It’s no exaggeration to say Land Rover has done a MINI with its revived Defender, taking a beloved but antiquated icon and creating a modern, upmarket smash hit. The original Land Rover/Defender went out of production in 2016, throttled by tightening emissions and safety laws and with sales below 20,000 units.
Well before then, Land Rover was on the case, showing its hand with the chunky DC100 concepts in late 2011. Their clean surfaces and lamp details hinted at the 2020 Defender in embryonic form: eight years later the upright, more horizontal Defender duly emerged. It was obviously a Land Rover but thoroughly modernised, with its all-aluminium monocoque chassis to transform refinement and go-anywhere suspension and four-wheel drive.
Despite being launched during the Covid pandemic, buyers fell in love with this modern, desirable Land Rover. Despite a hefty price hike, JLR sold 112,000 in the last financial year, with the V8 flagship Octa version a cool £165,000. And its look – and success – have influenced a horde of SUV imitators, particularly from China.
Latest Land Rover Defender deals
14. Mazda MX-5
No. built: 1.2 million
From: 1989-present
Price: from £1,500
Our pick: 1.8-litre 4cyl petrol, 140bhp
Top speed: 127mph
The Mazda MX-5 is the world’s best-selling roadster, bar none. The cynics among us might attribute that to the fact there really isn’t much choice in the two-seat, open-top sports-car class these days, but those who are a bit more ‘glass half-full’ will allow credit where it’s due.
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