Date Published: 17th December 2010
Towing and off-roading are the Defender's (only) two strengths. It's brilliant at both; to live with it is to tolerate, or learn to embrace, its weaknesses at everything else. All our testers warmed to the Defender's hewn-from-rock styling and single-minded purpose. It gained a more modern interior in 2007, but remains hugely basic and cramped. Equipment levels are super-stingy, though at least the lack of things to operate means the dash is clear and uncluttered.
Oddment stowage is largely absent, except for a vast cubby box which will end up taking everything in one jumbled mass. In the back, not even the long-wheelbase 110 offers anything like as much space as such a big vehicle should, with intrusive inner arches and crude seat mountings meaning you can't make the most of the huge, boxy body.
Head and leg room in the back impressed our testers, though. But if you'e considering a Defender as a family car, take a look at its safety kit which is largely limited to the great view of the road ahead which means you're unlikely to have an accident in the first place.
Next - To Drive Jump: 1. To Live With 2. To Drive 3. Verdict
