2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged yet customizable aesthetic, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance in design. Despite the Defender 90 appearing stubby and the 130 carrying excessive visual mass, all models maintained an appealingly robust look. The Defender offered a wide range of customization options, with base prices starting at $58,525 for the 90 model and reaching $120,525 for the 130 V8, including destination charges. The Defender OCTA, available only as a 110, was priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials, with a final MSRP of $106,092. The test model, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the new matte paint protection film, and its color clashed with the orange brake calipers and delicate twin-spoke wheels. Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with illuminated door-sill treadplates and metal pedal covers, maintaining an industrial theme with quality materials.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered in a rental scenario, was less visually appealing due to its black-on-black color scheme, especially in a tropical climate. However, the Wrangler's design, rooted in its military vehicle heritage, evoked a sense of American freedom and capability. The Wrangler was available in various trims, including the powerful Rubicon 392 with a 470-horsepower V8 engine. Our Sport S model, priced at $49,175, featured a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a black hardtop, and a Convenience Group package. Despite its nearly $50,000 price tag, the Wrangler's interior emphasized function over form, with a focus on durability and utility. The Wrangler's appeal lay in its ability to traverse diverse terrains, though it lacked the sophistication of more modern vehicles.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's test vehicle was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system and an eight-speed automatic transmission, provided robust acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The Defender 130 X, with this drivetrain, accelerated to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds. The vehicle featured an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, enhancing its off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the Defender 130 was primarily driven on pavement, where it excelled in absorbing bumps and maintaining a comfortable ride. However, its 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its agility on twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy was lower than expected, with an observed 16.2 mpg compared to the 19 mpg stated on the window sticker.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering marginally better fuel efficiency with an EPA rating of 21 mpg in combined driving. During our evaluation in Hawaii, the Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 19.2 mpg. 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 ride was rough, and its steering was slow and disconnected. The Wrangler's three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern, emphasizing the need for caution when driving on slopes.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 required effort to enter and exit due to its high stance, but it rewarded occupants with spacious seating across three rows. The front seats offered 12-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, providing excellent comfort. Visibility was generally good, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. The Defender's interior felt open and airy, thanks to a panoramic sunroof and large windows. Storage space was plentiful in the front, but less accommodating for rear passengers. The Defender 130 excelled in third-row accessibility and comfort, with heated and supportive seats. However, the side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, and the cargo space behind the third row was limited to 15.3 cubic feet, expandable to 89 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated features. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers risked hitting their knees on plastic hooks. Storage space was limited, with small bins and flimsy nets. The Wrangler's cargo area was accessible through a tailgate and rear window, but loading was cumbersome. The cargo hold offered 31.7 cubic feet of space, expandable to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and connected services. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but its accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive than previous iterations, and the Meridian premium sound system was noteworthy. Additional features included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and parking ease. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. The system was bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group package added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and remote engine start. Rear parking sensors were available in the Active Safety Group package, aiding in reversing.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender was equipped with several driver aids, including automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. The lane-keep assist was decisive, though it occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler featured standard side curtain airbags and optional advanced driver assistance systems. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on most trims, while forward collision warning with automatic braking was limited to the Sahara trim. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler as Good for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact tests, but Marginal for the small overlap frontal-impact test.