- Doors and Seats
3 doors, 4 seats
- Engine
2.2DT, 4 cyl.
- Engine Power
90kW, 360Nm
- Fuel
Diesel 10L/100KM
- Manufacturer
4XD
- Transmission
Manual
- Warranty
3 Yr, 100000 KMs
- Ancap Safety
NA
Land Rover Defender 90 Heritage quick spin review
Why we're driving it
To send off one of the icons of the road. Since its inception in 1948 more than two million Defenders have been sold, all adhering to that original basic design. But tightening regulations have caught up with the classic Landie and from March, 2016 no more will be produced.
What is it?
An all new car designed to look like the original 1948 Land Rover. There are retro design cues everywhere you look, from the distinctive green paint to the badges recreating the original Land Rover ones. There's even "HUE 166" stickers on the front guards along with matching tags on the seat; a reminder of the number plate of the first ever Land Rover.
What isn't it?
Modern. Sure, the Defender has a modern-ish engine and whizzbang features like Bluetooth, but the basic design and mechanicals remain faithful to that original Land Rover. Let's call them basic but honest – and proven!
What does it say about me?
You understand the heritage of the Land Rover brand. As the name suggests the Defender Heritage is about reliving the past rather than getting anywhere near the future.
What colours does it come in?
The Defender comes in plenty of colours but the Heritage is strictly Grasmere Green, which is "inspired by the original post-WWII RAF-surplus paint", according to Land Rover. Oh, and the roof is Alaska White.
If it were a celebrity, who would it be?
Jeremy Irons. Versatile, adventurous, animated, characterful … and born in 1948.
Why would I buy it?
Because you've owned a Defender before. Jumping into this thing would be too much of a culture shock otherwise. And unless you've got a love of the Land Rover brand you simply won't appreciate the heritage it's celebrating.
Best bits?
The coolness of the design. Land Rover has done a great job infusing plenty of old school design cues into the Heritage edition, from the colour and the hatched grille to the exposed aluminium hinges and the colour matched steel wheels. Everywhere you look there's something else that is simple but effective.
Its off-road ability is also phenomenal thanks to a traditional four-wheel drive system, huge approach and departure angles (47 degrees at either end) and towering ground clearance.
Worst bits?
The way it drives. It's a bit of a chore on anything resembling a regular road. The cabin layout is also pretty terrible; you've got to launch into it and once there the driver is in pretty close confines with the steering wheel and dashboard. The handbrake keeps your abs active leaning forward to operate it and it's a fiddle trying to locate the driver's door handle, buried near your right knee down from the steering wheel. Then there are the main controls; the headlight lever (with adjustable height on the opposite side of the dash) is a good example that ergonomics weren't really thought of back in 1948.
Safety is also a bit light-on. You can forget active safety systems such as auto braking; it doesn't even have any airbags.
Will it let me down?
Modern Land Rovers and Range Rovers aren't designed to cope with harsh Australian roads (think corrugations and rough tracks) with one exception – the Defender. While some of the impressive-while-they're-working electronics and fancy air suspension of Discoverys and Range Rovers are susceptible to failure, the simplicity of the Defender ensures it is rugged and capable truck once the going gets tough. Expect it to muscle on for years.
Does it cost too much?
Possibly, if you consider it's almost 30 per cent more than the model it's based on (a basic Defender 90 is $42,800). But there's every chance it'll hold its value nicely – possibly even appreciate. Land Rover only bought 47 of the limited edition Defender 90 Heritage models to Australia and customers and dealers have been fighting over every one of them.
Will I get a deal?
No chance. Demand has been phenomenal so it's full retail (possibly more) for anyone who can find one.
Will it get me noticed?
For sure. Even those not interested in cars will appreciate the coolness of such a classic design. And the fact it's so faithful to that original makes it a winner for those passionate about their motors.
Does it go?
Technically yes, but in a very relaxed way. The 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel musters just 90kW of power, although the 360Nm of torque is more useful. There's good low-rev pull, albeit with plenty of aural reminders it's working hard beneath the bonnet. Don't expect quick getaways, either; there's only a six-speed manual gearbox with a chunky shift action, and first gear is very short, basically designed to get you moving before you grab second.
Does it like corners?
Err, nope – not in the slightest. In fact it struggles with a brisk lane change, such is the propensity for the body to lean and the Continental tyres to protest early. The steering, too, is old school vague, with plenty of twirls required to park or negotiate tight bends; a few gentle shakes from side to side in a straight line won't result in any movement. So it's a decent heave left or right to point it the direction you're hoping to go. Even then there's often some fightback as the high riding chassis struggles to deal with anything too challenging; you don't have to push on too hard to activate the stability control. Heavy braking, too, is best done in a straight line, such is the propensity of the short wheelbase body to squirm and weave as it tries to brush off speed.
What about bumps?
It depends. The short wheelbase makes for plenty of pitching forward and backward, and there's a distinct firmness to the springs that makes for a taut ride. But it gives the impression it'll dispose of big bumps time and again with little fuss.
Not that it's particularly comfortable. It's bounces and bounds over a decent speed bump. Noisy, too; when it's raining, for example, the water splashes into the rear wheel arches with the intensity of a thunderstorm on the roof of a tin shed. And rocks can fling up into those arches like a ball bearing being fired into metal.
How's the sound system?
Pretty average, but at least it's got one (which the original didn't). It's an aftermarket Alpine unit with tiny buttons and a 1990s dot matrix display. Speaking of old school, the metal aerial (remember them) has to be raised and lowered manually. The sound system also has a removable face, just in case anyone wants to nick it. And while the speakers are crisp in their reproduction of high frequencies, the bass sounds muddy and starts distorting when you wind up the volume. It's all pretty tinny and indicative that the stereo was something of an afterthought. At least the subwoofer tacked on to the back of the centre storage console pulsates against your leg with the bass hits.
What about service stations?
Claimed fuel use is 10.2 litres per 100km (0.2L/100km more than regular Defender 90s) and you're likely to use at least that around town. At 110km/h on a freeway, too (you know you're moving at that speed in the Defender), it can churn through the ###-litre tank a bit quicker due to its poor aerodynamics.
Would you buy one?
It's not really for me and you certainly wouldn't have it as a daily driver, but I absolutely understand the appeal, especially for those with a diverse garage of fun and different cars.
What else should I consider?
A Land Rover Discovery; loads more luxury, space and refinement but with plenty of that Land Rover thinking. Or if you want to stay with the retro theme you could look at a Jeep Wrangler or Toyota FJ Cruiser.
The spin
"True original".
The translation
Soak it up; we've tried not to change a thing.
Land Rover Defender 90 Heritage pricing and specifications
Price: $54,900 (plus on-road and dealer costs)
Engine: 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel
Power: 90kW
Torque: 360Nm
Transmission: Six-speed manual, all-wheel drive
Fuel use: 10.2L/100km