2025 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights paid homage to its rugged heritage while aligning with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a more robust and adventure-ready cabin reminiscent of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, yet with superior soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims like the S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. The Defender 110 S, the most popular configuration, featured a County visual package with vintage graphics and white wheels, emphasizing its nostalgic appeal. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof, with options for premium leather and additional climate control features.

The 2025 Ford Explorer, with its refreshed design, continued to build on the balanced proportions introduced in its previous redesign. The switch to a rear-wheel-drive platform gave it a sleeker, less boxy appearance, enhanced by a restyled front end that added width and rugged charm. New LED taillights and a variety of wheel designs further modernized its look. Inside, the Explorer saw significant improvements in materials and design, making it competitive in its segment. Ford reduced the trim levels from eight to four, offering the new base Active, sporty ST-Line, luxurious Platinum, and performance-tuned ST. Prices ranged from $39,755 to $55,505, excluding destination charges. During a driving event in Michigan, the ST-Line with RWD and additional packages showcased its appealing design and features, including a Vapor Blue paint and a Premium Package.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet 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. Two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options, the P500 and P525, provided 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, and 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, respectively. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity reached up to 7,716 pounds with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder engines, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, particularly with the Defender X trim, which included an adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system. Our P400 model offered ample power for highway speeds, though it exhibited slight lurching at low speeds, likely due to off-road gearing.

The 2025 Ford Explorer featured two EcoBoost engines. Most trims, except the ST, came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, generating 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Explorer ST and optional Platinum trim boasted a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6, producing 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. All Explorers had a 10-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive, with an optional four-wheel-drive system. Various driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, and Trail, catered to different conditions. Our ST-Line test vehicle, equipped with RWD, averaged 23.8 mpg during a diverse driving route. The Explorer's turbo four-cylinder provided quick acceleration, while the 10-speed automatic delivered decisive shifts. The ST-Line's performance was enhanced by larger wheels and optional performance brakes. The Explorer ST, with its sport-tuned suspension, demonstrated impressive handling on a short autocross course. The Platinum trim's twin-turbo V6 offered fast acceleration and a pleasant sound, achieving 22.9 mpg on the highway with BlueCruise assistance.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments. It accommodated between five and eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 increased seating capacity to eight, though space remained limited. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 providing up to 76.1 cubic feet with seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 78.8 cubic feet in a two-row setup, while the two-door Defender 90 provided up to 58.3 cubic feet. The cargo area featured practical hard plastic surfaces for easy cleaning.

The 2025 Ford Explorer seated six in its standard configuration, with an optional second-row bench seat increasing capacity to seven. Our ST-Line test vehicle included a heated steering wheel, power-adjustable front seats, and the Premium Package, adding features like ambient lighting and a power-folding third-row seat. The front seats were comfortable, with breathable fabric inserts, while the second-row captain's chairs offered similar comfort. The third row was less accommodating for adults, with a low, flat seat. Cargo space was competitive, with 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row, and a maximum of 85.8 cubic feet. A new dashboard tray housed a wireless smartphone charger.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, suited its utilitarian design. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo. The straightforward setup, with home buttons for easy navigation, blended refinement and utility.

The 2025 Ford Explorer introduced the Ford Digital Experience, featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 13.2-inch touchscreen. The system included Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L, and streaming apps. A 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and web browser apps provided internet access. The Explorer offered B&O sound systems, with the ST-Line featuring 10 speakers and the Platinum and ST boasting 14 speakers and 980 watts. The system was user-friendly, with Google Maps and Google Assistant integration.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a comprehensive suite 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. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist were overly sensitive, but could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Ford Explorer featured Ford CoPilot 360+, which included adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist and other driver assistance systems. The ST-Line and higher trims added Ford CoPilot 360 2.0, with a surround-view camera and BlueCruise hands-free highway driving system. BlueCruise performed well on Michigan's I-94, though it struggled with tighter curves and heavy traffic. The 2025 Explorer had not been fully rated by NHTSA, but received five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings. IIHS ratings were not available.