Land Rover has announced pricing for its upcoming 2020 Defender 90, suggesting that this model’s drawn-out hype cycle might finally be drawing to a close.

Starting from £40,290, the cheapest entry-level version will be the D200 Defender 90, which comes with the four-cylinder, 2.0-litre, 197bhp diesel engine. It's a few grand cheaper than the longer 110, and at this price point, it will be one of Land Rover’s less expensive models, and will compete (sort of) with the Porsche Macan, Volvo XC90, Audi Q7, BMW X5 and its stablemate, the Land Rover Discovery.

In keeping with the old Defender, these cheaper versions will come with white steel wheels as standard. Also fitted as standard equipment are a heated windscreen, all-season tyres, powered and heated front seats, two-zone climate control, a 180-watt sound system, cruise control, and a 10-inch touchscreen equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

The D200 ‘S’ trim level at £43,745 adds alloy wheels and some interior upgrades. The D200 ‘SE’ 90, at £47,595 adds front fog lights, bigger alloy wheels, ISOFIX in the front passenger seat, keyless entry and a beefier sound system.

Opt for the D240, a more powerful four-cylinder diesel, and you pay only £3,000 more for an entry-level car on steel wheels. We think this might be the sweet spot in the range; at under £44,000, the 2.0-litre D240 Defender 90 costs around as much as a top-spec Hyundai Santa Fe. As with the D200, you can get this in S and SE trim, as well as luxurious HSE and First Edition spec (both at over £55,000.

Further up the range is the 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine. The cheapest, the ‘Defender’ trim level, costs £43,345; the same as the D240 Defender. The S trim level costs £46,800, the SE £50,650 and the HSE £55,475.

Honest John: why won't Land Rover reintroduce the old Defender instead of building a luxurious new one?

At the top of the range is the 3.0-litre straight-six mild hybrid petrol engine, which produces 396bhp and 406lb ft of torque. This model is good for a 6.4-second 0-62mph time, which is pretty punchy for this sort of vehicle, albeit a way off the ‘super-SUVs’. This model will cost you a heady £75,475.

The new Defender inherits the nameplate of an older car, Land Rover stopped manufacturing in 2016. Slow, expensive, uncomfortable and inefficient, the old Defender was one of the worst cars on the market when it was discontinued, but remains a much-loved machine and an icon of the British car industry.

Land Rover's inevitable decision to capitalise on this heritage has enjoyed a mixed reception from fans and non-enthusiasts alike, with some suggesting that its too much of a departure from the rugged, no-nonsense machine it replaces. But despite the controversy, the Defender is one of the more interesting products that JLR (or indeed any volume car manufacturer) has launched so far this year, and represents more than just a nod to the company's considerable heritage.

Are you excited by the return of the Defender? Or do you think it's just a marketing exercise for another SUV? Let us know in the comment section, or join the conversation on the Telegraph's Motoring Club Facebook page.