2015 Land Rover Defender 90 Hardtop

Built in October 2014 and first registered in 2015, this Defender 90 XS Hardtop has been well maintained and is presented for sale in very clean and smart condition, with 63,013 miles on the clock. The service record shows only two previous owners, and it carries a judicious package of accessories that add a touch of road presence while improving usability (and fun factor). Nothing too wild or controversial – we think you’ll agree it’s been tastefully done.

Creature comforts include premium heated leather seats, heated screen, electric windows, air-con, and an aftermarket pop-out sat nav/DVD player in the single-DIN stereo slot connected to improved aftermarket speakers. The Puma dash (fitted from 2007) gives the best ventilation of any Defender.

Judging by its comprehensive ‘high line’ spec and Indus Silver roof, it appears it may have left Solihull in rare Silver Pack specification. (Unveiled at the 2014 Geneva Motor Show, the Silver Pack came with privacy glass, Indus Silver roof with Santorini Black bodywork, and the option of lovely premium leather seats – as fitted here.) If it’s a Silver Pack Defender, some minor cosmetic tweaks have probably happened since then, but whatever you want to call it, it’s a fun combination of upmarket options with a utilitarian van-like cargo area. It even has ‘Alpine’ windows in the roof to alleviate the gloom.

ABS and Traction Control were standard on most Defenders by this point in production.

The present owner bought it in May last year. “I had great ambitions for it, but I must admit I’ve hardly ever used it,” he tells us. “It’s been sitting plugged into its battery conditioner and not going out much, which is why I’ve decided to sell it.”

It’s a real looker, with a distinctive colour combination of Santorini Black bodywork with Indus Silver roof. The whole exterior presents beautifully, partly thanks to some minor cosmetic work that the vehicle received in the summer of 2022.

Our photographer has provided close-ups of the few blisters and dings so you can gauge their insignificance. Those colour-coded wing mirrors could do with a respray, and the driver’s wind deflector has cracked but is cheaply replaceable. Close scrutiny will reveal gentle scuffs around the driver’s door handle and a few minor dings – nothing severe. It’s a lot smarter than most Defenders overall.

Those 18-inch ‘Sawtooth’ alloy wheels wear a handsome set of BF Goodrich all-terrain tyres; judging by their condition they’ve been skilfully piloted through the urban jungle. Other extras that are believed to originate from Solihull are the raised air intake, mud flaps, side steps, NAS-style rear step and black chequerplate fitted along the sill panels, wing tops, bumper tread-points and rear wing corners.

There’s also quite a tasty stainless steel LED light bar by Uproar 4x4 (worth £750). Front and rear sidelights are LED upgrades, as are the main headlamp units, improving both safety and aesthetics.

The cabin is extremely smart and well appointed by Defender standards. Aftermarket trim protectors are fitted to the top corners of the seat box, and the footwells have original rubber mats in excellent condition, with very clean trim underneath. Under the passenger seat is the original bottle jack, wheel brace and chock. Anyone familiar with Defender sunroofs and their tendency to leak will be pleased to hear that this example doesn’t have one. 

There’s a tiny nick on the side of the passenger seat, visible in our photos, but overall the seats are in lovely condition, as is the matching leather trim on the cubby box – another feature which singles this out as a rather special example.

Behind those premium leather seats (a £1200 option) is a bulkhead-delete bar, enabling better seat reclining ability, and the rear cargo area contains a high-quality steel lockable storage drawer by Mobile Storage Systems. On top is a neatly carpeted platform with tie-down hooks. If you want to carry humans in the back, you’ll need to unbolt it and fit some seats, but if you need to carry belongings instead, look no further.

Thieves who take a fancy to it should be foiled by the Thatcham-approved Scorpion tracker, details of which are included in accompanying paperwork (see photos).

The chassis is largely free from mud and shows only surface corrosion. You’ll even find the original GKN sticker on one of the main rails – surely a rarity these days. A professional underseal treatment would be advisable, but until then you should have nothing to worry about.

This Defender rides on heavy-duty coil springs and is equipped with a rear anti-roll bar to help keep those 18in wheels planted. A steering guard is also fitted, just in case you ever do venture off-road.

The engine bay is very tidy and free from mud spatter, another indication that this Defender has probably never been away from Tarmac. The 2.2-litre TDCi engine starts willingly and revs sweetly with no antisocial plumes from the exhaust.

Mechanically we are not aware of any faults. The current MOT is valid until June next year and no advisories were noted for its latest test. In fact, this Land Rover has only ever had one advisory in its life (for a worn brake disc which has presumably since been replaced). 

It seems this Defender has required little more than servicing and replacement of a few consumables during its 63k-mile history. The biggest invoice in the file is a bill for £425 in May 2022, showing replacement of the EGR valve, a wheel bearing, drop links and some work on the glow plugs. (The fact that all that could be done so affordably gives a clue as to why Defenders are so widely admired.)

Also dating from that time is a two-year RAC warranty which still has six months to run, although please note that we cannot confirm whether this is transferrable to the next owner.

Land Rover’s own service record, included in our photographs, indicates the vehicle has been serviced every other year between 2014 and 2020. The paperwork also reveals that it has worn a private registration owned by the current owner, but has now been reverted to its original plate, VU15 OYN. 

Not many vehicles offer such a desirable balance of fun, presence, all-terrain capability and van-like usability. Especially if you want one to retain its value, as good Defenders always have, and be taxable as an LGV to keep running costs down. 

This is a cracking example of one of a late-spec ‘proper’ Defender with decades of service ahead of it, equally suited to hauling your Christmas shopping or mucking in at the farmyard. Whether you want to use it as is or modify it to your heart’s content, the options are endless.

This Defender combines a desirable spec with high levels of originality and gentle prior usage. We estimate that it will sell for £25,000 - £30,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.