The defender 110 is one of the most practical Defenders around, with three-door versions and a longer five-door model aimed at family buyers.

It’s also the most affordable, starting PS43,625, which is very competitive against cars like Jeep Wrangler and Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

The defender is built on JLR’s D7 Premium Lightweight Architecture (PLA) aluminium platform. It’s a three-times stiffer monocoque than its rivals, designed to cope with hefty loads while retaining excellent on-road poise and capability.

In this new incarnation, there’s a lot of personality in it too, which is a refreshing change from the bland utilitarian approach that some car-based SUVs take. There are a variety of interior finishes and accessories that allow you to customise the look.

Land Rover Defender 110: A Classic Off-Roader for Modern Adventurers

Inside, there’s a mix of soft materials and deliberately exposed screws, as well as a 11.4-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You can even get leather if you want.

You can also choose from a number of accessory packs, each designed to enhance a particular aspect of the Defender’s character. There’s the Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack, for example, which adds off-road wheels and an electronic active differential.

There’s also the X version, which is the most off-road-orientated in the range. It has air suspension and an electronic active differential – the latter able to vector torque by braking – plus a host of off-road driving modes.

It’s not the fastest or most fun to drive, but it’s a great mix of rough and smooth that works very well on all types of road. In our test drive, it had a comfortable relationship with the road and felt very stable when taking turns.