Defender 90 Price
The iconic Land Rover Defender 90 for sale is one of the original Land Rover series in production from 1990-2016. This rugged, quintessentially British vehicle is a highly capable off-road SUV with a drivetrain that takes it anywhere and everywhere. The Defender’s distinctive, minimalist styling is classic and unmistakable, as at home on safari in Africa as it is on the homestead in Europe. It is a workhorse, through and through, which is why the Defender legacy continues to persist in some form since its original introduction in the late 1940s.
The Land Rover Defender 90 price varies widely depending on the condition of the vehicle. Many Defender 90s are imported, destined for restoration, while others have been outfitted with updated consoles, plush leather interiors and rebuilt or upgraded engines. Restored and refinished Defender 90s easily command premium pricing thanks to the finite supply and luxury connotation.
Interestingly, an even smaller subset of Defender 90 examples (the NAS) were imported for sale to the American market in 1994, 1995, and 1997. In 1998, cars sold in the US were required to have airbags and Land Rover stopped selling Defenders domestically rather than comply. A pristine Land Rover Defender 90 is a rarity, as they are among the few SUVs to appreciate in value.
Defender 90 Review
No Defender 90 review would be complete without mentioning that at its core, the 90 is a no-frills, no-nonsense vehicle. It off-roads beautifully. The shorter, 92.9-inch wheelbase is comparatively nimble, and distinguishes the 90 from its longer siblings, mainly the Defender 110 wagon, and other iterations of the Defender. It is one of the few vehicles that exist almost apart from time—cool during production and even cooler now.
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The design is fundamentally utilitarian, so don’t be disappointed with the amount of time that the Defender takes to reach 60mph. This durable character shines elsewhere, like when it comes to fording rivers or navigating Britain’s muddy countryside with ease. Defenders take on steep grades and daring drops that other vehicles must avoid. Expect the cabin to be filled with engine and road noise. And the original seats are marginally uncomfortable, but all that’s really just a part of the charm.
Land Rover Defender 90 Specs
- Price: <$50,000
- Engine: 2.5L Inline-5 Turbo
- Transmission: 5-speed Manual
- Horsepower: 122
- Torque: 221 lb-ft
- 0-60 mph: N/A
- 1/4 mile: N/A
- Top Speed: 75 mph
Defender 90 Engine
There are many Land Rover Defender 90 engine options thanks to consistent improvements over its long production life. The Defender 90 is available in both petrol and the ever-popular turbodiesel versions. After 1990, the 2.5L 200Tdi revolutionized the Defender line with its increased efficiency and reliability. This is the first engine to let the Defender cruise along at high speeds while towing heavy loads on hills and remain economical.
Land Rover Defender 90 with V8 power were typically sold in countries with cheaper fuel costs or where maximum power output was required. In 1994, the 2.5L 300Tdi, offered a new, better diesel engine design. Between 1997 and 2001, Land Rover South Africa built 652 Defender 90’s with a powerful 2.8i BMW M52 petrol engine, great for traveling difficult terrain like sand dunes. The BMW engine produced the fastest production Defender ever made. In 1998, the Td5 engine, capable of meeting new emissions standards in Europe, was released.
Defender 90 Transmission
The Land Rover Defender 90 transmission options are mostly limited to either a four, five or six-speed standard manual transmission with the LT230 transfer case. The high strength “Santana” five-speed is noteworthy for its consistent performance. In 1998, the SV90, a special edition sported the rare automatic transmission.
The NAS Defender 90, sold in the US in 1994 and 1995 includes a strong R-380 manual transmission. In 1998, the NAS Defender 90 used a different, premium four-speed automatic transmission. Finally, the Defender SVX is one of the earliest to sport a six-speed manual permanent four-wheel-drive transmission to commemorate Land Rover’s 60th anniversary.
Defender 90 Interior
The Defender 90 interior is strikingly minimalist. True to its workhorse ethos, it is sparse, functional and basic. The angular dash remains consistent through the production run and includes an easy to read display. The parking brake is peculiarly placed by the driver’s right leg. The Defender 90 comes standard with a two or three-seater bench and rear auxiliary seating over the wheel wells.
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Restored and upgraded Defender 90s often come equipped with much more comfortable and stylish leather interiors and carpeting. Many have modified the original configuration to include two front bucket seats with a center console. Some Defender 90s are also fitted with two rear bucket seats or jump seats on either side of the cargo bay. Standard rear skylights and optional sunroofs brighten up the interior. The two-door 90 also has a side-opening door in the back that zips open on the soft top or unlocks in the hard-top.
Defender 90 Brakes
The Defender 90 comes standard with a disc braking system, often with venting in the front. Several original Defenders are not equipped with Anti-lock brakes. ABS features come standard in the more recent model years. Unsurprisingly, stopping a vehicle as heavy as a Land Rover Defender requires significant pressure on the brake pedal, but the original brakes do perform well enough.
Early Defender 90 brakes are often upgraded aftermarket to match enhanced engine performance. Some Defender 90 owners opt to outfit their vehicles with the larger, more powerful discs, rear calipers and braking pads from the Defender 110 to deliver smoother, more controlled stops.
Defender 90 Standout Features
The sporty Defender 90 is available with a host of unique features. The canvas Defender soft-top and convertible versions are extremely popular and were brought back thanks to customer demand. The soft top offers clear plastic panels with zippered rear access. Recent updates, including heated windscreens and seats and front power windows were introduced to help the Defender appeal to a luxury audience.
Beyond that, the Defender looks good and suffers long. It has incredible towing capacity and sustained strength thanks to the prevalence of her revamped diesel engines. This impressive three-door with standard 4×4 equipment solidifies the Defender as a viable off-road contender, capable of taking on aggressive territories with ease. The tough metal frame with functional accents, like ladders, roof racks, and LED floodlights round out what makes the Defender worth the money. With a heritage like this, you can be sure that Defender fever won’t subside anytime soon.
