective as ever. The Grass mode comes in handy driving up a slightly damp hill for photos, and the rest of the 4x4 system is brilliant as well.
I’d imagine the 90 would eventually yield to the 110 when the going gets really tough, but more because of the wheelbase than the suspension. Those steel springs are seriously capable.
Although this isn’t really as much of a point now the D200 has been dropped from the local offerings, I would suggest opting for a stronger engine. The oil-burner here is great from standstill with all that torque, but it loses punch after about 80kph, making overtaking manoeuvres difficult.
Oh, and the lane-keep system is crap. It’ll nudge you back into the lane after you’ve already crossed the white lines – if it nudges at all – or it will find false lines and jab the wheel when it doesn’t need to.
Everything else is as good as the 110, which is to say, exceedingly.
Verdict
If you’ve settled on a Defender but aren’t sure if you want the cooler look of the two-door 90 or the greater practicality of the 110, the only thing you really need to consider is how you’ll use it.
The 90 has very little boot space, so if you like to pack heavy and often carry more than two people, look to the 110. Or wait for the even larger 130, due to be revealed sometime this year.
But, if it’s just one or two of you, the option to drop the rear seats for more storage could push you towards the smaller 90.