2025 Lexus RX Hybrid vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and contemporary design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights paid homage to its rugged heritage while aligning with modern 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. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, showcased its vintage appeal with white wheels and retro graphics, a nod to its storied past. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, and a panoramic glass roof, with options for premium Windsor leather and additional climate control features.

In contrast, the 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid, particularly the RX 500h Black Line Special Edition, was a $75,000 SUV that, despite its price, appeared somewhat unremarkable. Its Incognito paint job and orange brake calipers added a touch of flair, but the overall design was less striking. The RX lineup included the RX 350h, RX 500h, and RX 450h+, each offering different powertrains and fuel efficiencies. The RX 500h, with its 366 hp, was the most powerful, while the RX 350h prioritized efficiency. Inside, the RX Hybrid boasted a contemporary interior with quality materials and ambient lighting, though some ergonomic controls were less intuitive. The RX offered ample rear seat comfort and practical cargo space, focusing on occupant comfort after discontinuing the RX L version with third-row seating.

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 excelled in towing, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds. The V8-powered Defender 110 Carpathian Edition could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, showcasing its impressive performance. Off-road capabilities were a highlight, with features like adaptive air suspension, Terrain Response 2, and all-terrain progress control enhancing its prowess.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid offered three distinct models, each with unique powertrains. The RX 350h, the least powerful but most efficient, featured a hybrid powertrain with 246 hp and 233 pound-feet of torque, achieving 36 mpg in combined driving. The RX 450h+ PHEV provided 304 hp and a 6.2-second zero-to-60 time, with an electric-only range of 37 miles. The RX 500h, with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivered 366 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving a zero-to-60 time of 5.7 seconds. However, its fuel economy was lower at 27 mpg. The RX 500h featured a sport-tuned adaptive damping suspension, 21-inch wheels, and Lexus's Direct4 all-wheel-drive system, enhancing its performance. Despite its power, the RX 500h's drivetrain occasionally hesitated, and its adaptive suspension produced unnatural sensations. While capable on twisty roads, the RX 500h lacked the dynamic communication expected from a performance-oriented SUV.

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, 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 cargo area featured practical hard plastic surfaces, enhancing its utility.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid focused on occupant comfort and practical cargo space. The RX 500h F Sport Performance test vehicle featured snug heated and ventilated front seats, though the bottom cushions lacked long-term comfort. The automatic climate system's fan was notably loud. The RX offered ample rear seat comfort, with optional power-reclining, heated, and ventilated rear seats. Interior storage was practical, though the rear center armrest lacked lining. The RX Hybrid provided 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space, with hooks for grocery bags and a small storage area under the load floor. Folding the second row expanded cargo volume to 46.2 cubic feet, though it was limited for a midsize SUV.

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 its utilitarian persona. The touchscreen included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup blended refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid met luxury expectations with its technology, though some features were optional, such as digital key functionality and a camera-based digital rearview mirror. The RX 500h featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 14-inch touchscreen display with a modern Lexus Interface infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and cloud-based navigation. The RX offered generous subscriptions to connected services, including a three-year Drive Connect plan with a digital voice assistant. However, the steering wheel controls were distracting, and the infotainment system experienced occasional glitches. The optional 21-speaker Mark Levinson audio system provided excellent sound quality.

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, causing interference during normal driving. As of the review, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Lexus RX Hybrid featured Safety Connect, a connected service plan offering automatic collision notification, an SOS emergency assistance button, and roadside assistance. Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0) was standard, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The RX also included blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Predictive Driving Assist (PDA) monitored forward progress and used braking or steering input to maintain safe distances. The optional Convenience Package added a surround-view camera. In NHTSA crash tests, the RX earned a five-star overall safety rating, though the IIHS rated it poorly in a frontal-impact test.