LEGO 10317: Land Rover Classic Defender 90 - HANDS-ON REVIEW

I have to say, when I think of the classic Defender, this is literally the only color that comes to mind, it's iconic. I love the amount of customizability that is there right out of the box, and I can already see people coming up with mods for a locking winch, HOG steering, and of course - motorization.

[@zecharjatheunisse6602]

Nice de-fender pun bro

[@searme]

Doing my best, thanks.

[@haflingerfan5800]

The toolbox and the hi-lift jack are pretty awesome! Love the design of the jerrycans, too. 10/10 for Hamster Space!

[@Thinginator]

This is what all the recent display-oriented Technic sets should be. Technic is all about functions but doesn't look as good as system models, as this set proves. If you want a few fun technic features in a detail-oriented set, this is the way to do it. It really is like the return of Model Team and I am here for it, I hope more Lego Icons sets can be like this so that Technic sets can also return to what Technic is all about - the functions above all else.

[@mathieuedde1465]

Unpopular opinion: all cars should be like this, imagine how much better the Ferrari Daytona or the Lambo would look if they were in this line, and opens up the releases for technic to do more commercial/industrial vehicles

[@brickphisto2321]

​@@mathieuedde1465 There is no way to recreate the lines and shape of a modern supercar decently using system parts.

[@mathieuedde1465]

@@brickphisto2321 certainly be much closer than technic ever could

[@racernatorde5318]

When building vehicles, combining Technic with System was always peak Lego

[@69narciso69]

I think that's a V8, non a V6.

[@Formulka]

This is like the revival of Model Team

[@octavianlacatusu9637]

Great, honest review as always! I do like the colours, and am quite excited to get those rims in this colour. I totally agree on the price though. For $150 more or so (which I admit, may not be cheap for everyone) you can get a pretty-damn detailed RC Defender with a multi-speed gearbox, 4x4 and locking diffs. There are also several very detailed MOCs out there (also RC) of the Classic Defender which I think do a better job than the official set.

[@lukasvala9729]

Thanks!

[@teggy1734]

I want this

[@IndrasilDesignStudio]

I think it speaks volumes about the quality of the set when you had to nitpick that hard to find flaws within. Appreciate the honesty though.

[@Metagross555]

The ramps you mentioned are actually traction plates. In real life they are way too thin to be used as ramps

[@valfahr126]

But he is right in that they are way too thick

[@Metagross555]

@@valfahr126 yes

[@user-sk7ss5zq8i]

I has both design and machanism. I love it. Perfect rand rover!

[@SodorStudiosAndCoProductions]

3:15 “Defender fender”

[@cikho]

my name is fender. de fender

After years of silence, LEGO made my heart bounce once again. Thanks Paweł, perfect review as always.

[@tvhwssywp108]

Thank you Sariel for your great review, I value your overview of the functions and your impressions the most. Happy to see you were able to get the set and get the review done before today!

[@justtoolleeow304]

Since they're including so many technic parts into these 18+ sets, I kinda wish 18+ was "high end technic", and they went back to the original technic styling I fell in love with, like barely any panels, no embellishment system parts, focus on the functions and playability.

[@christophetardivat234]

Great review, it actually seems more fun to build and play with than the technic defenderwhich was so complex for little usability!

[@GeneralPurposeVehicl]

the stickers the bonnet's front curve are on staying on very well

[@Tgbec]

I think I’m in love with this set, it’s everything I wanted from the technic defender.

[@richardhodgson6711]

Is it just me who prefers the uncomplicated functionality of hand of god steering over a working steering wheel which is fiddly to gain proper access to?

[@PhoenixClank]

I appreciate the fender puns!

[@Boris._.the._.labrador]

Genialny filmik Sariel, jednak nie sposób nie wspomnieć o błędzie w napisach, które nazywają V8 jako V6

[@GearsOfConfiguration]

❤

[@The_Real_JN]

Petrol v8* 😂, definitely going to try and mod a 4 door version of this too. White rims to match the roof and flip the wheels to give a wider stance, silver / grey to mimic the corrugated bonnet, camper converted interior too

[@rusio_]

I really love this set, it's to expensive for me tho. That is really sad, because this ist a set i would love not only to display but also build due to this beautiful color for the classic Defender

[@just-xis]

10317 as the set number and L316 on the license plate. Ah, so close!

[@messiermitchell4901]

Do you think the suspension set up has given you any inspiration for future small-mid sized builds?

[@searme]

Certainly.

[@andressantamaria8904]

Hasta que se me hizo realidad tener el Defender clásico, no quise comprar el Defender de la línea Technic porque era la versión moderna y yo quería el modelo clásico... hasta que por fin salió a la venta el clásico, así que no puedo esperar a que llegue a mi pías para adquirirlo... gracias amigo como siempre por mantenernos informados en primicia de todo lo nuevo que sale de LEGO. Un saludo desde Bogotá Colombia. 👍🍀✌🙏🟡🟡🔵🔴

[@mike_d]

I have to de-fend your pun game, superb as usual

[@zzz1001ww]

Easter egg: L316 in the licence plate is LandRover's internal codename for the Defender. Don't know what "HUE" stands for though.

[@theldaniel170]

HUE 166 was the factory code for this specific green paint.

[@coffeeinhandproductions3238]

Pretty positive overall. Most of these cars rely on Technic mostly for the undercarriage, and steering whereas the T2 was pretty Technic intensive so I really don't see this as being anymore or less difficult. Windshield's really dependent on the roof rack being in place to hide the inaccuracy of it being the same one from the T2. Didn't know you got two complete spares as thought they needed to be swapped out between the Expedition and regular modes. Overall a great addition to the Creator Expert lineup though the price increase is going to make this difficult to jump on right away like previous model releases.

[@drdel76]

Intolerable music. However, I would agree that Lego made a silly mistake using a standard (albeit rarely seen) Lego windscreen element. The actual Defender 90 (I own one) has a flat windscreen. Surely it would have been easy to model that.

[@searme]

Why not use the mute button?

[@arghjayem]

21:15 Whilst yes it isn’t a perfect representation of the defender, this is LEGO after all and not a scale model. I think it gets the gist of the idea of a Defender pretty well, but I do agree with you on the windscreen. Considering that a Land Rover defender is such a square boxy design it’s strange that in some places LEGO failed to replicate that look. The windscreen being the most obvious of this failing. I think they should have done a new windscreen piece, basically a large flat transparent plate with attachment at the top and bottom. Could’ve been a useful piece for other sets too. And I think they should have increased the scale of the set slightly.

[@JonniP1]

"De-fender your Defender". Nice one! 😂

[@SuperNumber16]

Would be cool to mod this one into a moc SAS/SF defender, like the pink panther or another variant

[@TomaszbtdZiobrowski]

14:47 niby live axle, four link, ale nie krzyżuje się zupełnie jak w realu ;-) 15:56 v6? a nie v8? 17:27 i high-lift zacina się zupełnie jak prawdziwy :D 18:57 woooody :D

[@jdriley24]

A) don't care about the windshield being "wrong" I'm not a car person, I'm a Lego person. Also reusing the part is practical. B) I don't see Lego selling a version of this that endorses smoking. Aka the "Camel" version. Cuz that's a cigarette logo on that toy you showed.

[@xzzz1457]

Those wheels for new tanks in green colour :)

[@lemerbrix1375]

Hey, how well does this pair with the technic defender?

[@searme]

Not that well. The scale and looks are very different.

[@noscopesallowed8128]

This is the first Lego kit I've been truly excited for in about a decade. I agree the windshield was a disappointing cop out, and the price doesn't make it better. Wish it was a 110 myself, but oh well guess I can convert it. It is Lego after all.

[@legoswami]

5561 Bigfoot Van was really the first set which was in the model team/expert cars/icons/whatever to come with a full technix style suspension...

[@indi_64]

De-fender your Defender... LUL nice😂

[@ritualentertainment]

So Sariel, I must ask: You have designed what was possibly the most detailed MOC of the Land Rover Defender and used the Camel Trophy theme. People clamored to get the instructions from you to build it themselves, but after a while you decided to pull the instructions offline and just let the photos float for posterity's sake. How do you feel about this set considering the potential yours had to continue satisfying AFOLs more alert to the combination of build, aesthetic, and theme? This is obviously due to the fact that Lego "commercializes" their models a lot, evidenced by the way some really great Ideas sets get the magic sucked out of them when they're approved for production. Do you think this set fits (and fills!) the gap your MOC had?

[@searme]

Um, I pulled instructions offline? You must be mistaken, I never made instructions for it in the first place.

[@racernatorde5318]

I can't remember it, but did someone reverse engineer his MOC back in the days? I think there was some random video of Beyond the Brick in some private Lego store and they had a model on display that was nearly identical. Maybe they made the instructions you mentioned? But again, I can't really remember, it must have been 5-6 years ago

[@user-rs1990]

Could Bellville/Scala dolls be adequately proportioned for this model? ;-)

[@thisistotallyfine]

Cool car but don't really care about the accessories, which makes me question whether it's worth the $$$ to buy it. I rather they price it lower without the accessories and roof rack stuff.

[@racernatorde5318]

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't this also the first set in years to use those wheels (The goats) again?

[@LimChingLiang]

Great review as usual by Sariel. I don't think I will get it on 1st release day. Maybe wait until got 10 - 15% discount. Btw, this Land Rover design got a little bit like Cada Suzuki Jimmy.

[@cmartin_ok]

Is it just me, or are the roof-mounted fuel cans comically oversized in scale? And compared to the Technic Defender, this seems rather over-priced

[@mikosoft]

de-fender your Defender :D

[@KacsaFacsaro]

turbo disel forever

[@udomino]

Authenticity : ** - why 4*? you explained in detail the failures. Value: *; why again 4*? I am willing to pay a maximum of 150€ and the price will go down to this level.

[@gaboriloskity]

15:50 isn't it a V8 tho?

[@shykitten55]

I'm confused with something. "contains one non-numberd bag with pieces. 18 bags with pieces numbered 1 to 15. What happened to 16 and 17? Or is it there are multiple bags with the same number/s on them? Seems strange. Then why put numbers on the bags at all? Just saying.

[@searme]

There are multiple bags with the same numbers on them, of course. Pretty common in LEGO sets.

[@shykitten55]

@@searme Sorry. It just threw me reading it literally. I don't get why Lego do that. If there are ... 17 bags, why not number them 1 - 17. Not with duplicate numbers on more than one bag.

[@thomyberbut6014]

Film jak zwykle świetny. Nasuwa mi się pytanie, po co nosisz rękawiczki do składania? Kiedyś pisałeś, że to przez dużą liczbę zachorowań wiemy na co, teraz jednak sprawa "przyschła" więc jaki jest powód ich noszenia? Wygodniej się składa?

[@searme]

Mam bardzo suchą skórę. Brzydko wygląda.

[@poland_stronk]

Myślałem że nie chcesz zostawiać nieestetycznych śladów palców na modelach 😅

[@searme]

To też.

[@cartoon1production]

It's incredible how is more techinc this set rather than other real technic sets today

[@Tyindel]

The big issue i have with this set is the price. it's 370 AUD (Australian dollars) which is the 10 AUD more than the last two modular buildings and more interestingly, 50 more than the modern Technic Defender set which imo for the price considering the features it has is a better buy. if it was like 270-300 AUD it would be an instant buy for me but as it stands, i just can't justify dropping 370 AUD on this set

[@petehoskins1267]

Price is correct as per my local Lego shop yesterday. AUD $350-370. They believe this will still be a very big selling set, and I am going to have to think about getting one, it’s a very nice set. And the engine option is a V8, I am sure you just typed V6 by accident. Great review. Cheers 🇦🇺

[@DonBolano]

Dużo pochlebniejsza recenzja niż ta od Tiago ;) Dobrze mieć opinię z kilku źródeł ;)

[@lukasznowosad7274]

Nie dałeś żadnego porównania z defenderem sprzed kilku lat (42110).

[@searme]

Nie dałem bo 42110 to czysty Technic, nie bardzo jest jak porównać.

[@dariocestoni4437]

Impossibile vederlo tutto ti cadono gli occhi x terra

[@gothops154]

Nie wiem czy mam pisać po polsku czy angielsku ale ten drugi motor jest V8 nie V6. Może nawet być LS swap z Chevy, ale na pewno V8 :)

[@FokkerBoombass]

How many hamster poops on average do you remove from a set/moc after filming?

[@searme]

What makes you think I remove them? ;)

[@FokkerBoombass]

@@searme AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[@darrylbuckett5380]

I might buy it when on special but at $370 AUD thats rediculous, what about a 110 or 130 or even a caravan to go on that towhitch. I love Lego but it is pricing itself out of existance. Cheers

Still I would prefer Technic Defender. I think it’s the best “supercar”. And it can handle my son playing

[@cikho]

omg this is missing the tan- camel trophy like- color so much :|

[@Dontyoufeelstupid]

Turbo Diesel for the Win!

[@ludekprovaznik3819]

Jako hrdý majitel “živého” Defenderu se nedivím křečkovi, že nechtěl ven. 😂 LEGO Defender je nádherný👍😍

[@builderbasti9773]

Lego HAS to bring back the technic theme! I feel like they're either trying to completely get rid of it step by step or just don't care anymore, because in the first half of this year, they've brought out literally NO bigger technic sets over 50 bucks. It's really sad to see such a giant, previously awesome toy manufacturer, seemingly trying to switch to huge 18+ sets for THE adults, that are probably nostalgic for Lego since they grew up with it. I'm really hoping Lego either reverts back to what they were 10-20 years ago, and if they don't at least try to make that jump, I wouldn't be too fussed about the company going bankrupt or disappearing. So many big companies are currently ruining themselves - or at least their reputation for most people above like 12 that know what things were like before and can negotiate what are acceptable prices - with never-ending greed for more profit or just the unwillingness to improve. Take Nintendo for example: The 3DS is/was widely known for being underpowered, and every single main-line console they've made so far (every single version of the switch) has just continued being underpowered or even worse, seen little to no improvement. You get a fancy screen for - guess what? Effectively around 120 bucks more! You pay 290 bucks for the regular switch, and for the OLED model you pay 350, AND YOU DON'T EVEN GET MARIO KART FOR FREE!?

[@searme]

I see you're new to the Technic annual lifecycle, which ALWAYS means small sets in first half of the year and big sets in the second one. Relax. Breathe.

[@builderbasti9773]

@@searme I'm not new to Lego, but somehow I've never noticed that 😅

[@ciuffoarancione8929]

I like it but the price is ridiculous... 239 euros...

[@mathieuedde1465]

Not really considering the piece count. Seems pretty reasonable to me for a set with this much functionality to boot

[@ciuffoarancione8929]

@@mathieuedde1465 terrain crane of over 4000 pieces was cheapest...this price is ridiculous..

[@mathieuedde1465]

@@ciuffoarancione8929 compared to one of the best priced sets of recent memory yeah, it’s going to be more obviously, plus no licensing which will make it cheaper as well. This pricing is not outrageous, not great either but it’s fair. You want to see outrageous look at Star Wars sets instead

[@AHYL88]

@@mathieuedde1465 It's only easy to say it's reasonable when looking at the amount of pieces instead of looking at the overall thing in front of you; number of pieces, while a useable benchmark, is not a reliable metric to depend on anymore when a lot of small pieces are at play. Especially when the complete set itself is quite small overall due to being densely packed; the Question Mark Block takes the cake as it's a massive $200 and measures only 18cm tall, wide and deep when closed. Even when fully opened, it doesn't feel impressive, never mind it doesn't feel like something that costs so much, which is what hurts this Land Rover set so much; there's a lot of other sets that are a lot larger while costing the same or a lot less.

[@mathieuedde1465]

@@AHYL88 one can argue size isn’t a great thing to measure value off of either. I think the price is worth it solely for the functionality and building experience (my two most important factors for judging a Lego set). I point out price to pieces as it usually is the most obvious thing to point out

[@TheNazreth]

Too expensive... the steering seems loose and there is no HoG to easily play with it. While I was very excited about this set, I will skip it. It costs too much - you can have TRX4m R/C model of the defender for similar price...

[@floba7272]

I don't like the big scale and the sand green color, and if it were 1,000 fewer pieces in a standard color like red, yellow or grey, then at maybe €119.99 it would be more affordable too.

[@sea_emperour346]

mid ahh review