RE: Land Rover Defender 90 | UK Review

[Wills2]

loveice said:

oilit said:

hyphen said:

Nice car.

Its a shame rear seats don't fold flat though

is that for real? if it is then that is an epic fail...

The 2nd row seats on the new 90 may fold the same way as the 2nd row seats on the 110. In order to fold the seat backs down flat, the bottom parts need to be folded forward first, then the seat backs can be fold down flat.

However, even if that's the case, Land Rover somehow messed up one design detail. When folding down the seat backs, despite the headrests are lowered to the lowest possible position, they somehow still catch the metal brackets on the back side of the seat bottoms. So each time when the seat backs are folded flat, the nice leather on top of the headrests get scratched by the metal brackets. Such a thoughtless design!

Btw, in the article it says the rear seats can only seat two adults comfortably. I thought those rear seats are the same as the 2nd row seats on 110. Are they not...

It's the huge ridge line that ruins the practicality of the boot space, it's bizarre to have such a high step in the boot couple with the 3/4 folding seats doesn't seem like much of a selling point.

[Nerdherder]

"In Gondwana Stone with black contrast roof, 20-inch dark grey five-spoke wheels and a Vintage Tan/Ebony interior, the car looks every inch the premium Land Rover product."

What the actual has gone wrong with Pistonheads? - Jesus F. Christ.

[DoubleD]

SantaBarbarian said:

I'm with you on that one, numbers have no meaning anymore, the automotive ignorant millennial marketing teams have thrown it all out the window, whether it's wheelbase, engine displacement, or turbo charged electric cars. I wish they would respect naming conventions.

I like the Defender 102, but it's just too expensive.

Ha ha this level of anger over a car name does make me smile

[gcbalmer]

The 4 cyl car is the same weight as the 6 cyl and less economical?

[ntiz]

dukebox9reg said:

So bottom spec diesel with no options (Merc option list in mental) vs top spec with most the toys included?

Strange comparison when most have already commented that a decent diesel spec is in the 40's.

A base Touareg is 45k, X5 60k, an X3 43k, an SQ5 vorsprung is 66k! So for me the Defender is in the ball park. A 400bhp SUV is expensive......

I think a lot of these comments are being made without realising how much the competition actually costs

Stick a decent engine in pretty much anything now and the money gets big.

Order a RRS with this engine tick some options and you will be over 100k.

Don’t like the price don’t buy the top spec one with every option ticked with the biggest engine.

[seapod]

Wills2 said:

loveice said:

oilit said:

hyphen said:

Nice car.

Its a shame rear seats don't fold flat though

is that for real? if it is then that is an epic fail...

The 2nd row seats on the new 90 may fold the same way as the 2nd row seats on the 110. In order to fold the seat backs down flat, the bottom parts need to be folded forward first, then the seat backs can be fold down flat.

However, even if that's the case, Land Rover somehow messed up one design detail. When folding down the seat backs, despite the headrests are lowered to the lowest possible position, they somehow still catch the metal brackets on the back side of the seat bottoms. So each time when the seat backs are folded flat, the nice leather on top of the headrests get scratched by the metal brackets. Such a thoughtless design!

Btw, in the article it says the rear seats can only seat two adults comfortably. I thought those rear seats are the same as the 2nd row seats on 110. Are they not...

It's the huge ridge line that ruins the practicality of the boot space, it's bizarre to have such a high step in the boot couple with the 3/4 folding seats doesn't seem like much of a selling point.

Confirmed by JLR Dealer (Roger Young) seats do not go flat. He was genuinely incensed by it. If (as I do) you have 2 dogs, you can't get them in the vehicle. I have a late 90, would love to replace it, it doesnt work. I cannot shoot from this vehicle. Nuts

[wastedyouth86]

I know they aren't farming vehicles, but you would think that most buyers might have a dog or two. Also taking skies or snowboards and luggage you are going to struggle big time, especially if 4 up in it.

[Dan_1981]

wastedyouth86 said:

I know they aren't farming vehicles, but you would think that most buyers might have a dog or two. Also taking skies or snowboards and luggage you are going to struggle big time, especially if 4 up in it.

But if you do that you buy the 110?

[DoubleD]

The last old defender 90 that I was in had 2 fixed rear seats at the back with almost no luggage space.

[wab172uk]

Those prices are ridiculous.

Liked the look of the 90 from day one, but not at those prices.

[Gixer968CS]

Surely when the boot is so small with the seats raised it a serious flaw to not have a flat loading floor when the seats are folded - and with a huge step in the middle. I'm sure there's an underlying reason for the poor outcome, but I think it'll put a lot of people off.

[Bill]

Gixer968CS said:

Surely when the boot is so small with the seats raised it a serious flaw to not have a flat loading floor when the seats are folded - and with a huge step in the middle. I'm sure there's an underlying reason for the poor outcome, but I think it'll put a lot of people off.

Probably the rear axle taking up too much room underneath meaning the seats can't fold any lower.

[CS Garth]

seapod said:

Confirmed by JLR Dealer (Roger Young) seats do not go flat. He was genuinely incensed by it. If (as I do) you have 2 dogs, you can't get them in the vehicle. I have a late 90, would love to replace it, it doesnt work. I cannot shoot from this vehicle. Nuts

How can you design a supposed totally focussed utilitarian vehicle and settle on a design that compromises such a key aspect?

It just demonstrates that, despite the hyperbole, JLR think there are going to be flogged to the trendy set for whom it doesn’t matter. I think they might find these people a fickle set to court in the long term

[hyphen]

DoubleD said:

The last old defender 90 that I was in had 2 fixed rear seats at the back with almost no luggage space.

So the new one is an improvement!

[hyphen]

CS Garth said:

How can you design a supposed totally focussed utilitarian vehicle and settle on a design that compromises such a key aspect?

It just demonstrates that, despite the hyperbole, JLR think there are going to be flogged to the trendy set for whom it doesn’t matter. I think they might find these people a fickle set to court in the long term

Have you seen the interior? That's not going to withstand utilitarian use. That the rear seats have an armrest should say it all.

It's designed for Londoners with second homes in the Costwolds.

Edited by hyphen on Wednesday 28th October 14:47

[rxe]

CS Garth said:

How can you design a supposed totally focussed utilitarian vehicle and settle on a design that compromises such a key aspect?

It just demonstrates that, despite the hyperbole, JLR think there are going to be flogged to the trendy set for whom it doesn’t matter. I think they might find these people a fickle set to court in the long term

Trendy set still have dogs though. What is the point in a Defender you can’t stick a fking Labrador in? With one single person in it, unless you stick the dog on the seats, it’s not going in.

Contrast with the old 90 that could be 4 up and still fit 2 dogs in quite easily.

[MK1RS Bruce]

ntiz said:

dukebox9reg said:

So bottom spec diesel with no options (Merc option list in mental) vs top spec with most the toys included?

Strange comparison when most have already commented that a decent diesel spec is in the 40's.

A base Touareg is 45k, X5 60k, an X3 43k, an SQ5 vorsprung is 66k! So for me the Defender is in the ball park. A 400bhp SUV is expensive......

I think a lot of these comments are being made without realising how much the competition actually costs

Stick a decent engine in pretty much anything now and the money gets big.

Order a RRS with this engine tick some options and you will be over 100k.

Don’t like the price don’t buy the top spec one with every option ticked with the biggest engine.

Yeah totally agree, people are just unaware of what the list prices of cars are these days!

Top of the range fiesta ST is £27k the world has gone mad.

[SidewaysSi]

My farmer neighbour is getting one. Thinks he can stick 4 sheep and a bale of hay in it.

Thinks it will get really muddy being used on the farm but hoping it will be easy to clean out.

[Snozzer]

Rear seats not folding flat means it's a no go for me. I own a Suzuki Jimny and they go flat in that creating a large flat space to get 2 large dogs in. This must surely limit the appeal! Boot space on JLR products is getting smaller. the L405 is smaller than the L322 and the seats don't roll forward like they used to. Test drove a 110 and ended up buying another Discovery Sport as the rear bench doesn't slide forward, so it's actually less usable space. Also a nightmare for dogs to get as it's so high!

[unsprung]

About the 90: It looks smart. I'd consider one, used. Assuming it doesn't generate frightening figures over at JD Power.

The 90 also has a certain charm and I imagine that some businesses would find that advantageous, as a company vehicle wearing a company livery.

Random: I wonder if JLR is selling enough volume and earning sufficient margin on the new Defender. Not just in the UK, but everywhere.

Edited by unsprung on Wednesday 28th October 15:28