2021 Land Rover Defender
Other years
2021 Land Rover Defender Review
- Strong off-road capabilities
- Wealth of customization options
- High-tech safety and off-road features
- Smooth ride for an off-road-oriented SUV
- Options can get pricey
- Cargo door is heavy and opens toward the curb
- Two-door Defender 90 joins the lineup
- New X-Dynamic trim features unique interior and exterior styling
- Revised standard and optional feature availability
- Part of the second Defender generation introduced for 2020
The Land Rover Defender returned last year to revive one of the biggest SUV icons in automotive history. While there's still a bit of a throwback feel with the design, the new Defender is a much more modern and comfortable vehicle than its forebearer. It still has plenty of off-road capability, however. For 2021, the new two-door Defender 90 — delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic — joins the lineup.
Few automakers have come out with an SUV that can match the Defender's distinctive combination of capability, size and luxury. The Jeep Wrangler could be an option; it has evolved over the decades from a workhorse to a vehicle capable of carrying a family in relative comfort, all without giving up any off-road capabilities. There's also the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. It's another premium off-roader, but the G-Class is much pricier. Oddly enough, Land Rover's Discovery does much of the same stuff as the Defender, albeit more subtly. So is the 2021 Defender the best fit for you? Check out our Expert Rating below to help you decide.
Our verdict | |
The Land Rover Defender packs legitimate off-road capability — provided you pick the right options — and makes no sacrifice in on-road comfort. It's an admirable accomplishment. Our test vehicle had a few build quality issues that may be attributable to a hard early-production life. That aside, we're impressed with this modern interpretation of a classic nameplate. | |
How does the Defender drive? | |
Strong off-road capability typically comes at the expense of on-road handling and steering precision. But that isn't the case here. The Defender 110 drives just like a luxury SUV should, and its transmission provides smooth and often imperceptible gear changes. The brakes are easy to control for smooth stops around town. As for acceleration, we clocked a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.7 seconds in our V6-equipped Defender test vehicle. That's plenty quick for an off-road-oriented SUV. Still, with 395 hp, you might expect a little more. Weight might be a culprit; our test Defender weighed a portly 5,571 pounds. | |
How comfortable is the Defender? | |
The Defender travels down the road with the refinement you'd expect of a luxury-priced Land Rover. The interior remains quiet and free from road vibrations even when the Defender's riding on the optional 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. In terms of ride quality, our test vehicle was on the firm side when going over bumps and road imperfections, but it was likely the result of those wheels (18-inch wheels are standard). The driver's seat provides a wide range of adjustment. Heating and ventilation are optional. The climate system is able to maintain a comfortable temperature, though you might need to fiddle with the vents to get the airflow you want. | |
How’s the interior? | |
The four-door Defender's massive second row and tall roof give the cabin a very roomy feel. Headroom, legroom and shoulder room are plentiful, though the steering column can get in the way of some drivers' knees on entry. The height-adjusting air suspension, numerous grab handles and large doors make access easy. A few interior controls have steep learning curves. The climate control dials, for example, double as drive mode selectors and seat heating/ventilation adjustment. Large windows and appropriately sized mirrors make outward visibility a non-issue. On the downside, the leather, fabric and other materials in our test SUV showed early signs of wear, including stains and scuffs. | |
How’s the tech? | |
The wide entertainment touchscreen and available digital gauge cluster are attractive and generally respond quickly to inputs. The native voice command system was a bit hit-or-miss in our tests. We had no difficulty changing stereo stations using natural language, but it couldn't decipher basic navigation requests. Fortunately you can use your phone's voice controls on Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which are standard. Numerous connectivity options include wireless charging and multiple USB ports. As for driving aids, the surround-view camera system helps both in parking lots and going off-road, and it provides a comprehensive view of whatever obstacle you're approaching. Adaptive cruise control is pleasant as well and makes appropriate speed corrections smoothly. | |
How’s the storage? | |
The four-door Defender has a generous amount of storage space, both with the rear seats up or lowered for maximum capacity. The rear seats are heavy, and it can take some oomph to push them back in place. With the air suspension, you can also lower the Defender's ride height from the cargo area, which makes loading easier. Unlike like most SUVs, the Defender has a swing-out tailgate instead of a liftgate. It swings out toward the curb, which not everyone will like because it can impede access. It's also heavy because of the mounted spare tire. Inside, the Defender has long shelves for the front seats and multilevel storage by the center console. There are numerous places to store small items, but none large enough to hold a medium handbag. The sheer size of the second row makes car seat installation easy, as does the obvious location of the attachment points. An available tow package allows the Defender to tow 8,200 pounds. But it doesn't include a trailer brake controller, which you'll want to help control and adjust a heavy trailer's brakes. | |
How economical is the Defender? | |
The Defender 110 equipped with the 3.0-liter turbo six-cylinder gets an EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined (17 city/22 highway mpg). That's higher than most off-road-oriented SUVs such as the Toyota Land Cruiser and 4Runner, as well as the pricier Mercedes-Benz G-Class. The Jeep Wrangler advertises higher figures with most of its engines. | |
Is the Defender a good value? | |
The Defender has a comfortable entry price at around $50,000. When optioned sensibly, it marries off-road capability and on-road refinement in a way that justifies paying the premium for it over, say, the Jeep Wrangler or Toyota 4Runner. Even equipped with a fair number of options, it costs less than the Toyota Land Cruiser. On the downside, our test vehicle had multiple misaligned body panels and a few interior rattles. The interior materials didn't quite seem to reflect the $72,000 as-tested price — they were already showing signs of wear, markings and stains. Our test vehicle was an early build version that was undoubtedly used hard, but hard use is what a Defender should be built to withstand. | |
Wildcard | |
Personality is important to the Defender, and the new one gets the important parts of the classic Defender's proportions right. It looks cool from most angles, but we still think the front end looks a bit soft, and the optional plastic bits on the hood that are styled to look like diamond-plated metal elicit plenty of chuckles. We wish it looked a bit tougher. The Defender drives with refinement and dignity whether you're on- or off-road. While the level of electronic control is nifty, we find it more satisfying to manually engage diff locks and low range with physical buttons and levers, but it's hard to argue with the seamlessness of the Defender's approach. | |
Which Defender does Edmunds recommend?
We suggest going with the Defender 110 SE. You get the more powerful six-cylinder engine than the base Defender as well as an appealing mix of features. As a midtier trim, you can also customize it with a few extra features without paying for the full-boat X-Dynamic HSE or X.
Land Rover Defender models
The 2021 Defender is available in two body styles: the two-door Land Rover Defender 90 and four-door Land Rover Defender 110. There are a variety of trim levels depending what basic model you choose. The Defender 90 is available in base, S, X-Dynamic S, First Edition and X. The Defender 110 is offered in base, S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, X-Dynamic HSE and X.
Save as much as $1,819 with Edmunds
2021 Land Rover Defender pricing
in Ashburn, VAP300 110 S
2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$53,564
1 for sale in 20147
P400 90 X-Dynamic S
3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$57,905
1 for sale in 20147
P400 90 First Edition
3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A
Edmunds Suggested Price$64,044
4 for sale in 20147
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the 2021 Land Rover Defender.
Trending topics in reviews
- reliability & manufacturing quality
- off-roading
- value
- interior
- lights
- fuel efficiency
- engine
- acceleration
- road noise
Most helpful consumer reviews
3/5 stars, Great car but acceleration lag
White rats,
P300 110 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
I bought this vehicle weeks ago from a dealer.
So far interior and exterior are great.
I tried some light offroading and no issues. That might be too easy. No issues on the highway too.
I have seen some glitches in the infotainment system but that was something I expected.
I don't have any serious reliability issues (yet).
Cargo management is great because there are so many points to hook.
2.0L engine gives enough power for me but it has acceleration lag.
It happens in various situations, but the most obvious case is when I was cruising at low RPM and pressing the gas pedal to the bottom quickly.
When it happens, there is no reaction from the engine for about a second, and then suddenly downshift happens and deliver the power more than I wanted.
While I'm pressing the gas pedal and waiting, I don't know when the acceleration will happen. It's annoying and unsafe.
It feels like a turbo lag but it could be something else (for example cutting off the fuel), because I can expect faster downshifting if it is just a turbo lag.
Although there is a way to mitigate the symptom. If I press the gas pedal about 20% before the moment I actually want to accelerate, then the engine reacts much quicker even it doesn't change RPM much. Probably the partial gas pedal pressing tells the system "I might want to go faster". It does something to prepare for the coming acceleration.
5/5 stars, The best suv ever
mike,
P300 110 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
I’ve owned land rovers for a long time now I picked this truck up last week. I ordered it back in November and it just came in last week and what a great ride it is I can’t wait to go off-road
5/5 stars, A thing of beauty
Rex Reddy,
P400 90 First Edition 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A)
First 2021 90 in SF ... 5 days since I bought it.
Absolutely delighted
Worth my almost 2 year wait for the 90
1/5 stars, Dead on the 3rd day
Joe M,
P300 110 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A)
Bought a new 2021 Defender X. Pretty awesome until the morning of day 3 with ~500 miles on the odometer, all safety systems failed along with a gearbox failure at 80 mph on the interstate. It barely allowed me to get to safety. The out of town dealer repaired and gave it back only to have it fail again the next morning. Of course this is in the middle of important meetings as well. It remains at the out of town dealer now 8.5 days of the first 11 I have owned it. The dealer who sold it wont talk with me and customer care scheduled a call in two weeks. I have remained surprisingly calm in the face of all this, but as an engineer and technology developer I am a bit embarrassed I bought the car knowing Land Rover's reputation for reliability. I never thought I would be so disappointed with a $91,000 new car.
2021 Land Rover Defender videos
New Ford Bronco Style Comparison
NOTE: This video is about the 2020 Land Rover Defender, but since the 2021 Land Rover Defender is part of the same generation, our earlier analysis still applies.
The 2021 Ford Bronco is the hot vehicle of the moment. Mark Takahashi covers the new Bronco’s design and style and how it stacks up against its most direct competitors, the Jeep Wrangler and the Land Rover Defender.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Defender safety features:
- Surround-View Camera
- Provides a 360-degree view to aid in tight parking situations.
- Intelligent Emergency Braking
- Applies the brakes automatically if it senses an imminent front collision.
- Blind-Spot Monitor
- Gives a visible notification if it senses a vehicle in any of your blind spots.
Land Rover Defender vs. the competition
2021 Land Rover Defender
2021 Jeep Wrangler
Land Rover Defender vs. Jeep Wrangler
As you would likely expect, the Wrangler has the off-road capabilities to back up its aggressive styling, and a new hybrid model gives it some green cred too. Like the Defender, it's available in both two- and four-door body styles. The Wrangler has a lower base price than the Defender but lacks the more premium feel and feature availability of the Defender.
Land Rover Defender vs. Mercedes-Benz G-Class
Let's get it out of the way: The G-Class is substantially more expensive than the Defender. But otherwise these two SUVs have some similarities. They're both based on famous nameplates and have ample off-road capabilities. It's fair to say that of the two, the Defender is the one you'd actually want to go off-roading in. The G-Class is perhaps too posh for its own good. But if Teutonic quality and a bold presence are what you want, the G-Class is the way to go.
Land Rover Defender vs. Land Rover Discovery
The Discovery is one of Land Rover's oldest nameplates, making a name for itself with genuine off-road capabilities in a package that was far closer to the Range Rover than the original stylish-but-spartan Defender. This new one is much the same. The Disco doesn't have quite the level of off-road capabilities, and the design is a little more anonymous, but otherwise it's a more comfortable day-to-day driver than the Defender.
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FAQ
Is the Land Rover Defender a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2021 Defender both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.9 out of 10. You probably care about Land Rover Defender fuel economy, so it's important to know that the Defender gets an EPA-estimated 18 mpg to 19 mpg, depending on the configuration. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that carrying capacity for the Defender ranges from 15.6 to 34.0 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Land Rover Defender. Learn more
What's new in the 2021 Land Rover Defender?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Land Rover Defender:
- Two-door Defender 90 joins the lineup
- New X-Dynamic trim features unique interior and exterior styling
- Revised standard and optional feature availability
- Part of the second Defender generation introduced for 2020
Is the Land Rover Defender reliable?
To determine whether the Land Rover Defender is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Defender. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Defender's average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2021 Land Rover Defender a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2021 Land Rover Defender is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2021 Defender and gave it a 7.9 out of 10. Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2021 Defender is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2021 Land Rover Defender?
The least-expensive 2021 Land Rover Defender is the 2021 Land Rover Defender P300 90 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $46,100.
Other versions include:
- P400 110 X-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $65,500
- P300 90 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $46,100
- P400 110 X-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $71,600
- P400 110 SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $62,700
- P400 110 X 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $83,000
- P300 110 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $53,800
- P300 90 S 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $49,400
- P300 110 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) which starts at $50,500
- P400 90 X-Dynamic S 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $57,800
- P400 90 First Edition 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $64,100
- P400 90 X 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A) which starts at $80,500
What are the different models of Land Rover Defender?
If you're interested in the Land Rover Defender, the next question is, which Defender model is right for you? Defender variants include P400 110 X-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A), P300 90 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A), P400 110 X-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A), and P400 110 SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric hybrid 8A). For a full list of Defender models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more