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Streamlined trim lineup
11.4-inch touchscreen with wireless charging is now standard
New three-row Defender 130
What We Think
The Land Rover Defender won our coveted SUV of the Year title in 2021, and it has kept up its appeal since then. A few infotainment updates and a simplified lineup keep Land Rover's revitalized classic feeling fresh.
Most off-road SUVs have relatively poor dynamics on pavement (looking at you, Wrangler). The Defender bucks the trend with excellent body control and a compliant suspension. Head away from civilization, and the Defender again blends comfort with remarkable capability.
We've had a few concerns about build quality in the interior of early-build Defenders, but it's pleasantly designed and now includes a generous 11.4-inch touchscreen. As long as you don't need to carry more than five, passengers won't lack for luxury. The exterior remains one of our favorite renditions of retro boxy cool.
Aside from a blatant disregard for fuel economy, it's hard to fault the Defender. As we wrote in our first test, "Few vehicles make the whole staff smile like the 2020 Land Rover Defender did. "
Performance And Fuel Economy
The 2023 Defender keeps its lineup of three engines, which Land Rover designates with alphanumeric codes: P300, P400, and P525. All three send power through an eight-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels.
The base P300 is a 2.0-liter turbo-four making 296 hp and 295 lb-ft. Land Rover claims a four-door Defender P300 will do 0-60 mph in 6.6 seconds, which is impressive for an SUV this size. No Defender is efficient, but the two-door P300 is the best of the lot at 18/21 mpg city/highway.
We've spent our testing time in the Defender P400, which adds a turbo and an electric supercharger to a 3.0-liter inline-six for a total of 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. Land Rover says the P400 should be good for a 5.8-second 0-60 sprint, but it took 6.5 seconds on our dragstrip. Efficiency is nearly equivalent to the P300 at 17/22 mpg.
The most powerful option is a supercharged V-8 under the hood of P525 models. Power output maxes out at 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. Estimated 0-60 time drops to 4.9 seconds, and fuel economy falls to an abysmal 14/19 mpg for four-door Defenders. Buyers should be ready to pay at the pump and up front-V-8 Defenders start at about $105,000.
The Off-Road Spectrum
In the world of off-road SUVs, the Defender occupies a luxurious middle ground. The Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler both start cheaper than the Defender, offer a two-door body style, and have the additional virtue of removable roofs and doors.
For a heady blend of opulence and performance, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class stands in a class of its own. But at $130,000, the G-Wagen is also in a price bracket of its own. The Defender may not make quite the same statement as a status symbol, but it provides most of the luxury at half the price (at least to start).
The Defender's most direct competition comes from the Lexus GX. Although it's a solid off-road performer, the GX rides on an aging platform and doesn't drive as well.
Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA has tested the Defender for crashworthiness.
Cargo Space and interior Room
The Defender is available in two-door or four-door form, coded as 90 and 110 respectively. The 110 comes out ahead on passenger and cargo space, but buyers will need to pony up an extra $3,000 in most trims. The 110 also offers an optional two-seat third row, but we'd recommend skipping it. If you're looking for a Defender with proper three-row seating, check out the new Defender 130.
Compared to the Lexus GX, the Defender 110 is ahead on cargo capacity and rear legroom.
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