Defender Upgrades: Air Conditioning

If you had to get into a vehicle today, and it didn't have air-conditioning, you would be fairly surprised. But up until the 2000s Defenders very rarely had air-conditioning fitted from the factory, even those that were delivered to hotter climates. But if you’ve driven a Defender through Europe or the US in the Summer with temperatures approaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit, any journey will involve having the windows down and the vents open to remain even slightly cool.  

Whilst some early vehicles from the 80s and 90s had an air-conditioning system mounted in the dashboard where the vent flaps would typically be, it wasn’t until the introduction of the under-dash system in the NAS or 300Tdi that air-conditioning became much more common, but even then it was considered an expensive and luxurious option. 

Today installing air conditioning is relatively simple, although reasonably expensive. The most commonly fitted system is the OEM under-dash unit identical to the original system that Land Rover used. Unlike most HVAC systems, the AC unit is completely separate from the Land Rover’s heating system and the two work independently. Whilst it isn’t the highest performing system out there, it will keep the inside of your Defender down to a comfortable temperature on even the hottest of days.

1992 Land Rover Defender 90 200Tdi - Pre-AC Installation

1992 Land Rover Defender 90 200Tdi - with OEM Under-Dash Air- Conditioning