2023 Land Rover Defender

　　

2023 Land Rover Defender Review

byMark TakahashiCorrespondent

　　Mark Takahashi has worked in the automotive industry since 2001. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career. Mark has also contributed to Motor Trend, Auto Aficionado, Chevy High Performance and several motorcycle magazines in various roles. Mark is also a juror on the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year Awards and can be seen regularly on the zzdcar YouTube channel and sometimes representing the company in media interviews.

　　If you're looking to get off the beaten path — and we mean way off the beaten path — the 2023 Land Rover Defender will get you there with ease. Banking on its storied history as a go-anywhere, do-anything SUV before the term SUV even existed, the Defender has the off-road chops to tackle some of the most daunting challenges. At the same time, it's a modern Land Rover, with the luxury trappings that make it easy to live with when you're on big-city pavement.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2023 Land Rover Defender 110 P300 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$257/mo  for Defender 110 P300

　　Defender 110 P300

　　110 P300 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $53,500 MSRP90 P300 S 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $55,100 MSRP110 P300 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $58,300 MSRP90 P400 SE 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $66,100 MSRP130 P300 S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $68,000 MSRP90 P400 X-Dynamic SE 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $69,100 MSRP110 P400 SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $69,300 MSRP110 P400 X-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) (Most Popular) - $72,300 MSRP130 P400 SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $78,300 MSRP130 P400 X-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $81,400 MSRP130 P400 First Edition 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $84,700 MSRP90 P400 X 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $88,400 MSRP110 P400 X 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $90,900 MSRP90 P400 75th Limited Edition 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $91,880 MSRP110 P400 75th Limited Edition 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $94,380 MSRP130 P400 X 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $99,900 MSRP90 P525 V8 2dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $107,900 MSRP110 P525 V8 4dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $111,300 MSRP90 P525 V8 Carpathian Edition 2dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $115,000 MSRP110 P525 V8 Carpathian Edition 4dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $118,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$229/mo

　　Avg. Large SUV

　　Shoppers have plenty of Defender versions to choose from, whether you're more inclined to conquer uncharted terrain or tame the urban maze. There are two-door and four-door models, three engine choices and several corresponding trim levels. There's even a new long-wheelbase three-row model, dubbed the Defender 130, debuting for 2023. Whichever Defender you choose, we're confident you'll be just as impressed as we are, as evidenced by our Expert Rating below.

　　The Defender is the most hardcore all-terrain vehicle in the Land Rover lineup, but it's still more refined than competing SUVs that include the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler. There is a price for that refinement and luxury, though, to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars depending on trim and options. Then again, when it comes to exploring the great outdoors in style, it's hard to beat the Defender.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Defender drive? Strong off-road capability typically comes at the expense of on-road handling and steering precision. But that isn't the case here. The Defender drives just like a luxury SUV should, and its transmission provides smooth and often imperceptible gear changes. The brakes are easy to control for smooth stops around town.

　　As for acceleration, we clocked a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.7 seconds for the Defender 110 and 6.2 seconds for the Defender 90 when equipped with the inline six-cylinder engine. That's plenty quick for an off-road-oriented SUV. Still, with 395 hp, you might expect a little more. Weight might be a culprit — our test Defenders weighed in at a portly 5,207 and 5,571 pounds for the two-door 90 and four-door 110, respectively.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Defender? The Defender travels down the road with the refinement you'd expect of a luxury-priced Land Rover. The interior remains quiet and relatively free from road vibrations even when riding on the optional 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. In terms of ride quality, our test vehicle was on the firm side when going over bumps and road imperfections, but it was likely the result of those larger, heavier wheels (18-inch wheels are standard).

　　The driver's seat provides a wide range of adjustment. Heating and ventilation are optional. The climate system is able to maintain a comfortable temperature, though you might need to dial in a slightly lower target temperature and fiddle with the vents to get the airflow you want.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below