Land Rover Defender 90 Review 2023
The Land Rover Defender 90 is a large 3 door luxury SUV with five seats that's well equipped and an extremely capable off-roader perfect for the whole family.
Rivals to the Land Rover Defender 90 include the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Toyota Land Cruiser.
Our Land Rover Defender 90 review covers:
- Classic Land Rover exterior styling with the flat back end and side-hinged rear door
- Traditional yet modern interior with soft materials and deliberately exposed screws
- 397-litres of boot space
- Choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines
- Eight trim levels, including Standard, X-Dynamic SE, HSE, X-Dynamic S, SE, X-Dynamic HSE, XS Edition, and X
Pros:
- Incredible off-road ability
- Fun to drive
- Excellent comfort levels and refinement
Cons:
- Expensive to buy
- High running costs
- Rear seat access limited
The Land Rover Defender is the strongest and most capable vehicle Land Rover offers. Like no other car on the market, its off-roading abilities, twin-speed transfer, and rugged architecture can tackle anything. However, the Land Rover Defender 90 is unique and stands out on the road with its three-door style, flat back end and spare wheel.
Inside the new Land Rover Defender 90, there's plenty of space for all passengers with lots of headroom, but the legroom isn't as impressive as in the Land Rover Defender 110. Plus, as the Defender 90 only has 3 doors, it means getting in and out of the rear is trickier than in the larger defender models.
As for boot space, the Land Rover Defender 90 offers 397 litres, which is less than most family hatchbacks. However, the boot is very high, so you can stack a lot of luggage in the boot, but there's not much room between the tailgate and the back seats.
The Land Rover Defender 90 interior is one of the best on the market. It looks great with a mixture of traditional and modern styling. Soft materials sit together with deliberately exposed screws, and rubber floor mats blend perfectly with the Defender's rugged exterior design.
Every Defender comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a large touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, which gets Land Rover's newly introduced 'Pivi Pro' software, which is easy to use.
Overall, the interior quality is very good, combining an expensive, luxurious look with an industrial off-road style. However, for such a costly SUV, some interior parts feel cheap and don't belong in such a high-class vehicle.
Eight trim levels are available, including Standard, X-Dynamic S, X-Dynamic SE, X-Dynamic HSE, HSE, SE, XS and X.
The Standard Defender 110 comes with 19-inch alloy wheels, a body-coloured roof, puddle lights, automatic headlights and wipers, keyless entry, aether steering wheel and two-zone climate control. Also comes with a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 3D surround camera, cruise control with speed limiter, lane keeping assist and a wade sensing system.
X-Dynamic S models have 19-inch alloys, all-season tyres, a 10-inch touchscreen, a 360-degree camera, keyless entry and leather seats.
X-Dynamic SE models have upgraded LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, a video rear-view mirror, blind spot assist and a Meridian stereo system.
X-Dynamic HSE models come with 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, a panoramic sunroof, 14-way electric front seats and extra leather on the inside, including on the steering wheel.
HSE models come with a sliding panoramic roof, heated and cooled front seats with adjustable memory, a heated steering wheel and a leather interior. It also adds adaptive cruise control, rear collision, and rear traffic monitor.
SE models come with front fog lights, electrically folding heated door mirrors, blind-spot assist and a clear exit monitor that will warn you of any potential hazards as you get out of the car. You also get the ClearSight interior rear mirror that uses a rear-facing camera if your view out the rear is blocked.
XS Edition has unique touches, including body-coloured lower cladding, grey 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights and adaptive air suspension. It also has climate control, 12-way adjustable heated and ventilated front seats and a premium sound system.
X models get 20-inch alloys, orange brake callipers, a gloss black bonnet, and various chrome details. It also adds Land Rover's Terrain Response 2 system, electronic air suspension, ClearSight interior rearview mirror, an upgraded Meridian sound system and a head-up display.
Land Rover offers the Defender 110 with the choice of a choice of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid engines.
All engines on offer for the Land Rover Defender 90 get mild-hybrid electric assistance aside from the V8 and the plug-in hybrid variants.
The P300 turbo petrol is a good engine option but is heavy on fuel, offering 20mpg.
The best diesel option to go for is the D250 six-cylinder mild-hybrid diesel, which gives 35mpg on longer journeys. However, if you are planning to drive around town a lot or use the Defender's off-road capabilities and head off into the forests, then the mpg will drop to around 25.
The P400e plug-in hybrid is the best of the engines from an economy perspective managing 27 miles on electric power alone with a fully-charged battery. Plus, if you make full use of the hybrid battery for journeys, it'll return a solid 35mpg.
The Land Rover Defender 110 is great to drive around town despite its off-road capability. It comes with air suspension, which makes the drive extra comfortable, and manoeuvring around town is easy thanks to its lights steering. Visibility is good out the front, but the spare wheel unfortunately blocks the view to the back.
Overall the Land Rover Defender 90 is a smaller version of the Defender 110 and 130 that's practical, good on the road, great off-road, spacious and loaded with plenty of clever tech, making it an excellent SUV leasing option.
Prices for the new Land Rover Defender 90 start from £58,635.00 OTR* or to lease from £702.66 per month.
Do you have questions about leasing a Land Rover Defender 90? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts are one of the best car leasing providers in the UK. Our car leasing deals include a manufacturer's warranty, breakdown insurance, inclusive road tax and free delivery to the UK's mainland (exclusions apply).
Additionally, due to set monthly payments, variable mileage, a low initial rental, and changeable contract lengths, leasing a Land Rover Defender 90 may be less expensive than buying one outright.
*'On the road' price is correct at the time of publication and includes one year's road fund licence, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change. Always check with your nearest retailer.
