Some cars rise to fame purely because of their looks. Others owe their popularity to savvy marketing, celebrity endorsements, or a well-placed sponsorship deal. The Land Rover Defender, however, earned its legendary status with raw, unfiltered ability.
Its main selling point was that it was almost unstoppable off road – but, as improvements were incremental during its 29-year life span, which is an extremely long time in the automotive world, it was obvious even to its most ardent fans that it had to be replaced by something much more modern sooner rather than later.
Read: Electric Land Rover Defender Ruled Out Until Next Gen Arrives
In 2020, Jaguar Land Rover resurrected the iconic Defender nameplate, and the big question on everyone’s mind was simple: Could it possibly live up to its legendary predecessor? Fast forward to the present, and it’s clear that the new Defender has managed to hold its own, with impressive sales numbers. In the third quarter of 2024 alone, sales rose by 13 percent compared to the previous year.
That kind of staying power, years after its initial launch, is impressive and integral to success at Land Rover. To find out why this SUV is doing so well, we tested one out for an entire week. We took it off-road, on long highway trips, and treated it like an everyday runabout in town to discover the breadth of its abilities.
QUICK FACTS
After spending a week with the new Defender, I can confidently say that few SUVs are as versatile as this one. Sure, it’s not exactly wallet-friendly—tipping the monetary scales just north of $80,000—but what you get in return is something truly unique. No matter what task you throw at it, the Defender handles it effortlessly, all while keeping its passengers wrapped in the lap of luxury.
First, The Specs
Our test vehicle is the Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE, and yes, there’s quite a bit of jargon to unpack here. First, the “110” means this is the five-seat, four-door version of the Defender. There’s also a two-door option, the “90,” for those who prefer a more compact ride. For those who need more space—like, a lot more space—there’s the Defender 130, which offers three rows of seating. While the 130 and the 110 share the same 119-inch wheelbase, the 130 stretches out a little further, measuring 211.7 inches in total length, about 14 inches longer than the 110.
The X-Dynamic is the trim level and it comes standard with 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, grained-leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a Meridian sound system. Our test car had some optional equipment too in the form of the Cold Climate package including heated washer jets, a heated windshield, and headlight power washers. It also had the Off-Road pack with all-terrain tires, domestic plug sockets, and an electronic active differential.
Finally, it also had the Air Suspension pack, which is exactly what it sounds like. In terms of options, this example incorporates tri-zone automatic climate control, a tow hitch receiver, and an air-quality sensor. All of it, in total, comes to $81,923 including destination and handling. Without the options, it would’ve cost around $10,000 less.
Powertrain and Driving Impressions
Under the hood of our Defender 110 X-Dynamic lies a rather unique powertrain. Known as the P400, it pairs a 3.0-liter inline-six engine with a turbocharger, an electric supercharger, and a mild 48-volt hybrid system. Together, they produce a respectable 395 horsepower (294 kW) and 406 lb-ft (549 Nm) of torque.
That power is routed to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox by ZF. The combination of parts is supposed to garner up to 18 mpg in the city, 22 on the highway, and 20 combined. We’re happy to report that in a mix of driving across the week, the SUV managed 19.7 mpg. That included a day of off-roading where, limited to just that terrain, the Defender returned 15.9 mpg.
On-Road Manners
Those two ends of the spectrum, on- and off-road, are what make this SUV so unique. First, let’s talk about what it’s like to live with the Defender as an everyday city/mall crawling device. In a word, it’s breezy. It could be in a Grey Poupon commercial. It’s that relaxing.
Sure, this SUV isn’t exactly nimble. Its boxy body ensures that it takes up just about every cubic centimeter of a parking space too. But on the other hand, the steering is sharp and predictable. The chassis communicates to the driver very clearly what’s happening on the road and does so without being jarring or obnoxious. The ride is smooth and supple.
The Defender doesn’t suffer from excessive body roll or pitch either. In most ways, it drives smaller than it looks. That includes in terms of acceleration and overtaking power too – 395 horsepower is, after all, far more than most cars on sale today offer. As such, the Defender has no trouble keeping up with modern traffic. According to Land Rover, it’ll do 0-60 mph in just 5.9 seconds.
The exhaust note at full throttle is nowhere near as intoxicating as, say, something like the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition we recently tested, but it’s not unpleasant either. In fact, the Land Rover puts the Jeep to shame in terms of on-road manners.
The brakes are excellent and the active suspension lowers the SUV to help it corner more accurately at speed. If anything, the Defender bucks the trend that an off-road-focused SUV can’t be genuinely good to drive on pavement.
It Loves Getting Dirty
That might be what makes the Defender so special too, because it hasn’t given up any ground off-road. In fact, it’s more capable than ever before. At its highest setting, the air suspension provides 11.5 inches of ground clearance. That’s more than in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Ineos Grenadier, and the new Lexus GX.
On top of that, the Defender offers several different off-road drive modes to handle sand, mud, rock crawling, and more. Drivers can lock or unlock differentials as they see fit or simply let the SUV decide based on the mode. Another bit of tech enables a low-speed cruise control for climbing or descending obstacles at a steady pace while the driver focuses on steering input.
Then, in case that wasn’t enough, there’s a “Wade Sensing Mode” which enables this SUV to cross bodies of water as deep as 35.4 inches (900mm). In fact, as one enters the water, the SUV will detect it and help you monitor just how deep you’re going.
We tested all of this aside from Wade mode during the week we had the Land Rover and it didn’t flinch once. Some terrain appeared challenging enough that everyone in my party would get out and survey the situation before attempting a crossing. Once we attempted to overcome the obstacle or, in some cases, the small pond ahead of us, the Defender drove through or over it as if it was of absolutely no consequence.
I cannot say this clearly enough. The Defender is ready for just about anything the average buyer will ever throw at it save for beating a Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid in a fuel economy test. Of course, the Grand Highlander Hybrid can’t come anywhere close to towing 8,201 pounds (3,719 kg), the maximum towing capacity of this Defender.
The Lap Of Luxury
In essence, we’re talking about an SUV that is supremely capable on- and off-road, but to make matters more intriguing, it’s a nice place to spend time. Visibility is great and the controls are logically placed for the most part.
The steering wheel features a lot of genuine metal construction, which feels very high class. The switchgear provides deeply satisfying feedback too both on the wheel and on the dash. Soft-touch materials balance well with the harder and more durable ones on the door cards, dash, and seats.
It’s also a spacious SUV with ample headroom and legroom for taller adults in both rows. Rear-seat occupants also benefit from heated seats and Land Rover’s signature Safari windows in the rear corners of the roof.
The cargo space behind the second row offers 36 cubic feet for stuff and things. Stow the rear seats out of the way and that expands to 76 cubic feet.
At the same time, it’s far from perfect, especially for the money. The seats are supportive and the upholstery is great but have less adjustment than my 2010 Ford Flex Limited. At $81,923, I expected more than six-way adjustable buckets.
The physical controls in the center stack have an initially steep learning curve. It’s cool that they’re capable of doing more than one thing but they’re also not very intuitive.
The infotainment system requires some learning as well. Land Rover uses a vertically-stacked card system that sits fanned out as the home screen. Users can customize this with their own card preferences but it doesn’t feel as simple or easy to use as something more akin to the layout we all use on our phones daily.
For those who prioritize comfort-focused tech, the Defender could be a hard sell. For those who appreciate the more simple luxuries in life, rich leather, space, and high-quality build materials, this SUV should speak volumes.
Rivals And Comparisons
The new Defender doesn’t have too many direct competitors and that’s likely because buyers are more likely to cosplay as off-road enthusiasts than actually be one. That said, it can cater to both crowds, which isn’t always the case. In today’s market, the Ineos Grenadier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee, and the Lexus GX are probably its biggest direct rivals.
Having driven the Jeep, I can attest that it’s more comfortable. In fact, the 4Xe variant is faster than the Defender, while also offering more content (tech, massaging seats, etc) at the same (or even lower) price. Without taking them on the same trail it’s tough to say which is truly more capable off-road but the reality is that most people will drive both on-road far more often. Between the two, the Jeep is likely a very slight step ahead, although it doesn’t look as good to my eyes.
The Ineos is an interesting choice that goes in the opposite direction from the Jeep. Rather than focus on comfort, it’s more intense and capable off-road. At the same time, it’s a new company with a small dealer network and very little in the way of reputation. In many ways, it’s sort of a modernized version, a different iteration of what the new Defender could’ve been.
Finally, the Lexus GX might be the toughest competition in this group. With its traditional twin-turbocharged V6, a wealth of off-road and cabin tech, and a design that’s hard to argue with, it’s certainly a strong contender.
But—and this is a big “but”—there’s one major caveat that can’t be ignored: reliability. Land Rover has long struggled with this issue, and while the GX has historically earned praise for its durability, this is where the Defender could face some stiff competition. It’s easy to see why Lexus might have the edge for those who prioritize dependability in their SUV purchase.
Even so, we had no issues during our time with the Defender, and many of the complaints you see online seem to stem from software glitches rather than mechanical problems. That said, maintaining an engine with an electric supercharger, a turbo, variable valve timing, and several other high tech bits likely won’t be inexpensive after the warranty coverage runs out. For some, those associated costs will take the Defender out of the conversation. For others, they’ll just be the price of owning one of the coolest and most capable SUVs out there.
Final Thoughts
It’s rare in this business to really miss a car. So many autos in the industry today are too compromised and as a result, they don’t really shine in any one area, much less two or three. The Defender though is built on substance as much as it is style, which is rare all by itself.
Sure, there are silly fake diamond-plate sections on the hood and the weird C-pillar floating plastic panels over the windows are strange but it’s hard to argue that this SUV doesn’t look good overall. Put it into the mud or on the top of a rocky crag and it looks even more at home. At the same time, it’s not free from compromise.
With the standard 110 S P300 starting at $60,800 for the 296-hp 2.0L four-cylinder turbo, and our inline-six P400 priced at $68,100 for the S and $72,100 for the S-Dynamic SE before options, you’re certainly making a statement with the Defender. You’re giving up some of the cabin luxuries available at this price, like massaging seats, a giant infotainment system, and perhaps, a rear-seat entertainment system. On the other hand, you’re buying into a great-looking SUV that can go just about anywhere while it surrounds you with luxurious appointments. If I had the cash to splash on an SUV in this class, it’s the one I’d have.
