Land Rover Defender 90 2.5 (83 Hp)


Overall Rating

6.3 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 2.5 / 5
Value 3.5 / 5
Performance 3.0 / 5
Comfort 2.0 / 5
People\'s Opinion N/A / 5
Not Rated

Land Rover Defender:

The Land Rover Defender is a series of British off-road cars and pickup trucks. They have four-wheel drive, and were developed in the 1980s from the Land Rover series which was launched at the Amsterdam Motor Show in April 1948. Following the 1989 introduction of the Land Rover Discovery, "Land Rover" became the name of a broader marque, no longer the name of a specific model; thus, in 1990, Land Rover renamed them Defender 90, Defender 110 and Defender 130 respectively....(Read more on Wikipedia)

90 Overview:

Land Rover Defender (90). With 181 Nm of torque, it offers ample pulling power. With a weight of 1636 kg, it falls in the mid‑range. All‑wheel drive provides excellent grip, ideal for off‑road use. The top speed reaches 115 km/h. A rugged vehicle built to handle rough terrains and challenging driving conditions. With seating for 6, it’s perfect for larger families.

2.5 (83 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

Underpowered for modern roads, but adequate for light off-road use and utility tasks. Acceleration is very slow.

Fuel Economy

Poor fuel economy for its power output, typical of older carburetted petrol engines in a heavy vehicle.

Best Use Case: Farm utility, light off-roading, classic restoration.

Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Unmatched off-road capability and durability.
  • • Iconic, timeless design with strong heritage.
  • • Excellent parts availability and repairability.
  • • Strong resale value for well-maintained examples.
  • • Highly customizable for various uses.

Cons:

  • • Poor on-road comfort and refinement.
  • • Limited passive safety features by modern standards.
  • • High fuel consumption for petrol V8s.
  • • Slow acceleration, especially with lower-powered engines.
  • • Prone to rust in certain areas if not maintained.

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(90: 1984 - 1990).

General:
Brand:Land Rover
Model:Defender
Generation:90
Modification (Engine):2.5 (83 Hp)
Start of production:1985
End of production:1997
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Off-road vehicle
Seats:6
Doors:2
Engine:
Power:83 Hp @ 4000 rpm.
Power per litre:33.3 Hp/l
Torque:181 Nm @ 2000 rpm.
Engine displacement:2495
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Carburettor
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Engine layout:Front, Longitudinal
Cylinder Bore:90.5 mm mm
Piston Stroke:97 mm mm
Compression ratio:8:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - combined:14.8 l/100 km
Maximum speed:115 km/h
Weight-to-power ratio:19.7 kg/Hp, 50.7 Hp/tonne
Weight-to-torque ratio:9 kg/Nm, 110.6 Nm/tonne
Space:
Kerb Weight:1636
Max. weight:2400
Max load:764
Trunk (boot) space - minimum:1600 l
Fuel tank capacity:55 l
Size:
Length:3722 mm mm [Same length.]
Width:1790 mm mm [Same width.]
Height:2000 mm mm [Same height.]
Wheelbase:2360 mm mm [Same wheelbase.]
Front track:1486 mm
Rear (Back) track:1486 mm
Powertrain:
Drive wheelAll wheel drive (4x4)
Number of gears5
Transmission typeManual
Front brakesDisc [bad for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDrum [bad for performance and cooling.]
Assisting systemsABS (Anti-lock braking system)
Tires size205/80 R16 S
Front suspensionRigid axle suspension
Rear suspensionRigid axle suspension

The hidden gems or the annoying flaws? Expose the truth about the Land Rover Defender!