Five years into its second tenure, the 2024 Land Rover Defender 90 remains the smallest, most maneuverable and most versatile sport utility vehicle in the British manufacturer’s lineup. It’s rugged but not unwieldy. It still has a boxy, military appearance, but with modern design updates.

Land Rover and Defender models’ first run lasted 67 years after slightly more than two million vehicles were built. The current offerings, while related to their predecessors and connected to WWII military vehicles, are far different.

Like many enduring manufacturers, Land Rover has a sorted history. It’s owned by Jaguar Land Rover, a subsidiary of the Indian automotive company, Tata Motors. It acquired Jaguar Land Rover from Ford in 2008.

Changes occurred when the Defender was reintroduced in September 2019 as a 2020 model, notably from rigid axles to independent suspension and from body on chassis to integrated bodywork. Daily driving on city streets and freeways was improved, off-road toughness remained.

The standard and reviewed 2024 Defender 90 is equipped with a two-liter, turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine that produces 296 horsepower. It advances with an eight-speed automatic transmission and a permanent four-wheel-drive system. Fuel economy is 18 miles per gallon in city driving, 21 mpg on the highway. Acceleration from 0-to-60 miles per hour takes 6.7 seconds.

A 3.0-liter inline-six is optional and includes a substantial power boost with a turbocharger, an electric supercharger and a mild-hybrid system. The results include 395 horsepower and a one-second improvement to 5.7 in the 0-to-60 mph standard. Gas mileage estimates improve to 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway.

With an overall length 17 inches shorter than its Defender 110 stablemate, the Defender 90 is surprisingly nimble considering its background and utilitarian appearance.

The SUV scoots around town more like an all-wheel-drive wagon. Occupants sit high in the cabin, with superior front and side vision. Rear vision is the vehicle’s biggest issue. The exterior-mounted spare tire obscures part of the rear window, the mid rear-seat headrest further blocks the driver’s view.

The Defender’s smaller stature also comes with a compromise. It’s a two-door, which inherently means more difficult access to the backseat. But there’s a caveat. The front seats easily slide forward and at sharp angles. Legroom in the back is 36.6 inches and loading cargo isn’t awkward. Still, overall cargo space is only 15.6 cubic feet, a restrictive area for any notion of major luggage hauling.

On the contrary, space for carrying smaller items is plentiful. Deep shelves front the dashboard, expansive side pockets are wide enough for a small laptop bag and there are additional storage compartments for front and rear seat occupants.

Another surprise: Despite its exterior appearance, including a back end that appears abruptly sheared off and an awkwardly placed spare tire, the Defender 90 offers a quiet and composed ride. It’s a rock climber with a demeanor more resembling a luxury sedan than an off-road automotive cowboy.

Standard on all Defender models is forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning and a driver inattention warning system. There’s a 360-degree parking camera and a sonar system that calculates water depth called wade-sensing. Adaptive cruise control is a stand-alone option.

Additional standard equipment is plentiful: grained leather seats to a heated and power-adjustable steering wheel and rain sensing front wipers and rear wiper and an opening panoramic roof. The Meridian sound system is superior.

The Defender 90’s starting MSRP is $56,400. But a healthy list of options, including 20-inch wheels ($1,800), sidesteps ($1,700) and an advanced air suspension system ($1,600) push the price to $70,683.

It’s a hefty tally but it’s not extreme for a versatile SUV with a long history and plenty to show for it. https://www.landroverusa.com/index.html