Under the bonnet

storage, but if you have any more regular occupants you’d probably be better off with the 110.

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 starts with 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 off-roading and quick getaways – and it’s incredibly comfortable.

The shorter wheelbase of the 90 means it’s a bit better through the bends too, helped by light but accurate steering... well, as good as a two-tonne 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, you only 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.