The 2024 Land Rover Defender 110 finds a near-perfect balance between off-roader and luxury SUV

A couple of things that every Defender has in common are rugged aesthetics and the off-road chops to back them up. The closest rival to the Defender outside of the Land Rover lineup may be the capable and luxurious Lexus GX.

2024 Land Rover Defender 110 pricing

The 2024 Land Rover Defender starts at $56,400 for the Defender 90 S. The 4-door Defender 110 starts at $60,600, and the 3-row Defender 130 begins at $69,100. The 6-cylinder P400 powertrain starts at $67,900, and with the exception of one trim, all V8-powered Defender models cost more than $100,000. The lower trims of the Defender are priced closely to the Lexus GX, which is comparable in size to the Defender 110.

These are the manufacturer’s suggested retail prices and don’t include the $1,475 factory-to-dealer delivery fee (destination charge).

Before buying a Defender, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. Land Rover Defender resale value is about average for the segment.

What’s new?

The Defender gets a few updates for 2024. The new P500 powertrain produces 493 horsepower, and it’s available in the Defender 110 and Defender 130. The 518-hp P525 powertrain is still available in the Defender 90 and Defender 110.

There’s also a new Outbound trim available for the Defender 130. Inspired by the overlanding trend, it removes the third-row seats to create a vast cargo hold, which is practical for daily errands or extended outdoor adventures. It also has all-terrain tires and color-matched panels replacing the rear windows. Land Rover calls it “the ultimate luxury explorer.”

A new County Exterior Pack is available for the Defender 110. It’s a heritage-inspired appearance package available for the S and SE trims with retro exterior graphics, unique wheels, and a contrast roof.

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Driving the 2024 Land Rover Defender 110

The Land Rover Defender is an off-roader that doesn’t forget it’s also a luxury SUV. We’re pleased with its on-road poise and comfort, and it’s an SUV we’d be happy to drive daily, but its poor fuel economy hurts its practicality.

The performance of the Defender improves dramatically with the available 6-cylinder P400 powertrain and the supercharged V8 options. The entertaining P400 setup is easy to recommend if your budget allows it since it’s more efficient than the 4-cylinder.

As for off-road performance, the Defender lives up to our high expectations. Even the most spartan base model has real off-road talent, and it gets even more capable when you add options like an active differential, off-road tires, and All Terrain Progress Control.

It’s rare for an SUV to be authentically capable off-road without compromising on-road comfort and handling, but the Defender achieves a near-perfect balance of its two natures as an off-roader and a luxury SUV.

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Practical interior

The Land Rover Defender has an interior design that’s as unique as its exterior. Straight lines, chunky “DEFENDER” lettering in the dash, and straightforward controls speak to the ruggedness of this SUV, and we felt pretty cool driving it. However, this Land Rover is also a comfortable and high-tech luxury SUV.

We found the 11.4-inch screen on the standard Pivi Pro infotainment system responsive and user-friendly. It has all the features a luxury SUV shopper could want, like Android Auto, Apple
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The front seats are roomy and comfortable in every Defender, but interior space behind the driver varies greatly depending on the body. Rear-seat legroom is actually pretty good in the 2-door Defender 90, but we’d rather be riding in the back of the roomier 4-door Defender 110.

We’re impressed by the seating space in the roomy Defender 130, with adult-friendly seating in all three rows. The third row has almost as much space as the second row. Available second-row captain’s chairs make the second row more comfortable and the third row easier to access.

The Defender 90 and Defender 130 are tight on cargo space when all seats are in place; only about 15 cubic feet in both. The 2-row Defender 110 has a much more practical 34 cubic-foot cargo area, and the new Defender 130 Outbound ditches the third row to make a huge 46.9 cubic-foot cargo hold behind the back seats.

Also read: The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE raises the bar for luxury SUVs, and now there’s a plug-in hybrid version, too

Rugged exterior

The Land Rover Defender has a rugged appearance that nods to its nameplate’s heritage while looking thoroughly modern. The size of the Defender is dictated by the number in its name. The Defender 90 is the short 2-door model, the Defender 110 is the medium-sized 4-door model, and the Defender 130 is the big one with 3-row seating.

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Our favorite features and tech

Delightful engines
The 6-cylinder and V8 engines available in the Defender give this luxury SUV strong performance on-road and off.

Pivi Pro infotainment system
This standard infotainment system has rich graphics, a user-friendly interface, and handy smartphone connectivity features.

Off-Road Pack
The available Off-Road Pack improves the Defender’s capability by adding off-road tires, a domestic power socket, and an active electronic differential with torque vectoring by braking.

Available air suspension
This optional suspension system makes the Defender more comfortable on-road and more capable off-road.

Three body options
There’s a lot of variety in the Defender lineup. It can be an agile 2-door off-roader, a practical midsize 4-door, or a family-friendly 3-row SUV.

Outbound trim
The new Defender 130 Outbound is an overlanding-inspired rig with a unique appearance package, all-terrain tires, and the rear seats removed, creating a huge cargo hold.

Engine and transmission

The Land Rover Defender offers five powertrain options. The P300 powertrain is standard in the Defender 90 and Defender 110; it’s a turbocharged 4-cylinder. The P400 mild-hybrid 6-cylinder engine that’s both turbocharged and supercharged is optional with all three body styles.

The standard engine in the Defender 130 is unique to this body style. It’s a turbocharged 6-cylinder without the supercharger. Land Rover also calls this the P300, but it’s different than the 4-cylinder P300 powertrain.

The new P500 powertrain is a 493-horsepower supercharged V8 that’s optional in the Defender 110 and Defender 130. The most powerful option is the 518-horsepower P525 available in the Defender 90 and Defender 110.

Naturally, 4-wheel drive comes standard on every Defender.

2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder (P300)
296 horsepower @ 4,000 rpm
295 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500-4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/21 mpg (90), 17/20 mpg (110)

3.0-liter turbocharged 6-cylinder (P300)
296 horsepower @ 4,800 rpm
347 lb-ft of torque @ 1,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 17/21 mpg

3.0-liter turbocharged/supercharged 6-cylinder (P400)
395 horsepower @ 5,000 rpm
406 lb-ft @ 2,000-5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 18/23 mpg (90 & 110), 17/21 mpg (130)

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (P500)
493 horsepower
EPA city/highway fuel economy: TBD

5.0-liter supercharged V8 (P525)
518 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
461 lb-ft of torque @ 2,500-5,500 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 15/19 mpg (90), 14/19 mpg (110)

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4-year/50,000-mile warranty

The Land Rover Defender is defended by a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. This coverage is typical for a luxury SUV.

KBB’s car review  methodology.

This story originally ran on KBB.com.