The Land Rover Defender seamlessly combines rugged, utilitarian roots with luxurious, high-end features from the Range Rover lineup. It excels both off-road, competing with the Jeep Wrangler and Lexus GX, and on-road. The 2025 lineup introduces the new top-tier Octa model with a twin-turbo V-8, advanced suspension, and a luxurious interior. Various powertrains and body styles like the two-door Defender 90 and extended-wheelbase 130 enhance versatility for different needs.The Defender 110 strikes a balance between the 90’s charm and the 130’s practicality with its four-door design. Regardless of the model, the Defender successfully reinvents this off-road icon by blending modern amenities with a classic, recognizable profile.
Introducing the 2025 Land Rover Defender: What’s New for 2025?
The 2025 model year sees the debut of the Defender Octa, a new top-tier variant.Named after the octagon for strength, the Octa boasts a twin-turbo V-8 and advanced air spring suspension with 6D Dynamics. Land Rover touts it as their most capable Defender yet, blending superior off-road prowess with luxurious Range Rover-like features.
Land Rover Defender Pricing and Which One to Buy
The 2025 Land Rover Defender is expected to range from approximately $58,000 to $124,000, depending on the chosen trim and options.
While the new Octa trim is intriguing, its high price tag puts it in direct competition with other luxury SUVs, including some within the Range Rover lineup. For those looking to experience the Defender’s best features without excessive luxury, the 110 ES is the ideal choice. This trim offers a blend of retro style, luxury, and off-road capability, featuring 19-inch aluminum wheels, automatic high-beam headlamps, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, and a digital gauge display. Additionally, Land Rover provides numerous options and accessory packages, allowing for extensive customization even for the base models.
Land Rover Defender Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The standard powertrain in the Defender lineup features a 296-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. All models come with four-wheel drive and locking differentials. Additionally, there’s a 395-horsepower 3.0-liter inline-six engine option, which incorporates an electric supercharger, a turbocharger, and a 48-volt hybrid system. For those seeking more power, the 518-horsepower supercharged V-8 is available, propelling the Defender 90 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. At the top of the powertrain spectrum is the anticipated twin-turbo V-8 for the upcoming Defender Octa.
Details are unconfirmed, but it may feature the 626-horsepower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 from the Range Rover Sport SV. Unlike its predecessor’s body-on-frame design, the current Defender uses a unibody platform with fully independent suspension, departing from solid axles. Standard models come with coil springs, while an air suspension system that allows for adjustable ride height is available. The new Octa trim employs Land Rover’s “6D Dynamics” system, which replaces traditional anti-roll bars with hydraulically linked dampers. The Defender offers 11.5 inches of ground clearance and can wade through 35 inches of water, surpassing the Jeep Wrangler’s maximum clearance and water fording capabilities.
0–60 MPH Times
In our tests, the long-wheelbase 130 Outbound equipped with the 395-horsepower inline-six reached 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. A Defender 90 with the 518-horsepower supercharged V-8 achieved the same in just 4.4 seconds. We anticipate that the forthcoming 2025 Defender Octa, with its powerful twin-turbo V-8, will be even faster, although official power ratings have yet to be released. Land Rover has stated that it will be the most powerful Defender in the lineup.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Interestingly, the EPA fuel economy ratings for the Defender are quite similar across the various powertrains. The four-cylinder 90 model is rated at 18 mpg city and 21 mpg highway. With the six-cylinder engine, the 90’s city rating drops to 17 mpg, but the highway rating improves to 23 mpg. The 110 model with the six-cylinder shares the same estimates as the six-cylinder 90, while the long-wheelbase 130 is rated at 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway with the six-cylinder. The V-8 variant of the 110 is rated at 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway, and the V-8 90 is rated at 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. During our 75-mph highway fuel economy test, a Defender 110X with the optional six-cylinder powertrain achieved 18 mpg, and the 130 Outbound managed 19 mpg. For more detailed information on the Defender’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The Defender’s interior strikes a balance between premium and utilitarian, featuring design elements familiar to the Land Rover brand. Exposed rivets on the door panels add a rugged touch, and a structural magnesium beam spans the width of the dashboard. Below the infotainment display, a trapezoidal extension houses the climate-control and driving mode buttons and switches. The shift lever and ignition switch are also located on this center stack, rather than the center console. In some models, the center console flips back to create a jump seat, akin to full-size pickup trucks. Cargo space behind the rear seats in the 90 and 110 models is limited but comparable to the Jeep Wrangler.
Folding the rear seats expands cargo space; for more room, consider the larger Land Rover Discovery or a rooftop cargo carrier. The extended 130 model offers additional cargo space with the third row stowed, but minimal room when it’s in use. The 130 Outbound, which forgoes the third row for more cargo capacity, is ideal for those prioritizing storage over passenger space.
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Defender features a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Land Rover’s new Pivi Pro interface; a larger 11.4-inch display is optional. Unlike the dual-screen Touch Pro Duo interface found in other Land Rover models, the Defender’s single touchscreen offers faster response times and supports over-the-air software updates. Standard features include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, in-dash navigation, a six-speaker stereo, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Optional upgrades include 10- and 14-speaker Meridian stereo systems, a digital gauge cluster, and a head-up display for higher-end models.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Defender features various driver-assistance technologies, including systems tailored for off-roading and towing. For crash test details, visit the NHTSA and IIHS websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Defender’s warranty package includes:
- Limited warranty: Four years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty: Four years or 50,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance
The Lexus GX, a similarly luxurious off-roader, offers a more comprehensive powertrain warranty and one year of complimentary maintenance.
