INSURANCE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL

Range Rover Velar (2017-on) £27,500-£75,000

because of its particularly handsome exterior. It’s based upon the same architecture as the Jaguar F-Pace but has greater off-road ability and is available with a wide choice of engines, most of which combine good economy with usable everyday performance.

Discovery (1989-1998) £800-£18,000

other models expected to follow the Velar in due course.

But is there a whiff of style over substance? Well, it’s a very good SUV. But you don’t half pay a premium for those suave looks...

with the same 100” wheelbase and a slick body containing a spacious, flexible cabin. It was well equipped and refined, and it came with the wonderful Tdi engine.

The Velar a competent cruiser and has received numerous accolades

The interior is Land Rover’s most advanced cabin to date, with

Pros: Stylish design, chic cabin, excellent tech features Cons: Feels like an indulgence, especially at such a high price

Discovery 2 (1998-2004) £1000-£11,000

most reliable units ever. It drives well, too – mated to a manual box it has more guts even than the V8 option, which is surprisingly bland but predictably thirsty.

Whereas the Disco 1 was prone to body rust, the D2 is fine here. Instead, its chassis rots like a carrot, especially towards the back end. Also at the back, seven-seat

The original Discovery was based on the Range Rover of the time,

Over time, the Disco’s epic ability meant almost all of them were hammered at playdays. Lower body rust is a big killer, too. So it’s rare to find a good one now, and when you do they tend to be priced with a lot of optimism. Very early ones in tip-top condition are full-on classics, too. For a sound one to own, we’d look for a tidy 300Tdi.

Pros: Price, practicality, parts availability. Epic off-road ability

Cons: The body rusts like it’s been doused in sea water

Discovery 3 (2004-2009) £1850-£16,000

models had air-suspension, with all the horrors that brings.

Mainly, D2 owners will tell you about rogue electronics. And leaky sunroofs. They still love their trucks, though, which says a lot.

Pros: Td5 power and reliability, great all-rounder, lots of choice

Cons: Chassis rust, electronics, leaky sunroofs, air suspension

The Disco 3 is an astonishing allround vehicle. It’s good on the road and capable off-road, genuinely luxurious and a giant of a tow truck, and as well as being able to seat seven adults it can be turned into a van with a totally flat rear load area.

But it was also astonishingly complex, and these days it has a reputation as a money pit. Air suspension and electronic handbrakes are big sources of woe, cam belts are a body-off job to change and rust is becoming more of an issue. Get a good one, though, and it’s all the car you’ll ever need.

Pros: Good at everything. Lots of accessories available now

Cons: As fragile as you expect, and then some is basically an evolution of the 3. It looks similar and is still a practicality monster, as well as being hugely impressive on and off-road and a hero in front of a trailer, but despite being only subtly tweaked inside feels far more luxurious.

That hasn’t prevented it from suffering all the same issues as time has gone on. You need to body and dishes up an appealing all-round blend of comfort, kit and general driving manners.The third row of seats is only suitable for little ‘uns, though, and off-road it’s a Discovery in name only.

It’s a more practical proposition than the closely related Evoque, and you won’t need to live with the fear of Posh Spice jokes. You start off by buying the best you can possibly afford – and at the top of the market, they don’t come cheap. Get it right, though, and this is as good as a modern Land Rover has ever been.

Pros: Most LR fans’ idea of what a Range Rover should be like Cons: Still a potential money pit, and the best are expensive might shudder at the price if you’re buying new, though – but on the used market, there are some tidy looking deals to be had, even on high-spec examples.

Pros: More practical than an Evoque, and less vulgar. Seven seats. Capable enough off-road Cons: Back seats only for small mammals. Price of top models monster. As an all-rounder, at launch it was the most capable Land Rover on sale – the new Defender will be going some to wrest that crown from it.

All the engines in the range are refined and flexible, and its chassis is remarkably supple for such a big vehicle. There’s no end of electronics working away in the background, but the effect is very convincing – as is an interior that might make you wonder why you’d bother paying more for a Range Rover. Just be careful not to go wild with the options and end up paying more for a Discovery…

Pros: Immense blend of comfort and practicality

Cons: Feels more like a softroader than a proper Discovery

Discovery Sport (2019-on) £21,000-£62,000

after the first. That’s because once again, it’s related to the Evoque, which was ready for a full new model in 2019.

The Sport is a premium midsized SUV with seven seats and a decent level of off-road ability. It’s a massively popular choice for the school run – and, with the arrival of a plug-in hybrid option last year, as a company car. Quality has taken a step up from the first model – it’s now a convincing premium vehicle, and the range offers enough choices to suit anybody with the means to buy one.

Pros: Classy and practical cabin, all-round good to drive

Cons: You can get a Defender for the price of some models

Series IIA 109” 2.25 diesel (1968). Galv chassis. Fairey overdrive. Very good engine, box, running gear. Factory paint. Same owner 19712002. Original registration docs. All matching numbers. £13,500. Devon. 07783 051634 02/23/005

Series III Lightweight FFR (1984).

2.25 petrol (original engine). RHD. New fuel tank. Excellent soft top. Original chassis (some minor repairs, then Waxoyled). Enthusiast owned. £8995. Peterborough. 07452 950853 02/23/006

Series I 107 (1955). 84,112 miles.

2.5 TD 19J engine fitted 10 years ago. Solid undersealed chassis and bulkhead. Starts and stops right. Various parts also available inc correct 2.0 engine. £13,995. St Austell. 07792 621848 01/23/002

Products Vehicles News

Adventure Workshop

Defender 110 TD5 Hi-Cap (2002). 133,461 miles. Recent major restoration. Demountable camping pod with wood burning stove, sink, gas cooker, benches, table and bed. MOT June. £16,000. Brechin. 07802 331539 03/23/004

Defender 90 2.2 TDCi HT (2014). 64,000 miles. 2-seater. BFG A/Ts, Momo wheel, KBX grille and vents, Sony/Alpine Bluetooth stereo, hi-top cubby. Professionally waxed every year. £33,000. Saundersfoot. 07495 041333 02/23/001

Defender 90 2.5 DT (1990). 100,950 miles. LT77 box. Strong chassis, excellent engine and box, galv rack and ladder. Bodywork original. Recent turbo and water pump. MOT Apr. £6950. Totnes. 07861 781660 02/23/004

Defender 90 Td5 (2002). 74,000 miles. Solid chassis, new exhaust. Great condition inside and out. Towbar, steel wheels. Ali rear canopy. Very good tyres. 2 owners. FSH. MOT June. £14,500. North Yorks. 01642 824772 01/23/006

Defender 90 300Tdi (1998). 120,000 miles. Restored on galv chassis. New brakes and clutch, swivels, fuel tank, handbrake. 2” lift, dislocation cones, alloys, swingaway wheel carrier. £14,000. Stroud. 07771 798099 01/23/008

90 (1986). 95,000 miles. Cummins 6BT engine. Recon transfer box, ARB Air-Lockers front and back. New batteries, bucket seats, chequer plate front, speakers in the back. £12,000. Dudley. 07466 990148 01/23/007

90 300 Tdi (1987). 155,000 miles. Galv bulkhead. Disco engine, box and tranny. Rear discs. Slickshift, snorkel, winch, Optimas, cage, sliders, +3” suspension, 33” Fedimas. MOT Oct. £10,000. Melksham. 07961 847850 01/23/009

Defender 90 300 Tdi Truck-Cab (1989). 125,000 miles. Extremely tidy, no welding needed. Bespoke roof rack for carrying very long, heavy ladders. Starts first time. MOT Sep. £9495. Ormskirk. 07484 186035 02/23/003

Defender 90 Td5 SW (2003). 87,000 miles. Alloys, nav, leather. Tuned. Full LEDs, upgraded grilles and vents, alcantara wheel. No rust, drives very well. FSH. MOT Sept. £22,500. Sevenoaks. 07834 550510 02/23/002

Range Rover Macnellie limousine (1990). Unique. Bespoke chassis. Comes with all bespoke parts, including Brooklands body kit, and a good donor car for the running gear, dash, air-con etc. £9950. Walton. 07958 258770 02/23/007

Range Rover Classic 2.5 TD 2-dr (1987). 90,000 miles. LHD, UK reg’d. Mechanically sound, solid chassis and inner wings etc. Lots of paperwork to confirm mileage etc. MOT Aug. £9995. Lancaster. 07776 474925 01/23/004

Discovery 300 Tdi 50th Anniversary (1998).

Discovery 300 Tdi ES Premium (1997). 157,000 miles. Manual. Spanish import. Solid. New clutch, cam belt, brakes, filters, head lining. Sunroofs resealed. MOT Jan 24. £2750. Richmond, N.Yorks. 07990 970129 03/23/001

Whatever your taste in Land Rovers, there’s one annual publication you can’t afford to miss. The Land Rover Yearbook is an eclectic blend of classics, modified motors, new Landies, product reviews, travelogues and more.

This year’s Yearbook includes a range of 90s and 110s that have been brought back to life with a twist. And a 107” Station Wagon, too, restored and modified into a Series I like no other. If you prefer your classics to be more, well, classic, you’ll find an 88” Series IIA rebuilt with a devotion to originality that borders on the fanatical. And how about one of the very earliest Freelanders? Not everyone’s idea of a classic, but everything about Land Rover’s history since then says it’s one of the most significant vehicles the company has ever made.

The Discovery, for example, was a truck in the pre-Freelander era. Now it’s a premium SUV. We’ve tested the current model in entry-level D250 form in a bid to find out whether you really need to stretch all the way to a top-spec engine. And we’ve driven the basic Defender 90, too – steel wheels and all. Not just on any test drive, either, but a mighty green lane trip on some of the best trails in the country.

That’s one kind of travel story. Getting up close to Africa’s wildlife is definitely another, and so too is the Dakar Classic. Loads of historic Range Rovers and Series trucks were involved in this marathon desert rally – yet not one of them had a British driver. So be warned spend a day or two poring over the 2023 Land Rover Yearbook and you might come away on a mission to put that right!

£8.99 in whsmith or order online at www.amedia-shop.co.uk

Rrl660

Utility inspection light that has Chip On Board (COB)

LED technology that emits up to 180 lumens. With a swivel hook and magnet, the RRL660 is perfect for hands-free use. Anti-slip grip and ABS material with rubber paint finish make it durable and ideal for use in a demanding workshop environment. Batteries included.

3W COB Flat Inspection Light 180 lumens

Anti slip grip and ABS material with rubber paint finish

Magnet and 360° rotating hook for hands free working www.ringautomotive.com

West

Look after a Land Rover, and it will last forever. This longevity, which is almost unique in the car industry, means a vast number of classic Land Rovers are still on the road today – and not just as classics, but as historical vehicles still working for their living to this day.

Land Rover: The Great British Classic celebrates this magnificent heritage by focusing on the best of Land Rover from its early days. A high-quality publication from the makers of 4x4 magazine and The Landy newspaper, it covers a broad spectrum of historical vehicles: not just Series I, II and III Land Rovers from the postwar years, but also the first generations of Range Rovers, Discoverys and Freelanders, as well as the 90s and 110s that were later to become the legendary Defender.

Covering the vehicles’ history, spotlighting case studies of restored and otherwise much-loved examples and searching out stories of adventure behind the wheel, Land Rover: The Great British Classicc is a publication for everyone who admires Land Rovers from the early days.