Defender is Land Rover icon

Oct 7 2008 Peter Hayward

THE original Land Rover is still personified in the Defender - an almost unstoppable icon that still sells well all over the world.

It's available in short and long wheelbase variations and I recently re-acquainted myself with the short wheelbase county station wagon at the top of the range.

I swear this machine would climb the wall of a house, claw its way over the roof and let itself gently down the other side.

That's how good it is off-road, with proper low ratio gears, a differential lock and excellent traction control that stops the wheels spinning.

The 2.4-litre turbo diesel engine gives fair performance with very good 28mpg economy with a standard six-speed gearbox, but the clutch is still pretty fierce, the driving position far from perfect and the ride dreadful out on the road.

Having said all that, nothing else has the same handsome, rugged good looks and reliability is excellent according to the trade.

Interior

There are only four seats in this model, with the two rear ones each folding up sideways to clear the load area for bales of hay.

The rear door is very heavy and awkward and the height daunting for many, but it does have aircon, electric front windows remote locking, huge alloys and a decent CD stereo.

FAST FACTS

Land Rover Defender 110 County Station Wagon

Price : £25,250

Mechanical : 122bhp, 2,401cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving four wheels via 6spd manual gearbox

Max speed : 82mph

0-62mph : 15.8 secs

Combined mpg : 25.7

Insurance group : 12

CO2 emissions : 291g/km

BiK rating : 35%

Warranty : 3yrs/ unlimited mileage, 6yrs anti-rust

Marks : 9/10

Main rival : Jeep Wrangler