New Land Rover Defender 90 Hardtop 12 month review. Is it a true farmer's car?

The new Defender 90 Hardtop arrived with me a year ago on long-term loan from Land Rover and I was keen to find out how I'd get on using it as my daily car on the farm. With over 10,000 miles now covered, in this video I reveal both the good and the bad bits to running a new Defender as your daily transport on the farm.

[yourtubisfilled]

This is without any doubt the most informative kind of review you can make. A full year of real use brings every issue to the front. Thanks Harry.

[tiguanman]

This why Harry gets one of these long-term because the feedback is honest and detailed. Some reviewers have to almost grovel in case a manufacturer ceases lending them cars for creating video. Land Rover needs Harry more than he needs them. His reviews create sales.

[samclarke]

Great round up Harry. Agree completely, I don’t thinks it’s a farmers vehicle anymore simple as that .

[risby]

The same thing is happening over here in the US on our everyday pickup trucks, when you try to use them as trucks. Fancy interiors, over stressed engines, smaller bed lengths. You have to order a "work" truck to try and get something basic. Really enjoy your channels.

[chrisblatherwick]

i must admit ..harry can explain anything in a real world review ..even down to how a combine works love the way he explains things so simply

[maximumpat]

Fascinating review. I had the same door chattering on a 2010 BMW 330D Touring that I bought at 20, 000 miles. The dealer changed the door seals to no avail. Back and forth for a year. Actually ruined the buying experience for me. As a last ditch attempt to fix it I went to another main dealer who drove it 10 feet and said: "door tape mod". A strip of posh sellotape between the door metal and the rubber seal. Shut it up completely and is still quiet 145, 000 miles later. Weird.

[rogerpritchard]

Beautiful land rover. But as a real farmer in Thailand I would recommend an Isuzu or Toyota pickup. They do a good job here in our rice fields.

[lesbrook]

I had an Octavia back in 2002 that had "chattering" door rubbers. SIlcone spray silenced them.

[ed_nava]

I had no idea that the base Defender came standard with coil suspension. Its a huge bonus for me and I would go with this configuration without any doubt.

[ady]

I'm astonished at it's 2nd hand value. It is, no doubt, a good vehicle but nearly £10k more than it was new with 10k miles. It would be a great farm vehicle at around £35k.You'd need to be deranged to pay over £60k for that!"

[casto-]

I reckon that’s probably the best all round review I’ve seen. I’ve always had 110s (hardtop, tipper and now hicap) so I’d expect I’d be the market the new defender would be aimed at but they seemed to have missed the problems on the old trucks but thrown technology in 🤷‍♂ don’t get me wrong, the comfort and technology you can’t knock. Then the price 🤦‍♂ and the ridiculous price for some of the extras.I’m sad to say, I think my TD5 will be my last Land Rover I own.

[colechapman]

A proper Defender owner. I like that he doesn't wash the car, and uses it on a farm. It's what you're supposed to do with a Defender! The Defender is both utilitarian and posh, much like a Barbour jacket or Le Chameau boots

[iannater]

There were a few things here that I wanted to clarify just incase people were interested.

The coil suspension is at the normal ride height of around 8inch that the air suspension rides at. When air is lifted to offroad height its 11 inch.

On the mirror- This is true to a certain extent but have you lowered the picture using the settings? You can drop the view down a bit and it was a big help for vision.


When you spoke about the bash plate - It looks like you have the special protection system (which I love) but this raises the front bumper by a tiny bit on each side, adds the two tone brush guard, and the skid plate. So more for your money than just paying for the skid plate.

Rear door - If you open the rear door to a certain point it will stay open (even on incline) however, it def will close once you start driving as you said.

[stamford]

A really really great review Harry! Thanks for explaining in depth all the positive and negative points. I cant believe how it's gone up in price so much - Wow!

[karlg]

When I saw the new defender first released, I instantly had a feeling it wasn't really aimed at the practical market but as a town run about vehicle.

It seems more designed for those that want to be seen as country folk and want to go off road but in town/city comfort!

It feels a step back to me, the older models seem like they can take a beating but not cost an arm and leg if it needs repairing.

I have to wonder though, for the practical sense of space, why don't you use a pickup? I have a double cab that has plenty of room for all my tools and equipment (I do gardening and land management, so chainsaws, brush cutters, mower, strimmers, spades, forks, toolboxes etc) and get my kids around. Obviously the single cab would give you so much more space. Just curious to your thinking in that regard.

Keep up the good content. I've lived in a farming community nearly all my life but the farmers I know don't go into the details you do. It's always nice to learn more.

[peterdurnien]

A great review, pointed out all the good and bad bits about using it and its comfort.

[vincentouwehand]

Big issue with headlights, most dealers and garages will set the lights at -2 instead of thinking and looking at the light height and choosing for -0.5 or -1 depending on height. -2 is even too much for most commercial vans.

With that setting you will get something like 30-50m light in front of a car with a huge bonnet height, resulting in you not being able to see the road at all. It is a mechanic error that all mechanics seem to make (and it pisses me off as the math is kindergarden simple)

[ljd]

I've driven my new 110 to Konstanz and back in Germany. D250S very happy indeed. Very refined.

[dennisharvey]

This is a proper car review: well done Harry.

[nestorbarreto]

What a gem! This is truly a phenomenally objective hands-on review that extensively covers all the nooks and bolts of this true work horse. Land Rover Research and Development would be well served by watching this in-depth analysis to make this 4x4 utility vehicle even better. Thanks Harry!