2026 Land Rover Defender vs 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid

The 2026 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic ruggedness while incorporating modern design elements. Its boxy shape, squared-off wheel arches, and flat hood paid homage to its predecessors, yet the curved edges and minimalist lighting added a contemporary flair. Despite minor updates like a new headlight design and revised bumpers, the Defender maintained a fresh appearance for a six-year-old design. Buyers had options for two-door 90 and four-door 110 versions, as well as a stretched Defender 130 body style. The high-performance Octa model featured massive fender flares and optional carbon fiber trim. Traditionalists could opt for a white contrasting roof and retro-inspired wheels, while the Trophy Edition offered a nostalgic Sandglow Yellow paint. Inside, the Defender combined rugged style with upscale quality, featuring a distinctive dashboard and exposed hardware. The interior was practical and less posh than a Range Rover, with Windsor leather or textile upholstery options and a massive glass roof.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid presented a bold design that divided opinions, particularly with its flat, faceless grille. The vehicle's personality shifted with color and trim level, with body-colored vertical strakes that blended better in darker shades. The X-Line and X-Pro models replaced these strakes with rectangular grille blocks and featured distinctive amber accent lights. The side profile showcased unique faceted fender sculpting and black plastic tabs atop each wheel well, while the rear view adopted a Range Rover-like style with rounded corners and vertical taillights. Inside, the Telluride's interior was less controversial, featuring a simple horizontal dashboard layout and a modern, buttonless appearance. The Hybrid SX Prestige trim offered a luxurious two-tone palette, though the labeling on buttons was difficult to read. Seats were covered in synthetic leather and suede, with excellent material quality and various trim surfaces available.

The 2026 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrain options, including a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 518 hp. However, these were set to be discontinued in 2027. The most common powertrain was a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 395 hp, paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. This setup allowed the Defender to accelerate from 0–60 mph in just under or over six seconds, depending on the body style, with a top speed of 119 mph. The Defender excelled in off-road capability, featuring a standard coil-spring suspension with 8.9 inches of ground clearance, which could be increased with optional air suspension. The high-performance Defender Octa boasted a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 from BMW, producing 626 hp and achieving 0–60 mph in 3.8 seconds. The Octa's advanced suspension system provided excellent off-road performance and surprising agility on regular roads.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 274 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque. The Hybrid model added electric motors, increasing output to 329 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque. The Telluride Hybrid was paired with a six-speed transmission and was not available in the off-road-capable X-Pro trims. The Hybrid provided ample power and a quiet ride, with seamless transitions between electric and gas power. Both Telluride models prioritized comfort, delivering a smooth ride with excellent sound insulation. The X-Pro Prestige trim offered surprising comfort despite its lifted off-road suspension, while the Hybrid SX Prestige had a stiffer ride. On winding roads, the Telluride was composed and controllable, though not particularly sporty. The brake pedal required some getting used to, but brake response was immediate in panic stops.

The 2026 Land Rover Defender offered seating for five in the two-door 90, seven in the four-door 110, and eight in the 130. The two-door 90 was less practical but still provided decent rear-seat space. The Defender 110 had interior space comparable to midsize SUVs, with 34 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row in two-row models. The Defender 130, with its extended length, offered more cargo space with a full complement of passengers. The rear seats lacked some amenities, but the driver and front passenger enjoyed ample storage space and analog controls. Certain Defender models boasted an 8,200-pound towing capacity.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid provided ample space for adults in all three rows, though the rearmost row was better suited for smaller passengers. The Hybrid SX Prestige test vehicle featured power-adjustable second-row seats with heating and ventilation, offering comfort comparable to business-class airline seats. The middle-row seats had significant travel, allowing for more cargo or third-row legroom. The Telluride could hold up to 22.3 cubic feet of cargo behind the third row, with a maximum of 89.3 cubic feet with the second-row seatbacks folded. The Hybrid models lost only about one cubic foot of cargo space. The Telluride could tow up to 5,000 pounds, or 4,500 for the Hybrid. The interior featured ample storage options, including a large center bin and deployable cupholders.

The 2026 Land Rover Defender featured a larger 13.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. The touchscreen's three-pane main menu was stylish and easy to use, though it sometimes took a while to boot. The digital instrument cluster impressed with its crisp graphics. Land Rover offered multiple Meridian-branded audio systems, with the 14-speaker, 700-watt system in the Defender Octa providing reasonable audio quality. The "Body and Soul" front seats vibrated in time with the music, adding a fun touch. The Defender also offered an array of cameras, including a low-angle front view for off-roading.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 5-inch touchscreen for climate controls. The infotainment system was easy to use, though it sometimes required a hard tap to register. The climate control screen was difficult to use while driving, but physical temperature control buttons were available. The Telluride offered customizable infotainment screen themes, including NBA teams and Disney characters. A 14-speaker Meridian premium audio system delivered powerful bass and clear tones, with distortion-free sound at higher volumes.

The 2026 Land Rover Defender came equipped with standard driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. A surround-view camera system and a driver-attention monitor were also included. At the time of writing, the IIHS and NHTSA had not released safety ratings for the Defender.

The 2027 Kia Telluride Hybrid featured standard advanced safety features, such as frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and parking proximity sensors. Higher trims included a surround-view camera system, blind-spot camera system, and automatic reverse braking. The driver attention monitor had operational issues at night, and the blind-spot cameras were more distracting than helpful. The highway driving assist was effective on longer trips. Crash test scores from the NHTSA and IIHS were not available at the time of writing.