2024 Land Rover Defender 90

　　

2024 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.

　　In recent years, off-road-capable vehicles have enjoyed a renaissance. Perhaps being cooped up at home for a few years got everyone yearning for the great outdoors. If you're looking to do some exploring in the wild but prefer to do it in relative luxury, Land Rover has traditionally been the go-to carmaker, and its most accomplished model is the 2024 Land Rover Defender. This boxy retro-revival SUV is available as a two-door two-row (Defender 90), a four-door two-row (Defender 110) and a long-wheelbase three-row (Defender 130).

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2024 Land Rover Defender 90 P300 S 2dr 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

　　$244/mo  for Defender 90 P300 S

　　Defender 90 P300 S

　　90 P300 S 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $56,400 MSRP90 P400 X-Dynamic SE 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $68,400 MSRP90 P525 V8 2dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $108,200 MSRP90 P525 V8 Carpathian Edition 2dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $115,300 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　

zzdcar spotlight: Changes for the 2024 Defender

For 2024, the big Defender 130 is available in a new Outbound trim that removes the third row for a significantly larger cargo capacity. That should be a great pick for those who enjoy the outdoors but aren't interested in roughing it. In other news, a midrange V8 engine debuts for the larger models and a new County Exterior appearance package is now offered.

　　

Competitors to consider

Outside of the Land Rover lineup, there are few luxury SUVs that compete against the Defender. The Lexus LX 600 is one of them, but it has some rather sizable flaws that keep us from recommending it over the Land Rover. Instead, we recommend you check out the Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler, which are also extraordinary off-roaders. They're not anywhere as luxurious as the Defender, but they'll save you a ton of money. There's a lot to like about the 2024 Land Rover Defender and the advantages far outweigh the drawbacks. We cover them all in our detailed Expert Rating below.

　　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