2023 Land Rover Defender vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Land Rover Defender was a standout in the Land Rover lineup, outselling the Discovery by a significant margin. Its boxy design, reminiscent of the old LR4, appealed to customers who preferred a classic Land Rover look over the Discovery's more Ford-like appearance. The Defender's design was characterized by its square-jawed face, rectangular hood and doors, and a sharply chopped tail, all contributing to its classic truck aesthetic. Tasteful nods to the original 1980s Defender, such as the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof, and the body-color square separating the side glass, added to its charm. The Defender was available in three body styles: the short two-door 90, the medium-length four-door 110, and the extended-length four-door 130, offering a variety of choices for consumers.

Inside, the 2023 Defender focused on function and durability, with an interior that was basic yet unique. Despite its high price, the interior was coated in rubbers and plastics designed to resist moisture and stains, with exposed screws and plain-looking air vents. The steering wheel was reminiscent of an old Toyota, and the overall feel was more utilitarian than luxurious. However, the build quality and fit were excellent, maintaining the Defender's hardcore character. While some might have found the price excessive, the Defender's popularity suggested that many appreciated its unique appeal.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender maintained its iconic boxy profile while incorporating modern features like angular headlights, creating a visual connection to other Land Rover models. However, the interior leaned more towards durability and adventure-readiness, similar to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with more soft-touch materials. The 2024 model was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, with trims including S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound.

The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, came with the County visual package, featuring white wheels and vintage graphics. Standard features on the S trim included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof, and a heated and power-adjustable steering wheel. The X-Dynamic SE trim added 20-inch alloy wheels and distinctive styling touches, while the X trim included a digital rearview mirror camera and partial Windsor leather upholstery. The V8 trim combined leather and microsuede upholstery with a center console refrigerator, and the Carpathian Edition stood out with its all-dark exterior and interior accents. The Outbound trim offered many of the X-Dynamic SE’s features but removed the third row for added cargo space.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road, with its uncanny grip, incredible wheel articulation, and generous clearance. The air suspension allowed it to tackle almost any path, although most owners would not use its full off-road capabilities. On-road, the Defender's performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow steering, and noticeable wind noise. The turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines provided ample power, with the V8 delivering 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, while the four-cylinder engine produced 296 hp and 295 lb-ft. Fuel economy varied, with the V8 returning 14/19/16 mpg, the six-cylinder 18/23/20, and the four-cylinder 17/20/18.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine options, P500 and P525, provided 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, respectively. All engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission with full-time active four-wheel drive. The most powerful V8 in the Defender 110 Carpathian Edition accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like adaptive air suspension, Terrain Response 2 system, electronic differential, and all-terrain progress control. The P400 test model had ample power for highway speeds, with a pleasant on-road ride and minimal body roll.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender was exceptional as an everyday SUV, offering unmatched seating configurations. The Defender 90 could seat six with the optional jump seat, while the 110 had an optional third row, and the 130 had a standard third row for up to eight seats. The 130 offered 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row and second row folded, while the 90 had 16 cubic feet and 58 with the rear seats folded. The 110 provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 79 with them folded. The Defender's large glass and panoramic moonroof enhanced visibility, and various features like a console refrigerator, heated windshield, and power-deployable side steps were available.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender blended luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. Seating capacity ranged from five to eight passengers, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row and the 130 providing three seats in the third row. Cargo capacity varied, with the Defender 130 offering 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 35.8 cubic feet behind the second row, and 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row in the two-row version, while the three-row configuration had 10.7 cubic feet behind the third row, 34.6 cubic feet behind the second row, and 69 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Defender 90 offered 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro, with a standard 10-inch screen and an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen. Both screens were quick and simple to operate, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation as standard. Heated front seats, a proximity key, and power-folding mirrors were also included. The Defender S had heated 12-way power seats with leather and a Meridian stereo, while the SE trims added fog lights, surround sound, and cooled front seats. The X trim included air suspension, a locking rear differential, an upgraded Terrain Response 2 system, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, standard with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Defender also included Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons on the left and right rails for easy navigation.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. It came with six airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking as standard. Optional features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered an extensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist were noted to be overly sensitive.