2025 Land Rover Defender

If it's defined by anything beyond its retro appeal, Land Rover's Defender is a something-for-everyone luxury SUV. Available across a huge spectrum of sizes, configurations and prices, this retro-styled ute offers more than just memories of SUVs from the past. Defender comes in three wheelbases — 90, 110 and 130 inches — and in both two- and four-door body styles. Three engines with five output offerings are available, all of which use an eight-speed automatic transmission and a two-speed transfer case. Locking center and rear differentials are available. 

Edmunds spotlight: What's new for 2025?

It's too soon for a full redesign of the Defender lineup, which debuted in 2020 — especially given the vastness of this model. However, since a high-output Defender was caught testing on the Nürburgring last summer, we think a new range-topping trim could arrive. This version should offer V8 power with output significantly surpassing the 519-horsepower V8 currently offered in the P525 versions of the 90 and 110. What's more, it's no secret that the Range Rover and Range Rover Sport will be offered in all-electric versions soon and we anticipate that EV hardware will be shared across most Land Rover models including, eventually, the Defender line. Next year is probably too soon for that, however. So we imagine a Defender range similar to 2024 with the possible addition of a high-output trim at the top of the lineup.

Competitors to consider

The Lexus GX, which matches up nearly perfectly to the Defender 110 in size, is this Land Rover's closest competitor. Though it lacks the Defender's available height-adjustable air suspension, it does offer off-road features like lockable center and rear differentials. And it's most definitely a luxury SUV like the Defender. Otherwise, consider a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, both of which forgo these two utes' luxury intentions in the interest of cost savings.

It's not yet time for big changes in the Defender line. Expect modest revisions to features across trims and the possible arrival of a range-topping high-output version.