Land Rover Defender vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2025 Land Rover Defender presented a rugged and customizable design, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance between the stubby 90 and the visually heavy 130. Despite its unconventional appearance, the Defender's appeal lay in its robust aesthetic and the extensive customization options offered by Land Rover. The base price for the Defender 90 started at $58,525, while the 130 V8 reached $120,525, including destination charges. The Defender OCTA, available only as a 110, was priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 X trim, came with a price tag of $106,092, featuring the Extended Black Exterior Pack, upgraded interior materials, and comprehensive off-roading technology. The test model, painted in Gondwana Stone, lacked the new matte paint protection film and had 20-inch wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires, which were less suited for off-road adventures.

Inside, the Defender X boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with options for Ebony, Caraway, or Light Cloud Ultrafabric upholstery. The interior maintained an industrial theme, focusing on quality materials and a purposeful design rather than luxury. The cabin's rugged charm was complemented by illuminated door-sill treadplates and metal pedal covers, enhancing the overall experience.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look, with minor styling changes that made it resemble a conventional gas-powered car. The front end featured a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo, and the previous grille insert was integrated into the bumper. The 2027 model continued the legacy of the 2023 version, offering a single body style that balanced between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. The Bolt's tall and narrow design prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty stance, with the RS model adding gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair.

Inside, the Bolt underwent a more significant makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was relocated to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the center console. Despite the dominance of hard plastic surfaces, the Bolt's interior offered thin padding at elbow touch points and sturdy plastics, though the center console felt flimsy. The base LT trim came with cloth upholstery, while the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area, however, lacked padding for the door armrests, reinforcing the Bolt's budget feel.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender's test vehicle was equipped with a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine, one of four powertrain options available. This engine, paired with a mild-hybrid system, delivered 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, providing robust and smooth acceleration. The eight-speed automatic transmission, featuring Sport and manual shift modes, connected to a standard all-wheel-drive system with a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X, with this drivetrain, claimed a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds and a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds.

The Defender X came standard with an adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes, including Comfort, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Ruts, Sand, and Rock Crawl. The Off-Road Pack's electronic active differential and wade-sensing technology were also included. Despite its off-road prowess, the Defender 130 was primarily driven on pavement during testing, with a brief off-road excursion showcasing its capability. The Defender 130 offered 11.4 inches of ground clearance, a 37.5-degree approach angle, a 27.9-degree breakover angle, and a 28.8-degree departure angle, with a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. A motor from Chevy's Equinox EV provided 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, with a 0-60 mph time similar to the previous Bolt EV, typically in the low seven-second range. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with immediate pedal response and one-pedal driving available through the settings menu.

The Bolt's ride was firm but not overly stiff, with road noise more noticeable due to the absence of an internal combustion engine. The Bolt's agility on curvy roads was surprising, thanks to the low center of gravity created by the heavy battery in the floor. The 2027 Bolt offered an EPA-estimated range of up to 262 miles on a full charge, with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port standard on all models. Charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing the Bolt to recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 required some effort to enter and exit, especially for shorter individuals, but rewarded occupants with three rows of spacious seating. The front seats offered 12-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation, with outstanding forward visibility. The Defender's square side mirrors seemed undersized, but the Clearsight digital rearview mirror and surround-view camera system compensated for poor rear visibility. A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row enhanced the open and airy feel of the cabin.

The Defender 130's second-row captain's chairs, heated and ventilated, provided added comfort, while the third-row seat was heated, roomy, and supportive. The side-hinged cargo door, though heavy and awkward, featured a large storage bin. Cargo space behind the third row was limited to 15.3 cubic feet, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 89 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants, though taller drivers might have wished for more telescoping extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for center-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 16.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, providing more luggage space.

While the Bolt lacked a frunk, it offered ample storage for personal items up front, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep center armrest bin. The rubberized wireless phone charger, additional dashboard pockets, and moderate door pockets ensured sufficient storage for most users.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system, accessible via an 11.4-inch touchscreen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hotspot, 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, with fewer dead ends, and programming favorite radio stations was straightforward. The Defender's Meridian premium sound system, head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and surround-view camera system enhanced the overall experience.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, but Bluetooth pairing allowed access to personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system helped drivers find charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. Vehicle-to-load charging was also available, allowing the Bolt to serve as a backup power source for a home.

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 decisively corrected potential lane departures, though it occasionally attempted to steer the Defender into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of writing.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were also unavailable, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors with active steering assist, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, automatic wipers, rear-pedestrian alert, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free automated highway driving system was available for an additional cost.