The Defender adopts a six-cylinder diesel engine and is exempt from the heavy penalty in this Hard Top utility version. Test of its 90 variation, short chassis with three seats in the front, which becomes the cheapest of the Defenders.
Test car: Land-Rover Defender 90 Hard Top
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From€ 57,600
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Drive a Defender while avoiding the € 30,000 ecological penalty? Two solutions are available to fans of the legendary English 4×4: opt for the P400e plug-in hybrid, only in long 110 chassis and offered from € 75,500, or else sacrifice the rear seats with one of the 90 or 110 utility versions, to from € 57,600. It is this last option which is the subject of this test, at entry level 90 with short chassis. Land Rover calls these versions without rear bench Hard Top, a misleading name because if the roof and the quarter panel are presented in white color contrasted with the rest of the body, it is not necessarily a hard-top. removable. This rear part hides a cargo space separated from the front cabin by a rigid wall. At the front, there is a 2 + 1 seater configuration thanks to the wide armrest that transforms into a recovery seat.
Under the hood, all diesel versions now receive the Ingenium micro-hybrid inline six all in aluminum, available in three different powers in the range (200 hp, 250 hp and 300 hp), but only its 200 hp version is offered in this 90 utility definition. Obviously, permanent 4×4 transmission, short range and modes off road are on the program, as with any self-respecting Defender.
Land Rover 90 Hard Top price
At € 57,600 including tax, the Hard Top 90 utility version is € 3,500 more expensive than its 5-seater PC equivalent… before a penalty of € 30,000! Suffice to say thatthis is the cheapest Defender in the range, and by far. Its basic equipment is correct, but it recalls the economic side of this version in certain details, such as the unpainted door handles, the plastic steering wheel, the lack of keyless access on board or the sheet metal rims. Of course, this version can also be enhanced with options and packs from the long list offered by Land Rover. For example, the Explorer pack will give it a more adventurous look (€ 3,988), useful side steps will improve access on board (€ 1,159) and an electric towing hook (€ 1,387) will allow you to enjoy the car’s high traction capacity (3,500 kg). We believe it is important for heavy riders to check the Drive Assist pack option (€ 1,397), which includes blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. Fans of crossing will be able to choose the active rear differential lock option (€ 1,234).
For more choice, it is also possible to choose from the Hard Top range the Defender in long version 110, which offers 2,059 l of load volume and up to 800 kg of payload. It is only offered with the 250 and 300 hp versions of the 6-cylinder diesel, as well as in several finishes (base, S, SE, HSE), for prices between € 65,200 and € 86,000, always escaping the ecological penalty.
Driving
The in-house Ingenium engine has saved 70 Nm of torque compared to the 4-cylinder diesel offered at launch last year. But above all, in terms of pleasure, this 6-cylinder in-line offers very appreciable sensations, with a remarkable soundproofing just letting perceive a nice velvety purr in the revs. A flattering and refined soundtrack for a diesel, like the automobile production will offer little more in the future …
The 48-volt micro-hybridization, the two coupled turbos and the very high pressure injection at 2,500 bar help to make the unit available at low speeds, which delivers its 500 Nm of torque from 1,250 rpm. The 8-speed automatic transmission is quick and inert, fulfilling its role perfectly. With just less than 10 seconds from 0 to 100 km / h, our Defender is not a lightning of war but its performances are far from lymphatic and they agree well with the spirit of the car. Handy and easy to handle with its reasonable size, the “Def” 90 is pleasant on winding roads where its behavior remains very reassuring, despite a mass of nearly 2.3 tonnes and tires ready to face the mud.
The comfort of the Defender remains at a good level, despite the absence of air suspension, aided by the high-waisted tires. We just notice a few rebound effects on very bumpy pavement. The Land does well even in the city (be careful with the width though), aided by the cameras offering a magnificent 360 ° view to park easily thanks to its compact sedan length, with only 4.32 m (4.58 m m including the spare wheel). On the motorway, it is serene and quite silent, allowing long journeys to be considered without hesitation, a revolution compared to the original model. We simply regret the lack of visibility in the blind spot, without radar or even aspherical mirror in our test version. Fortunately, the interior rearview mirror with ClearSight camera (693 €) and display screen plays its role well for rear visibility.
In crossing, no need to recall the hallucinating intrinsic qualities of the Defender, well served here by its large torquey diesel. It will be able to get out of most difficulties without much apparent effort, thanks to its technical definition dedicated to 4×4 and its sophisticated electronic management. Finally, on the consumption side, we will have to rely on two-digit values, with about 10 l / 100 km on the highway at 130 km / h and rather 11 l / 100 km on the road.
In the cockpit
Land Rover 90 Hard Top competition
Designed by Land Rover SVO, the department responsible for the brand’s special vehicles, this model is quite unique on the market. If the pretty little Suzuki Jimny follows the same approach, it does not offer comparable services, neither road nor utility, with its small petrol engine of 102 hp, its rustic chassis and its mini size (863 l of useful volume), for just over a third of the price of the Land. There are also certain utilities which are offered in 4×4 version, such as the Peugeot Partner or Expert transformed by the specialist Dangel, but whose services here too are very different from those offered by the chic English all-terrain.
Closer in spirit, the Jeep Wrangler 4Xe (5-door plug-in hybrid) can be transformed into a two-seater by removing the rear seat, but without the specific trim and the load-stop wall which makes it a real utility. like the Defender. Count at least € 68,200 + the price of conversion and LCV homologation, i.e. more than 20% additional.
Find the balance sheet, price, equipment and technical sheet on the next page …
