Land Rover Defender (1983-2016) review – prices, Specs and Rivals
An all time classic
At the end of it's life, there were single and double cab body styles, but the only Defenders that are really classified as cars - just - are the Station Wagons. They started at around the £25,000 mark, which gets you the very basics.
A trio of special Celebration Edition run-out models were announced for 2015. The likely big seller will be the Heritage model that turns back the clock visually (mechanically it’s already there) with some retro styling and a ‘plush’ interior - these start at £27,800. Additionally there’s an Adventure Defender in G4 orange with the sort of off-road add-ons that Defender fans love, for just under £43,500. If you want the ultimate Defender though Land Rover is building 40 Autobiography models with a power hike to 148bhp and a full Windsor leather interior. That will cost you in excess of £60,000. Yes, seriously.
Direct rivals to the Defender are few; only the Mercedes-Benz G-Glass is similar conceptually, though even that makes the Defender look cheap as it’s headed upmarket and mad - in AMG guise specifically. The most obvious direct rivals are double-cab pick-ups such as the Mitsubishi L200, Nissan Navara and Ford Ranger, while a Mitsubishi Shogun or Jeep Wrangler would eclipse it on the road, and won't trail behind off it, either.
Find used Land Rover Defender's on the Classic and Performance site here.
