2023 Land Rover Defender

Overview

For many years, the Land Rover Defender was the United Kingdom's answer to the rough-and-tumble Jeeps of America, but with the latest generation the luxury brand has engineered-in more comfort to go along with the off-roader's go-anywhere capability. Both two- and four-door body styles are on offer with comfortable and practical cabins, modern infotainment, and tech features, and a signature style that evokes those revered Defenders of yore. A turbocharged four-cylinder is standard, and more-powerful inline-six and V-8 engines are available; all Defenders come standard with all-wheel drive. From there, buyers are offered a plethora of advanced off-roading equipment, including locking differentials, a height-adjustable air suspension, and a special mode for wading through deep water. But the biggest benefit to the new generation Defender's setup is its superior on-road driving behavior, which gives it a level of refinement that rivals such as the Jeep Wrangler and Lexus GX can't match.

Where This Vehicle Ranks

1

Genesis GV80

STARTING AT: $56,925

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Porsche Cayenne

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BMW X5

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4

Volvo XC90

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BMW X6

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9

Land Rover Defender

STARTING AT: $54,975

What's New for 2023?

A Defender 130 variant joins the lineup this year, with a body that’s been extended to fit a third row of seats, upping total passenger capacity to eight riders. The new 130 model is available with an exclusive Sedona Red exterior color option and comes standard with desirable features that are optional on the 90 and 110 models, including the larger 11.4-inch infotainment display. Otherwise, the Defender carries over largely unchanged into 2023, except now its Pivi Pro infotainment system comes standard with Amazon Alexa integration. A 30th Anniversary Edition model will also be offered in limited quantities. Only 500 will be built and they’re based on the four-door 110 model and powered by the 296-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. They’re dressed in white with steel wheels. A second-anniversary edition celebrates the Land Rover brand's 75th birthday. The so-called 75th Limited Edition comes wearing Grasmere Green paint, 20-inch aluminum wheels, a fabric sunroof, and the P400 six-cylinder powertrain. The Trophy Edition model returns for the 2023 model year, this time based on the two-door Defender 90. Only 250 will be produced and all of them come with the opportunity to compete in Land Rover's annual Defender Trophy competition; only 90 applicants will be selected.

Pricing and Which One to Buy

As much as we like the look of the two-door 90 model, the four-door 110 and 130 models are more practical for most buyers. The base P300 powertrain—a 296-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder—seems peppy enough for day-to-day driving, so we'd stick with that; those who plan to tackle serious off-road trails may find the optional six-cylinder or V-8 engines to be better choices. We'd suggest the SE trim level as it adds a number of desirable features to the Defender's spec sheet, including 19-inch aluminum wheels, automatic high-beam headlamps, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, and a digital gauge display. Land Rover offers several accessory packages, each of which outfit the Defender with specifically themed features. There's also a bevy of personalization options available, but we'll leave the customization to you.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

The Defender is powered by a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, every model features four-wheel drive and locking differentials for navigating treacherous terrain. The Defender is also available with a 3.0-liter inline-six which utilizes an electric supercharger and a 48-volt hybrid system. The long-wheelbase 130 model we tested with this powertrain ran to 60 mph in 6.2 seconds. Buyers looking for additional performance can opt for the 518-hp supercharged V-8, which hustled the Defender 90 to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds in our testing. Unlike its predecessor, the Defender has a unibody construction versus a body-on-frame setup, and it replaces the old solid axles with a fully independent suspension. The base suspension utilizes coil springs, but it can be upgraded with an air suspension that enables adjustable ride height. The Defender has 11.5 inches of ground clearance and the ability to ford through 35 inches of water, which exceeds both the Jeep Wrangler's maximum clearance and its wading ability.

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Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

The EPA's fuel economy ratings for the various Defender models are similar regardless of what's under the hood. The 90 model with the four-cylinder receives ratings of 18 mpg city and 21 highway. Step up to the six-cylinder engine and the 90's city rating drops to 17 mpg but the highway rating goes up to 23. The 110 model with the six-cylinder engine has the same estimates as the six-cylinder 90, but the long-wheelbase 130 is rated for 17 mpg city and 21 mpg highway with the six-cylinder. The V-8 variant of the 110 is rated for 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway; the 90 with the V-8 is good for 15 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. On our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, a Defender 110X with the optional six-cylinder powertrain delivered a disappointing 18 mpg; the 130 model managed only 19 mpg in the same test. For more information about the Defender's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

The Defender's cabin walks the line between premium and utilitarian, with just enough design cues from the rest of the Land Rover lineup to make those familiar with the brand feel at home. Exposed rivets in the door panels add a rugged appearance, and a magnesium beam that runs the full width of the dashboard isn't entirely cosmetic—it's also structural. Under the infotainment display, a trapezoidal extension of the dashboard provides a place for buttons and switches for the climate-control system and driving mode. The shift lever and ignition switch are also mounted on this center stack rather than the center console. In some models, the center console can be flipped back to create a jump seat between the driver and passenger, similar to a three-across bench in some full-size pickup trucks. Cargo space behind the rear seat in 90 and 110 models is limited, but on par with rival off-roaders such as the Wrangler; the rear seats can be folded to open up a much larger cargo bay but those seeking to haul people and gear may want to look at the larger Land Rover Discovery or invest in a roof-top cargo carrier. The longer 130 model offers additional cargo space with the third row stowed, but with it in use there’s not much room for gear.

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Infotainment and Connectivity

The Defender's dashboard sports a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system that runs a new interface for Land Rover called Pivi Pro; a larger 11.4-inch display is optional. Compared to the rest of the Land Rover lineup's Touch Pro Duo interface, the Defender's system relies on a single touchscreen instead of two, offers quicker response times, and can handle over-the-air software updates for future releases. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are both standard, as is an in-dash navigation system, a six-speaker stereo, and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot. Both 10- and 14-speaker Meridian stereo systems are optional features and buyers of higher-end Defenders receive a digital gauge cluster and a head-up display.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

Among the slew of available driver-assistance technology, the Rover has several unique systems tailored for off-roading and towing. For more information about the Defender's crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (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

Like its stablemates, the Defender will come with a standard warranty package that spans four years or 50,000 miles. The Lexus GX, a similarly posh off-roader, offers more value here in the form of a six-year powertrain warranty and a year of complimentary maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers four years or 50,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs