2026 Land Rover Defender 90

Land Rover might be one of the most iconic vehicles on the road today. Its heritage, born of British agriculture and use by the army, makes for powerful DNA in an SUV. That it now wears luxury clothes makes it an even more unique vehicle — one that remains as capable as a farm tool yet luxurious enough to transport royalty. This latest generation of Defenders straddles that line perhaps more effectively than any other in the Land Rover lineup. It sports all the capability of the Discovery yet possesses the refinement and advanced technological features that bring it into the modern age. It also nods its head ever so gracefully to its predecessors with a boxy silhouette and doesn’t skimp in the amenities department either. Would we call the Land Rover Defender a well-rounded chap? You jolly well bet we do.

The big news might be that there’s no real big news. Buyers will get a 13.1-inch infotainment screen standard now across all trim levels. There are also new wheel and paint options, and you’ll get updated LED headlight and taillight designs.

Depending on size, budget, and how much wandering into the wilderness is really going to happen, alternative highly celebrated off-roading warriors include the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco, Lexus GX, Toyota Land Cruiser, and the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. That’s a large spread of pricing, from the low $30K mark to around $360K (the G 63 AMG 4×4 Squared).

Before buying a new Defender luxury SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Resale values are a little above the class average. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

At 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, most Defender seekers opt for the P400 drivetrain, giving them great power at a relatively affordable price. It also compares well to the Lexus GX (349 hp). You can still opt for less, 296 hp in the P300, or more, to 518 horses in the V8 version, depending on the demands of your lifestyle.

Driving off-road might not be something you do every day, but rest assured you’ll be able to regardless. Your daily commute will also be pleasurable as the Defender’s on-road manners and poise impressed us. Unlike off-road titans the Jeep Wrangler or even the Toyota Land Cruiser, the Defender — especially with its optional air suspension — easily outclasses both competitors. And even if the Defender doesn’t quite approach the cushioned elegance of a Range Rover, we’ve found there’s still great body control and ample refinement.

Fuel Economy

Defender owners can expect to achieve something between 16 mpg in combined city/highway driving (if they have a V8) and 20 mpg combined with less powerful engines. That compares well enough against something like the Lexus GX 550.

The Defender’s interior design looks simultaneously tough and lux. A thing to behold, truly. The exposed hardware, rivets and screws, paired with soft touch materials and fabrics work well in concert. Owners get plenty of storage space in the center console, and we love how the gear shifter gets positioned perfectly. If you bring the outdoors inside, Land Rover offers optional deep-sided rubber mats to help protect the otherwise premium cabin.

As the Defender 90 only has two doors, this vehicle might be ideal for someone looking for an SUV on the more diminutive side. It does have a rear third door, which has side hinges instead of a more traditional hatchback. Its shorter wheelbase also means less interior cargo space, but again, if you aren’t carting around a large family, this might be just the right size.

This was the SUV that brought back boxiness. It’s a 21st-century spin on the original Defender’s eminently practical form, with added presence and a certain authority. We think it works well regardless of body length.

So yes, the Defender 90 gets two doors, making it the shortest of the three (similar in length to a Kia Soul, believe it or not). We love that Land Rover still makes this an option. It’s a great choice for someone without a big family who’s looking for a capable and comfortable car. There are no others like it — and that short wheelbase gives you excellent off-road geometry. The 4-door Defender 110 will likely work for most buyers, about as long as a Toyota RAV4. The 3-row Defender 130 measures out longer than the spacious Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, including the spare wheel attached to the side-opening tailgate. Incidentally, the way the tailgate works is great if you’re a Brit (or Australian, New Zealander, or Japanese) and drive on the left, not so good for Americans because it will open toward the curb.

Infotainment system: Crisp graphics on the touchscreen, quick processing, overall user-friendliness, and a Meridian audio system put this setup high in our general rankings.

Driver assistance: Blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system are standard across the 2025 Defender range. As they should be in a luxury vehicle, we could argue, but we appreciate them all the same.

Clearsight rearview mirror: If the cargo area of the Defender is packed to the ceiling, or if there are several passengers’ heads obscuring rearward vision, this clever mirror will still show a wide-angle view of what’s behind, thanks to a rear-facing camera. We always like the extra confidence it brings. This is optional in lower trims, standard elsewhere.

Air suspension: While it’s optional, we think it’s worth the $1,600 to make the Defender more comfortable on the road and more capable off it.

Terrain Response 2: Available as either an option or standard in the upper versions, this system has modes for wading, rock crawling, mud and ruts, grass/gravel/snow, and sand. Land Rover has forged an incredible reputation over the years for conquering all sorts of terrain and much of that expertise is available at the touch of a button.

There are six possible drivetrains — and if that wasn’t confusing enough, two of them are called P300. Both of those make 296 hp, but one has four cylinders, the other has six. The smaller unit is standard in the 90 and 110, the other (with a bit more torque) comes in the 130.

The P400 is a good option, with a 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine that’s turbocharged and supercharged to create 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Beyond that, we’re looking at supercharged V8s in the P500 (available in the 110 and 130) and the P525 making 493 and 518 hp, respectively. The new Octa version has a twin-turbocharged V8, which is currently only offered in the 110 bodystyle. It is the same 4.4-liter unit found in the Range Rover Sport SV, which endows the Defender with a mighty 626 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque. And again, without nannies holding your hand, that’s a lot of trouble to get into.

Towing figures range from a stout 7,716 pounds to 8,201 pounds, depending on model and drivetrain. Some of our owner reviews have made particular mention of the Defender’s towing talents.

All versions of the Defender use an 8-speed automatic transmission and have 4-wheel drive (4WD) with a high/low transfer case as standard.

4-Year/50,000-Mile Warranty

Land Rover’s new-vehicle and powertrain warranties both last four years or 50,000 miles, whichever happens first. These terms are typical among European automakers.

Safety Ratings

The Land Rover Defender has not been crash-tested by any agencies in the United States, but it did earn a maximum overall score of five stars from Euro NCAP.