2026 Land Rover Defender vs 2025 Chevrolet Equinox

The latest iteration of this compact crossover takes styling cues from the only Chevy model to outsell it: the Silverado. Its new look comes with new standard tech and safety features, new transmissions, and a new trim bringing something new to the lineup to appeal to the weekend warrior crowd.

Verdict: We wouldn't be at all surprised to see the Equinox remain one of Chevrolet's best sellers. The added value outstrips the price increase in our book, and the makeover is sure to appeal to plenty of compact SUV shoppers.

As the rest of the lineup has trended toward luxury, the Land Rover Defender has stayed true to the brand’s roots of tough off-roaders ideal for the military and farmers alike. That’s mainly because Land Rover put off updates for decades, but a redesigned Defender that’s more passenger car than farm implement arrived for 2020, bringing the nameplate back to the U.S. Changes for 2026 include subtle styling changes, a larger touchscreen, and new color and accessory options.

Verdict: The Defender offers an unmatched combination of off-road capability and everyday civility.