2025 Lexus GX vs. 2025 Land Rover Defender Comparison

There are run-of-the-mill SUVs, and then there are run-right-up-and-over-the-mill SUVs like the 2025 Lexus GX and Land Rover Defender. These two titans are capable of extreme off-road driving, though they’re equally at home parked outside the swankiest restaurant in a city center. 

Available with seating for up to seven, the GX and Defender are upscale in design and amenities, and both sport styling that appears to have been developed by a team of Lego engineers. If being square is cool, the GX and Defender are as hip as it gets in the realm of luxurious all-terrain SUVs.  

Let’s explore the highlights of the Lexus GX and Land Rover Defender.

2025 Lexus GX

The 2025 Lexus GX was all-new last year and carries over with just a few changes. All grades now feature a power tilt/telescoping steering wheel and the Lexus Memory System, while the Overtrail grades gain a one-inch suspension lift. Because the GX shares its rugged body-on-frame chassis with the Toyota Tundra full-size pickup and 3-row Sequoia SUV, it has credible off-road chops. Under the hood is a twin-turbocharged 3.4-liter V6 that produces 349 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. 

This is routed to the standard 4-wheel-drive (4WD) system via a 10-speed automatic transmission. This is the GX’s sole powertrain for now, though a hybrid is expected at some point.

Lexus GX Highlights 

Rugged retro shape: Lexus wasn’t bashful about giving the long overdue replacement of the previous generation Lexus GX a memorable appearance. If you’re a fan of curves, please look away. That’s because it’s all sharp edges and creases everywhere you look on the 2025 GX. We’re particularly fond of the large — but not excessive — front grille and the LED taillight bar that runs the width of the rear.

Fully up-to-date tech: The interior is just as radically visual as the exterior. A 14-inch touchscreen is complemented by a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel facing the driver. Lexus somehow managed to craft an opulent and entirely no-nonsense interior in appearance and feel. 

Overtrail models: These are the trims to pick if you plan on taking your GX into the wilderness, or if you just want to look super macho. The Overtrail and Overtrail+ feature 33-inch off-road tires, more selectable drive modes for a wider variety of terrain, a locking rear differential, underbody skid plates, and a Multi-Terrain Monitor. Keep in mind the Overtrail models are only 2-row variants; they ditch the 3-row arrangement found in the rest of the GX range.

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the GX models for sale near you. 

2025 Land Rover Defender

Reintroduced to the Land Rover lineup for the 2020 model year, the 2025 Defender arrives as a standalone brand with a new limited-edition Octa grade of the Defender 110. The outdoorsy Outbound trim is available on the extended-wheelbase 3-row Defender 130. A 493-hp supercharged 5.0-liter V8 is also available in the 2-row Defender 110 and 130 models. The 3-row 130 now features second-row captain’s chair seating.

Since the Lexus GX comes standard with 3-row seating, the 3-row Defender 130 is the most comparable model in the Defender range to the GX.

Land Rover Defender Highlights

Three body styles, five engines: Regarding customization, few SUVs come anywhere close to matching the Defender. There are three body styles, starting with the 2-door Defender 90; the 4-door, 2-row Defender 110; and the 3-row Defender 130. Spread across them are five powertrains, ranging from a turbocharged 4-cylinder and two turbo mild-hybrid 6-cylinder engines upward to a supercharged V8 that produces a maximum of 518 hp. The ultra-luxury Octa gets a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 pumping out 626 hp.

Outbound model: Similar to the Lexus GX Overtrail, the Defender Outbound model jettisons the third-row seats in favor of a cavernous cargo hold. Available only on the Defender 130, the Outbound provides 46.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind its split-folding second row. 

Optional air suspension: The Defender’s available air suspension finds the ideal setting for adventures on and off paved roads. It softens the ride for hours-long highway stints or elevates the suspension to better scramble over rugged terrain that might pose a risk of crunching some underbody componentry. 

Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Defender models for sale near you.    

Similarities

Luxury SUV shoppers with a spirit for adventure will likely fall head over heels for this duo. They have outstanding off-road capabilities but don’t fall to pieces doing something as mundane as running daily errands or navigating into a parallel parking spot. 

The most rugged model of both the GX and Defender 130 reverts to a 2-row seating arrangement, which strikes as one the their quirkier similarities. A less endearing shared trait is that each has a serious thirst for fuel.  

Pricing

The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Lexus GX vehicles and New 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.

Specifications

	2025 Lexus GX	2025 Land Rover Defender (130)
Popular Powertrains
Engine	Twin-turbo 3.4-liter V6	Turbo 3.0-liter 6-cylinder
Horsepower	349 hp @ 4,800 rpm	296 hp @ 4,800 rpm
Torque	479 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm	295 lb-ft @ 1,500 rpm
Transmission	10-speed automatic	8-speed automatic
Fuel economy	15 city/21 highway/17 combined mpg	17 city/20 highway/18 combined mpg
Also Available		Turbo 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (90); turbo/supercharged 3.0-liter 6-cyl., supercharged 5.0-liter V8, turbo 4.4-liter V8
Specs
Basic Warranty	4 years/50,000 miles	4 years/50,000 miles
Powertrain Warranty	6 years/70,000 miles	4 years/50,000 miles
NHTSA Overall Safety Rating	Not rated	5-Star
Max Seating Capacity	7	8
Wheelbase	112.2 inches	119.0 inches
Overall Length	197.1 inches	200.8 inches
Width	77.9 inches	79.1 inches
Height	75.6 inches	77.6 inches
Turning Diameter	39.4 feet	42.1 feet
Headroom, Front	39.4 inches	40.6 inches
Headroom, Rear	43.2 inches	40.4 inches
Headroom, 3rd Row	35.5 inches	38.9 inches
Legroom, Front	41.2 inches	39.0 inches
Legroom, Rear	36.7 inches	38.4 inches
Legroom, 3rd Row	37.9 inches	31.6 inches
Shoulder Room, Front	59.5 inches	60.8 inches
Shoulder Room, Rear	57.2 inches	59.2 inches
Shoulder Room, 3rd Row	57.8 inches	N/A
Cargo Volume Behind 3rd Row	10.3 cubic feet	15.3 cubic feet

Conclusion

It’s not easy for us to pick an outright winner between the Lexus GX and Defender. One key reason is that the Defender is offered in so many permutations; some are direct rivals to the Lexus, while others are more attuned to hardcore off-road machines like the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco. Yet, in its upper trims with its most potent engines, the Defender has the power and prestige to rival the finest (and fanciest) SUVs from the likes of Bentley and Mercedes-Benz.  

Credit to Lexus for giving the GX such a dramatic turnaround. The previous generation was far past its sell-by date. The cabin was cramped, and the driving dynamics were sloppy. The 2025 Lexus GX changes everything and manages to balance everyday driving comfort with a tenacious grip for off-road driving. Thanks to its slightly higher degree of interior design and refinement, plus its exemplary history of reliability and high resale value, it edges the Defender 130 rival in this matchup.