Land Rover Defender 90 Hard Top (2020 - ) review

The market for commercial 4x4s is a small one, with the only other options in the class being the Suzuki Jimny Commercial and Toyota Land Cruiser Utility Commercial. Like those two, the Land Rover Defender Hard Top is based on the SUV of the same name, but the back seats have been removed, the rear side windows are covered and a large, flat cargo area has been added, with a full-height bulkhead dividing it from the front passenger compartment. Land Rover offers 90 and 110 short- and long-wheelbase versions of the Defender Hard Top, and like the SUV, the Defender 90 is a three-door model. That means the cargo area is only accessible via the side-hinged rear door, which has the spare wheel mounted on it. Cargo volume for the Defender 90 Hard Top is 1.36 cubic metres, which is smaller than you’ll get in even the smallest of small vans, but is more than you can fit in the back of a pick-up truck equipped with a roll-top load cover. The length of the Defender 90’s cargo floor is 1.03 metres and it’s 1.33 metres wide. There’s just under a metre of height to the roof, although the opening of the rear tailgate at 904mm high and a minimum of 898mm wide is more likely to limit what can be carried. In terms of payload weights, the Defender Hard Top 90 can’t match the one-tonne capability of most pick-ups, but a 670kg maximum might be enough for the kind of businesses that the Land Rover caters to. Practical touches in the cargo area include a rubber floor covering, bright interior lighting, six fixed lashing points and a 58-litre under-floor storage area at the rear of the cargo bay, while Defender SUV add-ons, such as the gear carrier that clamps to the outside of the cargo area, are available as an option. Unlike a pick-up, the Defender 90 Hard Top’s cargo area is part of the interior, so it can be heated or cooled by the climate control system. Towing is where the Defender 90 Hard Top can match a pick-up truck, with a 3.5-tonne maximum towing capability on offer. Adding a towbar is an optional extra, though.

One area where the Land Rover Defender 90 Hard Top is in a league of its own is in terms of interior comfort. Your only clue to the fact you’re in a Hard Top is the full-height bulkhead, which has a mesh window for you to check your cargo. From the bulkhead forward, it’s identical to the Defender SUV, meaning there’s a two-seat layout, or you can add a third jump seat between them as an option, which can also be folded to use the cup holders set into the seat back. Standard equipment includes fabric seat trim, while the seats are heated and have electrical adjustment. There are analogue dials, but Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro 11.4-inch touchscreen features on all models, giving the Defender Hard Top a premium feel that most pick-ups can’t match. There are controls for the Terrain Response off-road system set below the screen, as well as the climate controls. Interior space is good for two, but a little tight in the optional three-abreast layout, while the tall driving position means the Defender is as high as most vans and with a similar view out. There’s a decent glovebox and the two-seat model has a deep centre armrest cubby that can be refrigerated as an option.

While the Defender SUV is available with a variety of petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrains, the Hard Top model is strictly diesel. All models feature Land Rover’s 3.0-litre Ingenium straight-six unit, with an eight-speed automatic gearbox and permanent four-wheel drive as standard. Mild-hybrid tech with stop-start is also included, but fuel economy in the low 30s is similar to that achieved by some pick-up trucks. An 89-litre fuel tank will deliver a range of more than 600 miles between fills, though, while there’s a 20.7-litre AdBlue tank that will need topping up every few thousand miles, too. Like a pick-up, the Defender Hard Top pays a flat rate of road tax. Benefit in Kind tax is also calculated at a flat rate, one that will be a lot less than it is for a Defender SUV being run as a company car.

Perhaps the biggest question mark about Defender Hard Top ownership will be how dependable it will be. Land Rover doesn’t have the best reputation, with electrical glitches being a constant issue with its cars. Dealer back-up isn’t necessarily the best, either. However, since the Defender shares its running gear and technology with the company’s other models, then strength in numbers dictates that it should be more reliable as a result. If you want to reduce the risk of issues, then the Defender 90 Hard Top comes with coil spring suspension as standard, eliminating the complexities of the air-suspension system found elsewhere in the Defender Hard Top line-up.

The six-cylinder diesel engines offered in the Defender 90 Hard Top deliver plenty of pulling power, ideal for towing a heavy trailer or getting out of tricky off-road situations. The Defender 90 has a choice of D200 and D250 engines, and their names relate to the horsepower on offer. Both engines deliver the same 420Nm torque figure, and the Defender’s six-cylinder layout and three-litre capacity means performance is pretty effortless, even when you consider the car’s size. An eight-speed automatic gearbox comes as standard, and it’s a smooth unit that contributes to the Defender’s relaxing drive. Permanent four-wheel drive is also fitted, which delivers plenty of grip on the road, and it comes with Land Rover’s Terrain Response system to deliver off-road capability that is better than almost any other commercial vehicle out there. The set-up allows you to tailor the Defender’s systems according to conditions, while a two-speed transfer case and locking centre differential further boost its off-road capability.

While the Defender 90 Hard Top only comes with coil springs and dampers, rather than the air-suspension system fitted to the Defender 110 version, it’s still far more comfortable than any other commercial vehicle for sale today. The SUV-derived suspension doesn’t need to be set-up to cope with payloads in excess of one tonne, so there’s none of the bounce that you might experience in an unladen pick-up truck, while the interior is far plusher than any other commercial vehicle needs to be. The full-height bulkhead is your only clue to the Defender Hard Top’s commercial vehicle status, and in every other way it behaves just like the Defender SUV. That means there’s good grip, and a suspension set-up that’s geared towards comfort. Motorway cruising is a breeze, and the suspension soaks up bumps well in urban areas, too.

Another benefit of the Defender 90 Hard Top’s SUV roots is that all of the car’s safety systems are carried over, and that means there’s a lot more safety kit than is typical with a commercial vehicle. As well as the Terrain Response system that tailors the 4x4 system to different surfaces, the Defender Hard Top features twin front airbags, power child locks, a seatbelt reminder, electronic stability control with hill start and descent assist, cornering brake control, emergency brake assist, roll stability control, cornering brake control, trailer stability assist and an all-terrain mode. Euro NCAP awarded the Defender SUV a five-star safety rating, and its score applies to the Hard Top, too.

No other commercial vehicle can match the Defender 90 Hard Top for standard equipment. Sure, you pay a significant price to get behind the wheel, but the kit list is long, and can be made even longer with a wide range of wheel, paint and interior options, and the same equipment packs as the SUV. The Defender 90 Hard Top comes in standard and S guises, so misses out on the higher-spec SE and HSE trims offered with the larger Defender 110 Hard Top. Still, in basic form it features those smart white 18-inch steel wheels, LED headlights, heated and electrically folding door mirrors, a heated windscreen, heated seats, an 11.4-inch infotainment system with online connectivity, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, 360-degree parking sensors and surround-view cameras. Move to the Defender S, and this adds auto main beam assistance, alloy wheels (the white steel wheels are available as an option), keyless entry and 12-way electrically adjustable heated seats with a fake leather finish. Options on offer include full leather, Land Rover’s ClearSight rear-view mirror (which projects a view of what’s behind you that is otherwise blocked by the spare wheel mounted on the back door), the third jump seat between the two regular chairs, black or white contrast roof colours, and an electronic active diff for enhanced off-roading. Choose the S model, and there are even more options available to personalise the Defender 90 Hard Top, but prices can quickly escalate if you’re not careful. Land Rover’s packs bundle extras together, with the Driver Assist Pack adding kit such as adaptive cruise control and blind spot assist, the Comfort and Convenience Pack adding extra cabin lighting, a Meridian stereo, a fridge and wireless phone charging. The Explorer, Adventure and Urban Packs offer different looks for the Defender 90, with mudflaps, exterior storage and side steps enhancing the car’s appearance.

If you’re in need of a commercial vehicle that offers effortless towing and can cover long distances in comfort, then the Land Rover Defender 90 Hard Top is a great alternative to a pick-up truck. The two-seat – or tight three-seat – layout means it’s not going to be as family friendly as a pick-up, but if you can live with this, then the Defender is well worth considering. It’s expensive for a commercial vehicle, but it’s also an upmarket machine that can promote your business, and it won’t look out of place whether you’re in the wilds or parked outside a stately home. The Defender’s off-road capability means it should be a top choice for users that need to head for the hills regularly.