Few vehicles truly go head-to-head with the Land Rover Defender. Sure, it’s a luxury SUV, one of many in today’s automotive market. But what sets it apart is its ability to excel when the pavement ends and the challenges begin. Over the next week, I’ll be putting one to the test in every way I can think of. What do you want to know about one of Land Rover’s most storied nameplates?
When the Defender returned to production in its modern form, it caused a stir. This is without a doubt a Land Rover and, by most accounts, remains faithful to the off-road spirit of the original Defender. Of course, it is also much more. luxurious, particularly more capable and, as expected, much more expensive than the original.
More: Frustrated Defender Owners Sue Land Rover Over Windshields That Won’t Stop Cracking
For 2025, the two-door Defender 90 starts at around $57,000. That value increases quickly, however, as the four-door 110 starts at $60,800 and the next model costs $72,100. Speaking of this model, it’s called the X-Dynamic SE and it comes with an inline six-cylinder and it’s the one we’ll be driving in our test week.
While not cheap, it’s definitely far more affordable from the super swanky $152,000 Defender Octa that Land Rover could’ve sent and the one most buyers will go for – although we wouldn’t mind testing that 626 hp twin-turbo V8 beast in the near future…
Our express check car offers a $500 cold weather option with heated washer jets, a headlight washer, and a heated windshield. The Off-Road Package adds an electronic active differential, all-terrain tires, and a domestic-style power output for $1,550. Finally, a $1,600 option called the Air Suspension Package with Adaptive Dynamics and, of course, adjustable air suspension.
After all options, destination and delivery, this car has an MSRP of $81,923. That’s less than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Final Edition we recently tested, for about $26,000. At first glance, the Defender turns out to be a much more comfortable car to spend on. time in. The interior is packed with luxury amenities, including grained leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and high-quality materials.
This SUV may not be as fast as the Jeep, but it comes close. Under the hood of our test vehicle is JLR’s new 3. 0-liter inline six-cylinder engine that uses an electric supercharger, turbocharger and 48-volt hybrid system, so it’s packed with technology. It delivers 395 hp (294 kW) and 406 lb-ft (549 Nm) of torque, all transmitted through a sleek 8-speed automatic transmission. transmission.
That all said, what do you want to know about it? Other than how to maintain it out of warranty that is. Leave your questions below and we’ll address them soon!