What is it about the 2-door Defender 90 that I like it so much better than the 4-door Defender 110? Not only do I love its size and proportions, it just seems to drive better.
That’s surprising considering the Defender 90 has a short 101.9 inch wheelbase. That’s a full 17 inches shorter than the 110. And yet, the 90 doesn’t porpoise or pitch as it drives down the road. It rides surprisingly well, feels nimbler and responds quicker.
Kudos to LR’s suspension engineers. They know what they’re doing.
But wait until you try to get in the back seat. Go ahead, try. Even with either one of the front seats moved all the way forward, it’s a tight squeeze. And getting out is even more challenging. Push, pull, twist, hop. Do it a couple of times a day and you can call it a workout.
That probably gave Land Rover the idea to make room for three people in the front seat—it saves someone from having to play Twister trying to get in the back.
Just flip up the center arm rest and voila, you’ve got room for a third person up front, complete with a 3-point seat belt. That doesn’t mean there’s enough room for one of your corn-fed Nebraska buddies, mind you, but there’s room enough for most people on a short trip.
Like it’s bigger brother the 110, the 90 has a tastefully understated interior and a killer good sound system. And it’s got some interesting design details, like diamond-plate-looking panels on the hood, so you can stand there and scan the Serengeti for hippos when you’re out on a safari. Or not.
I also like the taillights, which are so nicely integrated into the rear of the vehicle. Don’t know why, but I like them a lot. Tasteful design statement.
The Defender 90 is perfect for that someone who’s looking for a sporty, luxury SUV that can easily fit in their garage or any parking spot and has awesome off-road capabilities that they can brag about even if they never take if off the pavement.
Better still, it doesn’t blend into the background. It stands out in a crowd. Too many SUVs today are differentiated only by the grille and their badges. Not so with the Defender 90. It don’t need no stinkin’ badges.
Price as tested: $66,475
Power: 3.0-l V6 395 hp; 406 lb-ft
Fuel Economy: 19 mpg
By: John McElroy
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John McElroy is an influential thought leader in the automotive industry. He is a journalist, lecturer, commentator and entrepreneur. He created “Autoline Daily,” the first industry webcast of industry news and analysis.
