IF a vehicle could be defined by a song title then there's no doubting the Land Rover Defender would be strutting its stuff to Shake, Rattle and Roll.

This iconic model, with more charisma and character than most other cars put together, has to be one of the most testing vehicles on the planet.

The heavy steering and stiff gear box will leave you with biceps like Popeye and the general driving dynamics and comfort levels are certainly something to be desired.

But for all the criticisms, I enjoyed every minute behind the wheel of the Defender.

In fairness, the vehicle was never designed as a softy's car. It is a workhorse that is capable of taking on any terrain in any condition and almost certainly relishing the challenge along the way.

I have driven the short-wheel-based Defender 90 off road and nothing was too difficult a task.

It waded through streams, climbed rocks, ascended and descended steep muddy banks and rumbled along through dense forestry without a stutter or care in the world.

The two-door Defender looks invincible. It has massive wheels with a full size spare attached to the rear door. There are large mud flaps, a step to assist access to the back and sides, plus an imposing bonnet, large bumper and larger-than-life grille.

The interior, although relatively sparse did feature a number of creature comforts such as a CD radio player, half leather seats that can be heated, Bluetooth with a remote microphone, a sunroof and air conditioning.

The high-seated driving position results in brilliant all-round visibility and the instrument readouts are very clear and precise. That said, the stereo controls were rather fiddly and there are no steering wheel-mounted controls on the Defender.

There's no glovebox as such but there are a couple of handy shelves and a large central bin and double cup holder.

In the back, there is a pair of individual, full-size forward facing seats that can be folded away towards the sides of the vehicle when not needed. And the floor has a very useful removable rubber mat.

You can expect a fair amount of noise within the cabin, although it's not too bad and the ride is quite comfortable once you get up speed.

But as I said previously, the 2.2-litre diesel-powered Defender is a working vehicle that is also handy on the road.

Most cars for evaluation come with a spec sheet highlighting all the optional extras, but the Defender was supplied with details about its wading depth capabilities - up to 500mm, obstacle clearance - up to 323mm, maximum gradient - 45 degrees and off-road approach and departure angles -of 47 degrees.

The gear ratios can be altered to assist with the task in hand and it has to be said the Defender has a very indestructible feel about it.

Admittedly, the Defender will not be to everyone's liking, but over the years it has gained an almost cult-like status.