2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had a distinct appeal that helped it outsell the Discovery by a wide margin. Although both vehicles shared similar dimensions and price points, the Defender’s design was reminiscent of the classic Land Rovers, which drew in customers who appreciated the boxy aesthetics of the old LR4. The Defender’s industrial design stuck to a robust corner-to-corner theme, featuring a sharply angular face, a rectangular hood and doors aligned parallel to the ground, and a truncated tail – all elements that defined its rugged look.

Accents nodding to the original 1980s Defender were neatly integrated, including the hood dome, faux-metal step plates, skylights along the roof’s sides, and the body-color square between the side glass. Every Defender had a full-size spare wheel mounted on the rear door, which opened barn-style. The base model’s white steel wheels were particularly nostalgic. Four accessory packages offered extra customization with ladders, roof racks, storage boxes, snorkel, mud flaps, and skid plates. The X trim featured a two-tone hood and fascia, larger wheels, and tires, while the V8 model was entirely blacked-out and rode on 22-inch wheels. Three different body styles—90 (short two-door), 110 (medium-length four-door), and 130 (extended-length four-door)—provided unmatched variety in the Defender lineup.

Despite its luxury price tag, the Defender’s interior aimed for function and durability, utilizing rubbers and plastics meant to withstand moisture and stains. Bare metal spanned the dashboard, and the design included exposed screws and utilitarian air vents. The steering wheel was reminiscent of older vehicles. Optional Windsor leather added a touch of class, but the overall interior remained purposefully spartan, retaining its rugged character against the plush Range Rover models.

Contrast this with the 2023 Range Rover Sport, which was characterized by Land Rover as “modernist” and “reductive,” implying a clean and simple design. It was far from flashy, available in subdued colors like Eiger Gray with glossy silver 23-inch wheels. Inside, a Deep Garnet and Ebony theme with aluminum and glossy black trim exuded understated luxury.

The Range Rover Sport’s minimalist design included the slimmest LED headlights ever seen on a Land Rover, flush-mounted door handles that deployed when sensing your presence, and taillights with ground-breaking surface LED technology. The vehicle's aerodynamic coefficient was an impressive 0.29.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled in off-road conditions, with a prowess confirmed by tests on difficult trails. Its air suspension provided significant ground clearance, and the Terrain Response 2 system adapted the vehicle's powertrain and chassis to various surfaces. However, most owners didn't leverage this off-road capability; the on-road experience was less compelling. The Defender’s heavy mechanicals and high drag caused it to lose speed downhill, and it exhibited considerable body roll, sluggish steering, and noticeable wind noise. Braking was also less polished, with a long pedal travel and front-end dive.

However, the powertrain options redeemed its on-road performance to some extent. The turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines were standout features. The V8 delivered 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque, making the Defender unexpectedly quick. The 48-volt mild hybrid six-cylinder engine was also robust, providing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The fuel economy for the V8 was notably poor at 14/19/16 mpg, but the six-cylinder variants offered better efficiency. Meanwhile, the four-cylinder engine was less impressive, with its 296 hp and 295 lb-ft struggling to provide adequate acceleration.

The 2023 Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver-focused engagement. Its turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine in the SE P360 produced 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, while the SE Dynamic P400 variant generated 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. There was also a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) option in the Autobiography P440e that combined excellent power with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range.

Additionally, a 523-hp twin-turbo V8 was available in limited early-build P530 models. However, the V8 was expected to return in a future upscale variant. The Range Rover Sport also promised future electrification, with a fully electric version slated for 2024.

Our test vehicle, equipped with the 395-hp six-cylinder, delivered swift acceleration, corroborated by Land Rover’s claim of a 0-60 mph time of 5.4 seconds. It towed up to 7,716 pounds and returned decent fuel efficiency, averaging 22.3 mpg during evaluations. The air suspension significantly enhanced ride quality, adjusting up to 500 times per second to reduce body movement while offering a smooth ride.

The Defender’s interior was notably versatile, offering numerous seating configurations. The Defender 90 could seat six with a jump seat, reminiscent of classic pickups, while the 110 and 130 models could seat up to eight. The third-row occupants in the 130 enjoyed amenities like a separate moonroof, air vents, a climate zone, cupholders, USB ports, and armrests. Visibility was excellent, thanks to ample glass and optional panoramic moonroofs.

Cargo space varied: the Defender 130 had 77 cubic feet with the rear seats folded (14 cubic feet with all upright), the 90 offered 58 cubic feet maximum, and the four-door 110 provided up to 79 cubic feet. Various accessories allowed for extensive customization, from roof racks to winches and pressurized water rinse systems.

The Range Rover Sport offered a commanding driving position, enhanced by the low dashboard, upright windshield, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could lower for easier entry and exit. Front seats offered excellent comfort with 20-way power adjustments, heating, ventilation, and optional massage and heated steering wheel. However, rear seat space was less accommodating. Despite more legroom than before, entry was impeded by narrow door openings, and the hard front seatback panels could be uncomfortable. Rear seatbacks were overly reclined, causing slouched postures.

Storage options inside the Range Rover Sport were practical yet limited. Cargo capacity measured 31.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and expanded to 53 cubic feet with the seats folded. Controls to lower the air suspension for easier loading and power-fold the rear seats were useful, albeit the full-size spare under the cargo floor limited additional storage.

The Defender came standard with two touchscreen sizes, both running the reliable Pivi Pro system. The 10-inch screen was beautifully integrated into the dash, while the 11.4-inch variant offered better readability. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation. Heated seats, a proximity key, and power-folding mirrors were also included across the lineup.

Upper trims like the Defender S and SE boasted heated 12-way power seats, leather, a Meridian stereo, fog lights, daytime running lights, and cooled front seats. Additional features in the X included air suspension, a locking rear differential, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, a larger touchscreen, and a rearview mirror with a camera display.

The Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13.1-inch touchscreen. Standard connectivity options included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and an Online Pack with connected services. However, accessing various features could be cumbersome. We frequently struggled with the user interface, and the voice assistant often misinterpreted commands.

Despite these tech hiccups, the Range Rover Sport offered outstanding Meridian audio systems, with up to 29 speakers and advanced Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless charging pad was conveniently placed but somewhat challenging to access.

The Defender earned a five-star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests, praised for its solid structure. Standard safety features included six airbags, a digital instrument panel, a head-up display, a 360-degree camera system, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Advanced systems like a self-steering highway assist were absent.

The Range Rover Sport was equipped with extensive advanced driver assistance systems: forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive high-seams, a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system. Its adaptive cruise control and steering assist fell short of expectations, and maneuvering through inconsistent lane markings often necessitated manual override.