I really enjoyed building this set! The details are amazing. The only critique I have is that I wish the interactive instructions were available. I would have benefitted from the 360 view. Also, tying the little "cable" to the winch was trying. It came undone at least 3 times before I could get it tight enough. I used a particular fishing knot, a square knot, and a couple of others. It ended up staying, but it was certainly a challenge! The finished product is amazing. Patience is key, but it is worth it! We all know Lego can be cost prohibitive, but if you can gather the money up it is a very nice show piece...with working shocks!
This build was so incredibly frustrating. For some reason it seems like I can barely touch it and pieces fall off. I have the rack on the top and it is awful. The windshield does not fit like it’s supposed to. I have checked all of my pieces and they’re just fine. The set looks super cool, and it was fun to put together for the most part. It is just one of many sets I’ve completed, and it is by far the biggest headache
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from LEGOBy Leah, LEGO® Customer Service, July 28, 2025
Thank you for leaving a review. We know how frustrating it is when parts aren't staying in place. If you'd like a hand troubleshooting the build, we'll be more than happy to help. Please contact us at LEGO.build/Service-BV.
Let me start by saying that I am a HUGE fan of Lego and their products. I just finished the Lamborghini Countach Icon set prior to purchasing this one (very cool). But considering the cost of this thing, I believe this set fails to live up to the high stands that Lego has set for themselves, their designs and their products. The build was pretty straight forward, there were definitely a couple of times where the instructions could have been clearer, but nothing terrible. The set also allows you to configure the car in multiple ways, which is a nice touch. The real fault in this set is the design of the windshield and roof attachments. (Which multiple customers have commented on) The windshield connects to the rest of the truck by only two points along the dashboard which makes it very unstable. The windshield also tilts for some reason, but only about 15-20 degrees inward, which doesn’t make sense. And, because the windshield tilts, it does not connect to the roof the way you would expect or need it to. The roof/rear truck bed cover is only connected to the back section by 4 points, which again does not make sense. This causes the entire upper back section of the truck to constantly snap off with even the slightest touch. For Lego and this being an ICON set, these design flaws seem a bit much and out of character. And considering the price tag, something you should be aware of before you buy.
When this kit came out, I immediately bought it and then sat on building it for a couple of years. My daughter and I got the inspiration recently to build it and mostly enjoyed it. We tag team - one finds the parts, the other assembles. We trade off roles. It keeps it fun.
This was a fun challenge. The thing that was disappointing was that after building the chassis, we started assembling the body. It felt like every step of the way, parts would fall off without touching them. It was difficult to get the roll cage and roof rack to sit square. Little things were poor fit and finish. The rear door doesn't open all the way with the fire extinguisher mounted. That's ok, because the extinguisher doesn't stay on most of the time.
I loved the suspension. The four-link setup, although not a Defender feature was a thoughtful mod. The modularity of the kit really embraced the spirit of the original Defenders and Series trucks. The windows, especially the Alpine windows, are cool. It looks the part.
I just don't think the kit is adventure-ready. Just look at it. Don't expect actually to manipulate it or play with it. It'll just fall apart, immediately.
Maybe a Defender 110 version will come out and Lego and JLR can redeem themselves with a more dependable, robust version. I'd love to see that and build it.
Overall a fun build. I enjoy seeing how it all comes together. The biggest downside was the switching between the off-road to the suburban and back. The 2x1 studs that hold the roll cage on kept popping off when even sightly touching it. If you add anything to the roof rack, the 2x1 studs will come off. The opposite is true when removing the sloped pieces from the suburban mode. Lego is a victim of its tight tolerances. The sloped 2x1's have no way of being removed without removing something else. Other than that, it is a fun build.
I grew up in a short wheel base Landie. There is something so attractive about the 90 inch wheel base. This kit was a delight to build (about 5 hours enjoying it and taking it at a moderate pace). The use of small parts, 1x2|3|4 flat, 2x2 corner cutout flat etc gave it strength with a lot of detail along the way. I ended up having it mid-configuration as my family's was. It's now permanently traversing my printer showing off the great suspension. Two options mean I need to buy a second to have both side-by-side. Yeah, the kit is that good.