2024 Land Rover Defender 90 P400

The short, petrol Defender 90 makes no practical sense, and we love it anyway

The new Defender has won a place in our hearts over the past year. Our first date left us wondering whether a 400 hp petrol straight-six really suited a five-metre, 2.3-tonne SUV; our second, with the 250 hp diesel, ignited the spark. So can the 400 hp petrol redeem itself in the shorter Defender 90?

Size: the stubborn three-door

Where Mercedes dropped the idea of a short G-Class this generation, Land Rover stubbornly built a three-door Defender. The 90 is nearly half a metre shorter than the Defender 110, at 4,583 mm against 5,018, with a shorter 2,587 mm wheelbase and 116 kg less weight (2,170 kg versus 2,286). Enough numbers, let's talk about how the shorty drives.

Design: tougher than the 110

We have always liked the direction Land Rover took with the Defender: refreshing an icon is hard, but this is a modern shape that still embodies the Defender, with large surfaces flowing into one another and classic short overhangs for sharp approach and departure angles. The 110 could look very long; the 90 looks a lot tougher, and let's face it, three doors always look better than five. The front doors are longer to help people into the back, slightly awkward in car parks but manageable, and the full-length cloth convertible roof gives everyone a lovely open-air feel, though it lets in noticeable noise in tunnels.

Interior: room for six, not much for luggage

Inside is the same rugged look with that big, charming wheel we have praised twice before. The wheel buttons could sit further out for ergonomics, but the infotainment is easy, with handy shortcuts either side of the screen. This spec even seats six: it is tight with three up front, but the rear is as spacious as the 110's, and carrying six in such a small car is great. The trade-off is the boot, just 297 litres against 786 in the 110, and mostly vertical space at that, so you cannot pack heavy for a weekend away with four.

Powertrain and driving: the short wheelbase comes alive

The P400 packs a 3.0-litre straight-six with 400 hp and 550 Nm, good for 0 to 100 km/h in an impressive 6.0 seconds, and it is genuinely fun: the car rockets off once the turbos spool and the nose lifts in the best way. On paper it is only 0.1 seconds up on the 110, which felt a touch sluggish, but the lost weight and short wheelbase make the 90 feel far livelier, and not just in a straight line. There is body roll, plenty of it, yet push it the right way and it handles surprisingly well, even fun to throw at a corner thanks to that big wheel and its small mid-corner corrections. Off-road it can be just as playful, though even with traction control off it still trims power to find grip; we wish off meant off. On long trips it is as comfortable as you would hope, the days of the Defender being noisy and uncomfortable are gone.

The catch: it is thirsty

There is one clear price to pay, and it is fuel. The P400 is thirsty, even thirstier than in the 110 because the shorter shape creates more drag at the rear, and we averaged 13.0 l/100 km, with plenty of motorway in the mix. This is not the sensible Defender.

Price and which Defender to buy

At €88,465 in Belgium it is a hefty sum, but if you want one, you will not regret it. If you want the most practical Defender, buy the diesel 110. If you want the ultimate Defender experience, the 90 P400 is the one. Now we are just left wondering what the Defender 90 V8 might be like.

AutoNext Verdict

The Defender 90 P400 does not need to be economical or practical to win you over. It convinces with its looks, its charming, surprisingly capable handling and the sweet sound of a straight-six. It is a car you buy with your heart, and after a week we loved the combination that really brings the Defender alive.

It is thirsty, the boot is tiny and it is not cheap. But none of that is the point. As the most characterful, most desirable Defender in the range, the short, petrol 90 is exactly the one enthusiasts should want.