First Drive: Prindiville Land Rover Defender

Land Rover’s Defender is an icon, and Prindiville recognises that, its styling overhaul of the off-roader being remarkably subtle. Effective though, the changes to it including LED lighting in the bumper, cool new front lights and housings and a new grille, revised rear lights, running boards, five-spoke 18-inch wheels and less aggressively treaded Michelin road (rather than off-road) tyres. There’s a slight drop in the suspension height too – between 1-2 inches depending on what you specify – which alone enhances the Defender’s looks.

Though based in this case on the hardtop ’90’ model Prindiville can accommodate pretty much any request you desire. The interior is where the biggest changes are obvious, featuring new seats, leather trimming and more serious in-car entertainment. It’d be wrong to ever call a Defender luxurious, but the Prindiville is about as close as you’ll get. Manoeuvring it is easier too, thanks both to a reversing camera and a smaller steering wheel – making getting lock on much less of an elbow-to-door bruising experience.