Land Rover’s Defender has made quite the splash. There was some degree of trepidation surrounding the arrival of the iconic original’s replacement given the amount of expectation it had to deal with. Needless to say, it’s done remarkably well to live up to its predecessor’s reputation and is seeing plenty of success already as a result.
We’ve already looked at the latest short-wheelbase 90 version powered by a 3.0-litre straight-six petrol, but today we’re checking it out with a torquey 3.0-litre turbocharged diesel under the bonnet.
The transition from old to new Defender has been well managed, with many of the older car’s styling traits carried over but revamped to ensure that everything feels fresh and modern. The 90 wheelbase is traditionally the choice of those who want a more off-road focused Defender, whereas the larger 110 majors on practicality and space instead.