2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 was available in six trim levels, ranging from the budget-friendly RAV4 LE to the more luxurious RAV4 Limited, with off-road-oriented trims like the Adventure and TRD Off-Road in between. The Adventure trim, which we tested, featured a more aggressive grille, blacked-out wheels, and additional black cladding around the wheel arches. However, it was more about appearance than actual off-road capability. Inside, the Adventure trim added orange accents, including a stripe down the middle of the seats and contrast stitching, giving it a sporty look. The interior also featured a frameless rearview mirror, adding a touch of premium feel to an otherwise basic cabin.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic, boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, making it visually connected to other Land Rover models. The interior, however, was more rugged and adventure-ready, similar to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco but with more soft-touch materials. The Defender was offered in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with multiple trims. Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, came with the County visual package, featuring white wheels and vintage graphics. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof. The interior was a blend of refinement and utility, with practical features like grip handles and rubberized floors.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, but all-wheel drive was available on all trims and standard on the Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims. The RAV4's performance was adequate but not exciting, and the engine was somewhat noisy. The Adventure trim featured 19-inch wheels with all-season tires, while the TRD Off-Road trim had 18-inch wheels with Falken All-Terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension for better off-road capability.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. There were also two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender could tow up to 7,716 pounds with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines, and up to 5,500 pounds with the four-cylinder. The most powerful V8 could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, especially with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and offered 37.7 inches of headroom in the front row and 39.5 inches in the back seats with the moonroof. Legroom measured 41 inches in the front and 37.8 inches in the second row. The RAV4 provided 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior featured convenient storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and generous door pockets.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered seating for five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, best suited for children, while the Defender 130 could seat up to eight but still had limited space. Cargo capacity varied by model: the Defender 130 offered 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 with the first row folded in the two-row version. The two-door Defender 90 offered 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it practical and easy to clean.

For 2023, the Toyota RAV4 received a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen standard and a 10.5-inch touchscreen for Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The system supported over-the-air updates, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Our RAV4 Adventure tester had the upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited trim.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which included navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Defender also featured Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The touchscreen was straightforward and complemented the Defender's utilitarian persona, with home buttons on the left and right rails for easy navigation.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a suite of safety features, including lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also available. The RAV4 was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control. The 2023 RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender included standard driver assistance features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other safety features 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 systems were somewhat intrusive but could be deactivated. As of this writing, the 2024 Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.