2025 Jeep Wrangler 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 heritage while aligning with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender diverged from its siblings, offering a rugged and adventure-ready cabin reminiscent of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, yet with more refined 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. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, showcased its vintage appeal with white wheels and retro graphics, while still offering modern features like a panoramic glass roof and a 10-speaker Meridian sound system.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S we encountered in Honolulu was less about aesthetics and more about functionality. Its black-on-black color scheme was less than ideal for the tropical climate, but the Wrangler's design remained true to its roots, emphasizing American freedom and off-road capability. The Wrangler was available in several trims, including Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, Rubicon X, and Rubicon 392, with the latter boasting a powerful 470-horsepower 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine. Our rental Sport S model, priced at nearly $50,000, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a few options like a black hardtop and Convenience Group. Despite its utilitarian interior, the Wrangler's appeal lay in its ability to tackle diverse terrains, making it a popular choice for adventure seekers.

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. For those seeking more power, the Defender offered 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's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like adaptive air suspension and Terrain Response 2 system, making it a formidable choice for rugged adventures.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving compared to the V6's 19-20 mpg. Our four-cylinder rental achieved an average fuel economy of 19.2 mpg during our week-long evaluation in Hawaii. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it well-suited for off-road adventures. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. Despite its rough ride and disconnected steering feel, the Wrangler's off-road prowess was undeniable, especially in models equipped with the Rock Trac transfer case and locking axles.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments. Its seating capacity ranged from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 offered an optional third row, while the Defender 130 provided three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity varied, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in its two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. The practical cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it easy to clean.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. Once inside, the front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated front seats and steering wheel. The Wrangler accommodated five passengers, though four were more comfortable. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. The Wrangler offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

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, complemented the Defender's utilitarian persona. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup and home buttons made it user-friendly, providing a blend of refinement and utility.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler boasted the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Higher trims offered navigation and Jeep Connect services, including a Wi-Fi hotspot and GPS Trail Logs. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, remote engine start, and rear parking sensors.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped 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 windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced side curtain airbags as standard for front and rear seats. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was standard on the Sahara trim. Other safety features included adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights. The Wrangler had a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler Good for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact test, but Marginal for the small overlap frontal-impact test due to tipping onto its side.