Costs & verdict
Everyday costs, plus how reliable and safe it is
Costs, insurance groups, MPG and CO2
The Land Rover Defender’s starting price is higher than pretty much all its rivals, including the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Jeep Wrangler. The Defender does get lots of standard equipment though, and by the time you’ve upgraded to the same level, it all evens out. Higher up the range, the Defender's price overlaps with the larger Audi Q7, BMW X5 and Land Rover Discovery. If you go for the V8 model or the plug-in hybrid (PHEV) in a top trim, you're potentially looking at a lot more than BMW X7 money.
The Defender has a massive counter to that: its exceedingly slow predicted depreciation should help keep the long-term costs respectable. PCP finance rates are competitive, but check out the latest deals on our free What Car? New Car Deals pages.
Equipment, options and extras
The entry-level X-Dynamic S trim comes well equipped and is actually our favourite. It has power-folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, climate control, cruise control and heated front seats, plus the infotainment and visibility aids. Defender HSE is slightly more expensive and adds the upgraded seats, adaptive cruise control, a panoramic roof and a leather steering wheel.
With that in mind, the price tags attached to X-Dynamic HSE trim and above make them hard to recommend. If you're after luxury, we'd argue that similar-priced, road-biased luxury SUVs, such as the Audi Q7 and BMW X5, make more sense.
In addition to the trim levels, buyers can choose from four design packs to further customise the look of the Defender. Some are more city-oriented and add glitzy 22in wheels. Others are off-road-inspired, with features including a ladder, roof rack and off-road tyres. There's even a satin protective wrap for the bodywork, which stops the paintwork getting scratched.
