Overview
If you’re enamored with the idea of off-roading but can’t stomach living with an unrefined vehicle during your daily commute, consider the best-of-both-worlds 2024 Land Rover Defender. Alongside truck-ish rivals like the Jeep Wrangler and the Lexus GX, the Defender is essentially unstoppable on the ORV trail, but sliding behind the wheel to run errands or take a road trip is far more appealing. Its on-road demeanor belies its go-anywhere capability and a trio of available powertrains and three different body styles allow you to tailor the SUV to your unique needs. Want to maximize the cool factor? Try the two-door 90 model. Have a slew of kids to shuttle around town? The extended-wheelbase 130 model offers more space and a usable third row of seats. Most buyers will likely prefer the mid-sized 110 trim, as it offers similar proportions to the 90 with a bit more practicality. No matter which one you choose, the Defender oozes personality and even the base models offer more creature comforts than the utilitarian ancestors responsible for launching the Land Rover brand.
What’s New for 2023?
The long-wheelbase Defender 130 model is available in a new Outbound trim level for 2024 that ditches the SUV’s third row of seats and the rearmost windows to make room for additional cargo space inside and allow for more exterior customization via a slew of available accessories. The 130 model is also now available with the 518-hp supercharged V-8 that’s optional on 90 and 110 models. Speaking of the 110, a new County Exterior package is available for that body style that includes a two-tone exterior paint scheme, a unique 20-inch wheel design, illuminated door sill protectors, and interior embellishments to match the exterior.
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. We’d suggest the 110 SE trim level as it adds several 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 outfits 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.
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.
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
Specifications
Specifications
2023 Land Rover Defender 130 First Edition
Vehicle Type: front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 8-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $86,175/$92,075
ENGINE
supercharged, turbocharged, and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-6, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 183 in3, 2996 cm3
Power: 395 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: multilink/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 14.3-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Continental CrossContact LX
HL275/45R-22 115W M+S LR
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.0 in
Length: 210.9 in
Width: 79.1 in
Height: 77.6 in
Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 81/44/14 ft3
Curb Weight: 5931 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.2 sec
1/4-Mile: 14.6 sec @ 97 mph
100 mph: 15.7 sec
130 mph: 33.6 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 4.6 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 131 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 167 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.71 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
75-mph Highway Driving: 19 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 370 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 19/17/21 mpg
2020 Land Rover Defender 110 SE
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, 4-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$82,575 (base price: $63,600)
ENGINE TYPE
supercharged, turbocharged, and intercooled inline-6; aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement
183 in3, 2996 cm3
Power
395 hp @ 5500 rpm
Torque
406 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
8-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): multilink/multilink
Brakes (F/R): 14.3-in vented disc/13.8-in vented disc
Tires: Goodyear Wrangler All-Terrain Adventure, 255/60R-20 113H M+S LR
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 119.0 in
Length: 197.6 in
Width: 78.6 in
Height: 80.6 in
Passenger volume: 132 ft3
Cargo volume: 11 ft3
Curb weight: 5773 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.3 sec
100 mph: 17.3 sec
120 mph: 33.9 sec
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 7.0 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 4.6 sec
1/4 mile: 14.8 sec @ 94 mph
Top speed (governor limited): 120 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 204 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.70
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 15 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 19/17/22 mpg
