Land Rover Defender 90 XS Station Wagon 2dr Car Review - February 2012

The driving experience of this version of the Defender will vary greatly depending on how the vehicle is being driven. When it is crossing a bumpy field or going through a marshy area, it offers more control and power than almost any other vehicle in its class, but on the road the handling isn't great and the ride is also quite firm. The driving position benefits from being positioned well above the floor, but low levels of adjustability and a fixed steering wheel means that it won't be suitable for every driver.

The engine performance of the Defender is measured in a different way to standard road going cars, and although the acceleration from 0-62mph is a ponderous 14.7 seconds, and the top speed only 90mph, this isn't necessarily a problem. Most people will be more interested in the Defender because it can be used off road, and that it has the necessary power to tow trailers or horse boxes.

The Defender isn't a sleek or attractively designed car, and the boxy shape is certainly one that places function well above form, with the shape hardly changed in decades. Inside the cab the Defender is just as functional as it is on the outside, with everything displayed clearly and efficiently, rather than having a lot of design features included.

In terms of the equipment available in the Defender, this is also pretty basic, but it is nice that alloy wheels and a CD stereo system do come as standard with the Defender. This version also features air conditioning, heated seats and electric windows in the front, but the rest of the car is still very basic.

Land Rover's reliability is one of the most famous features of the brand, and the design of the engine is one that makes maintenance quite straight forward, and parts are easily available. The safety of the Defender does depend on the the size and sturdiness of the vehicle, as there are no airbags available. It does have ABS and traction control included as standard, but it is yet to be submitted for the Euro NCAP safety tests.

Practicality is one area in which the Defender really excels, and even for this two door version it still has the reasonable load space in the back, behind the two seats. It is the ability to traverse many different types of terrain that makes it particularly useful, and the power to pull other trailers or even cars that are stuck can also be very handy.

This version of the Land Rover Defender does come at the top of the range currently on the market, with a list price of £29,495 which is certainly plenty of money. However, people who are looking for a 4x4 that really is comfortable off road with a couple of nice luxuries will find that this version is not a bad option.

In terms of the running costs of this version of the Defender, fuel efficiency isn't particularly good, delivering an average 28.3mpg. The insurance group isn't too bad, meaning that premiums are on a par with a large family car, and the resale values are also very good. This package is completed with a three year warranty and a three year roadside breakdown assistance policy.