It is important to be honest, it is only a Defender in name. Therefore we cannot realisticly compare this latest model with the original Series and Defenders because naturally it will be far superior in many aspects. I was luck to test drive one just prior to the 3rd Lockdown, when my wife's Evoque was in for service - it was fabulous, smooth, comfortable and extremely quiet. The advancement of technology has made for much more reliable and comfortable vehicle. However, this was never the appeal of the original Defender, the ability to fix things in the field and throw things in the with worrying about messing or damaging the interior was a big pull. Indeed if you knocked it on a tree or a rock it wasn't a big deal...truthfully, who was ever afraid of hitting it with a big hammer? Even now the appeal of the old Defenders is that we are all able to tinker on with them, that is lost on the new model. But anyone who suggested that the new Defender is worse and less reliable than the old one is lying, it is almost an impossibility, but the fact is that most of us don't like it because it doesn't fit the criteria we associate with a Defender or the role we need the Defender to fulfil. Therefore, in my opinion, it is not a Defender, its simply another new modern 4x4 which will drive around the urban metropolis saying "look at me, I drive a new Defender". Furthermore, at that price there are much better vehicles available which do the same job. So its a big no from me!!!
