Land Rover tries to modify Defender's looks as little as possible, in an attempt to preserve its classic appearance. The exceptionally rugged, tough, boxy appearance might go down well with the select few. But for the masses, Defender looks out-of-place in the modern world. Perhaps that is Land Rover's intention: Defender is a timeless classic, and it shall not conform to expectations, modern or otherwise. With a ladder frame chassis and live beam axles, Defender really is a truck underneath, and a crude handling one at that. On the road, this massive vehicle rolls excessively, and although it does grip on stronger than you might expect, the steering is astonishingly slow and vague. But that is only half the story. Defender is invincible off-road, where its lofty ground clearance, permanent four-wheel drive, dual-range transfer box, lockable centre differential, and unmatched approach/departure angles enable you to conquer the most extreme of terrains. Think you know what's a bumpy ride? Well, not until you have tried Defender. The suspension seems to amplify, rather than absorb, the impact from bumps, and the end result is one very bumpy ride. The situation is made worse by the dire refinement, as engine, wind and road noise batter away at your ears. Adjustments are minimal, too: The steering column is fixed, and the driver's seat only slides forward and backward. Lucky, then, that the seats are well-positioned and supportive, while the all-round view is excellent. No plush materials or sleek finishing here, unsurprisingly. The entire cabin seems bomb-proof, as it perhaps needs to be. Materials are of the extremely durable variety, while the fit-and-finish feel solid enough to endure the toughest of punishment. Land Rover's reliability record is not great, but Defender should remain trouble-free. The underlying mechanicals, including the engine, are proven. And unlike modern Land Rovers, Defender's cabin is sparse on electronics, thereby limiting the number of things that could go wrong. Defender is driven by a 2.4-litre turbodiesel engine paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. With 121 bhp at 3500 rpm and 360 Nm at a low 2000 rpm, it is clear that pulling power takes priority over outright acceleration, as it should. This amount of torque brings up to 3500 kg of towing capacity, and allows you to navigate most terrains. The on-road performance is flexible and not all that slow considering Defender's kerb weight. Headroom is abundant, but leg- and elbow-room are poor, and you will have a hard time preventing your elbow from knocking into the door. On-board storage compartments are in short supply, too. But that is hardly surprising, as ergonomics are low on Defender's list of priorities. Being a truck, there is plenty of cargo space. The 9.0 km/litre fuel consumption is decent for such a large vehicle, but you will be nailing the throttle frequently just to keep up with traffic, which will mean worse-off fuel economy. Servicing and repair costs should be reasonable. But depreciation would be the killer blow. The second-hand demand for a vehicle only usable off-road is weak, even though Defender wears the reputable Land Rover badge. In an attempt to preserve the old-school charm of the vehicle first launched in 1948, Land Rover tried to change as little as possible in the construction of the new Defender. The end result is a vehicle that defies conventional assessment. Defender's off-road ability is legendary, but the rest of the car is abysmal, with flaws impossible to forgive by today's standards. Unless you spend 95 percent of your time off-road, or if you can appreciate Defender's undeniable pedigree, you should avoid this car. Other than the off-road gears, creature comforts are few and far in between. 16" steel wheels are standard, along with air-conditioning, radio and central locking. Think airbags and anti-lock brakes are the norm? Think again, because Defender offers none of those. You will need to trust in its tank-like body. Considering that the effective, day-to-day fuel economy is likely lower than 9.0 km/litre, and that the carbon dioxide emissions are in excess of 250 grams/km, Defender is one of the worst polluting cars on our roads. The fact that it lasts forever helps little, as modern, more efficient alternatives would not be bought as replacements, allowing Defender to harm the environment for decades.