Land Rover Defender review

Is the Land Rover Defender a good car?

The Land Rover Defender more than backs up its handsome looks as a simply wonderful representation of modern British engineering. It had big shoes to fill in replacing a genuine automotive legend, but quickly silenced the doubters and proved itself worthy of the famous name. 

Core to the Defender’s appeal is, of course, its off-road ability, which very few SUVs can match. Although a true 4x4, it also works well as a family car and looks the part in the most upmarket environments. The firebreathing V8 models have performance nailed, too – in a straight line, at least. 

You’ll have to pay handsomely to get your hands on one, though, and there are all kinds of other rivals to consider – some of which are far more fuel efficient. However, few of those rivals possess the sheer character and desirability of the Land Rover Defender.

How much does the Land Rover Defender cost?

The old Land Rover Defender was characterised as a tough, no-nonsense off-road vehicle that would feel at home on a farm, the savanna or even a battlefield. The new one retains the original’s go-anywhere ability, but adds plenty of premium features to make it more of a usable SUV. It’s not exactly cheap, though, with the base 90 three-door starting at around £58,000 and the larger four-door 110 getting under way at just over £60,000. The massive eight-seat 130 is priced from just over £80,000. 

There’s a fairly wide selection of powertrains to accompany the Defender and a slightly confusing trim level structure, complemented by Land Rover’s extensive personalisation programme and a long list of options. 

The 90 starts in S trim and for that you get a 3D 360-degree camera, 19-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights and Land Rover’s ‘Resist and Resolve’ Seats, which use leather-free, easy-to-clean upholstery. At around £1,500 more, you can step up to the X-Dynamic SE which brings 20-inch wheels, a contrasting black roof and a Meridian sound system. The £66,000 X-Dynamic HSE adds 20-inch wheels, matrix LED headlights, leather seats and a sliding panoramic roof. 

The Defender X in 90 trim sees a significant bump in price up to around £88,000. For that you get 22-inch wheels, electric air suspension and a digital rear view mirror. 

The engine line-up for the 90 sees the base S offered with the D350 only, while the X-Dynamic SE and HSE come with the choice of D250 and D350 diesel mild-hybrids. The X comes with the D350, or for a premium of around £5,000, you can choose the P425 engine – a 419bhp supercharged 5.0-litre V8 that arrived in 2024 to replace the old P400 straight-six petrol in order to comply with emissions regulations.

Both the D250 and D350 diesels use a 3.0-litre, six-cylinder in-line unit with mild-hybrid tech. The D250 produces 247bhp, while the D350 (which replaces the 296bhp D300) produces a much more potent 345bhp. 

There’s also a supercharged V8 petrol option featuring JLR’s 5.0-litre engine with 518bhp in the simply named Defender V8. This model is available on the 90 from around £110,000, and comes with quad-exhaust tips, tinted windows, a bespoke terrain response system and V8 badging. 

All Defenders use the same eight-speed auto transmission, plus four-wheel drive and a version of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system with a number of preset driving modes to help you negotiate different types of off-road driving terrain. There is a more advanced off-road package available with additional off-road driving goodies, such as an electronic locking differential to maximise traction in slippery conditions, plus variable height air suspension so you can clear obstacles more easily. 

Aside from the V8 trim level, the Defender 110 gets the same options as the base 90, although there are a few special editions, including the Sedona Edition and V8-powered OCTA variants. 

The 130 starts with the X-Dynamic SE and is topped off with the V8, although it gets a model-specific Outbound Edition, which removes the rearmost windows and the third row of seating, unlocking a massive cargo space. It costs just under £83,000 with the D350 powertrain, and offers some of the versatility of the commercial Hard Top editions of the Defender, while maintaining seating for four – handy if you need to take the family somewhere for the weekend, for example.

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The Defender clearly trades some on-road manners for off-road ability, because it doesn’t steer as well as family SUVs such as the BMW X5 or Mercedes GLE, and it isn’t as dynamic either. However, the Defender is still surefooted on the on-road, and its characterful engines and road presence have undeniable charm, plus it leaves them – and many other 4x4s – scrambling when the going gets tough. Read more about the Land Rover Defender's engine, performance and drive…

The Defender isn’t the most economical SUV out there, but it does have a wide range of engines, with the mild-hybrid diesel six-cylinders being more frugal than you might imagine and the plug-in hybrid providing a useful electric range. The diesels’ CO2 emissions are fairly high, though – and if you’re worried about efficiency or running costs in general, stay away from the V8s. Read more about the Land Rover Defender's MPG, CO2 and running costs…

The current Land Rover Defender had to replace an iconic design and it’s done so with aplomb. It looks rugged, boxy and ready to tackle anything you can throw at it, but it’s also perfectly contemporary in its design inside and out. It can compete with premium SUVs for technology and build quality while providing the necessary functionality to make it a thoroughbred off-road vehicle. Read more about the Land Rover Defender's interior, design and technology…

There’s a host of clever features in the Defender to make life that much easier – especially those utilising Land Rover’s off-roader to its full potential. With three body styles to choose from – not including the commercial hard-top variants – there’s a wide selection of Defenders that should fit the needs of most people. As you’d expect, practicality is a real positive in the Defender with plenty of smart storage solutions in the cabin and, in the 110 and 130 versions at least, a big boot. Read more about the Land Rover Defender's boot space, comfort and practicality…

We’ve lived with a PHEV version of the Defender and tested it over 13,000 miles across a multitude of different terrains and environments without issue. Land Rover says it has reduced warranty claims by a third since 2020, and judging by our experience with the Defender, we can see why this is the case. It should be a safe option, thanks to a suite of useful technology. Read more about the Land Rover Defender’s reliability and safety…

Land Rover Defender P400e long-term test 

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Back in 2023, then Editor-in-Chief Steve Fowler ran a plug-in hybrid Land Rover Defender 110 P400e for a long-term test. He loved a number of thoughtful interior design touches that just made life that little bit easier, including the ability to have updates carried out over the air, meaning he didn’t have to endure time-consuming trips to the Land Rover dealer.

He even lent the Defender to his friend Adrian Chiles, who took it on an extended European holiday. However, such a trip with no charging, plus Steve’s regular trips to Liverpool and back to watch the football, meant fuel consumption overall was around 30mpg, so he reckoned he’d have been better off choosing the cheaper to buy diesel instead.

Land Rover Defender alternatives

Positioned as a premium SUV, although not quite at the same level as a Range Rover, the Defender has a whole bunch of tough competitors – but it’s also a focused off-roader, so it has to fight on two fronts. The likes of the Audi Q7, BMW X5, and Mercedes GLE are alternatives when considering the quality on offer. If you want something with similar off-road prowess, the Toyota Land Cruiser is a close rival, while top-spec V8 versions of the Defender aren’t too far away price-wise from a Mercedes G-Class these days.