Land Rover Defender 110 review

It's a wonderful cabin, partly because it's not like any other car's. The Wrangler pulls off a similar trick: you are reminded every time you get in, even if it's just to pop to the shops, that this is a vehicle that's up for all your great adventures. The Defender is (unlike the Jeep) super-roomy too, with a wide cabin and loads of rear legroom.

The 110 can be had with a third child-seat row, making this an excellent replacement for seven-seat Discovery 4 drivers who find the Disco 5 a bit too suburban. The Defender also has a six-seat option, with a folding jump-seat in the centre of the front row. An eight-year-old's fantasy ride. The longer 130 takes a two-three-three layout in its seating.

Space here doesn't permit the listing of all the storage spaces, especially if you have the five-seat option and its warehouse-sized centre console. Go for a five- or six-seater and the boot is cavernous at 1,075-litres with the rear seats up and 2,380-litres with them folded flat.

Honest industrial design takes it far, far away from your normal road-car atmosphere. The solid cross-dash magnesium beam, strong console, structural door liners and washable floor are all about fitness for purpose. Not having to fret about dirtying or marking 'luxury' materials is itself a bit of a luxury.

The infotainment electronics, HUD and driver aids are right up to modern premium-car standards too and now include JLR’s Pivi Pro system with a choice of either a 10- or 11.4-inch touchscreen mounted midship. Sorry to keep harping on about this, but this is not just a simple truck.

The plug-in P400e gets fresh display options in the central touchscreen that display things like charge levels and energy usage, while the V8 is separated from the rest of the range by seats trimmed in black leather with extra suede, a full Alcantara steering wheel and V8 written on the illuminated treadplates. Subtle.

Oh, and remember Defender has now become its own brand in JLR’s new ‘House of Brands’ strategy, so hunting for a Land Rover badge in the interior of box-fresh models has become a fun little game.