The 2025 Defender is a compelling SUV in any guise, and the 130 simply stretches an already winning formula. With more cargo capacity than the 110 and the option to accommodate up to eight people, the 130 is versatile and still has plenty of the off-road ability we've come to expect from Land Rover.Read full review
Dan spent many years covering the go-fast, look-good, get-loud corners of the automotive universe. First, he served as editor of enthusiast magazines AutoSound and Honda Tuning, then as executive editor at SEMA News, the publishing arm of the trade group that produces the annual SEMA Show (yes, that show). As a contributor to Edmunds, he now likes to keep the volume low and the speed limit legal, providing expert car-shopping advice to drivers looking for the perfect match.
Nick Yekikian has worked in the automotive industry since 2019. He has written close to a thousand car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 200 vehicles over the course of his career. Nick is the Senior News Editor at Edmunds and has also contributed to MotorTrend, Automobile Magazine and Super Street. When Nick isn't zipping around town in his latest used-car find, he's probably making digital art in Photoshop or playing disc golf with friends.
Pros
Strong off-road capabilities
Wealth of customization options
High-tech safety and off-road features
Smooth ride for an off-road-oriented SUV
Cons
Options can get pricey
Rear hatch door is heavy and opens toward the curb
What's new
New Octa version with even more on- and off-road capability
11.4-inch touchscreen and Meridian audio system standard on all trims
Part of the second Defender generation introduced for 2020
Overview
The 2025 Land Rover Defender is Land Rover's nod to nostalgia, a recently resurrected nameplate that, despite really never having gone away — the first-generation Defender only bowed out in 2016, though it left the U.S. in the late 1990s — recalls the appeal of its boxy, Jeep-like utilitarian predecessor. Today's Defender offers a cushier ride, modern electronics and supremely capable off-road ability, all with its familiar squared-off profile. It's offered as a short Jeep Wrangler-esque two-door with a blistering optional V8 engine (Defender 90), a four-door two-row model (Defender 110), or a family-friendly long-wheelbase three-row model (Defender 130). You can even get the three-row model without a third row, reclaiming it all for cargo space instead.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 P300 S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $4.29 per gallon for premium unleaded in Michigan.
Edmunds spotlight: Climbs mountains, not the corporate ladder
Among the Land Rover siblings, the 2025 Land Rover Defender is the one that rebelled, listened to loud music, and joined the Forest Service. While the genteel Range Rover preens as a universal status symbol, and the Discovery quietly gets along as a middle child, the Defender takes itself less seriously, instead turning its gaze to capability and adventure. Loaded with off-road-oriented features and specs — big tires, nearly 12 inches of ground clearance, advanced four-wheel drive, computer-aided traction controls — the Defender is ideally suited for the dirty work of trails and tree stumps. For 2025, there's also a new Defender Octa. It comes with an exclusive 626-horsepower V8 and a specialized suspension that Land Rover says allows for better control of individual wheels, increasing the potential off-road while delivering better control on asphalt.
Competitors to consider
The Defender's toughest competitors come from within its own family, with the similarly priced Discovery and much further upmarket Range Rover. Outside of those alternatives, the Lexus GX also offers formidable all-terrain ability but falls short in on-road comfort. The Jeep Wagoneer is suitably snazzy and strong for towing but limited in its off-road flexibility. There's also the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, which can go anywhere the Defender can and then some, but it's comically priced by comparison. Be sure to read our Expert Rating below to learn if the Defender is best for your adventures.
Edmunds Expert Rating
Our Verdict
The Edmunds Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.
Good
7.9
out of 10
edmunds TESTED
The 2025 Defender is a compelling SUV in any guise, and the 130 simply stretches an already winning formula. With more cargo capacity than the 110 and the option to accommodate up to eight people, the 130 is versatile and still has plenty of the off-road ability we've come to expect from Land Rover.
How does the Defender 130 drive? Our test Defender 130 had the 395-hp six-cylinder engine. It's punchy, and it helped the 130 accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds at the Edmunds test track. That's on par with other class leaders that have six-cylinder engines. Stopping power, on the other hand, wasn't as stout. The Defender 130 needed a longish 125 feet to stop from 60 mph. For comparison, a Mercedes GLS we tested hauled up in just 105 feet.
Despite its mass, the 130 is supremely easy to live with. The eight-speed automatic shifts almost imperceptibly, the engine auto stop-start function works without being intrusive. This three-row SUV even handles quite well. It's a smooth operator in almost every situation, and we didn't expect that from something this large.
Comfort
8/10
How comfortable is the Defender 130? In almost every condition, the Defender manages to be as comfortable as more luxurious rivals in the class. It feels sophisticated as it rolls down the road, dealing with potholes and rougher pavement without hesitation. It's also a comfortable place to sit. Our test SUV's front seats provided lots of adjustability, though some of our drivers found the cushioning a little too firm.
The Defender 130 is also quiet. Plenty of metal and fabric insulate you from the outside world, and even at highway speeds, this Defender is quiet enough to coax your seven passengers right to sleep thanks to an almost complete lack of errant noises and vibrations. And no matter the inclement weather outside, the climate control system seems more than up to the task of providing a comfortable interior environment.
Interior
8/10
How’s the interior? The Defender's interior is like no other Land Rover product, and that's a good thing. While most of its siblings have gotten rid of physical controls, the Defender displays them prominently from the dashboard. Multifunction dials may still take a little time to get used to, but having them alone makes the Defender's interior far more easy to use. And the button array never feels cluttered.
A commanding driving position gives the sense that you're in something with real presence, and there is an exceptional amount of glass to peer through. The panoramic glass roof adds a sense of airiness to the interior too. The view out of the front is nice and wide, and blind spots are kept to a minimum. The cabin itself feels vast, but compared to some of the other behemoths in this segment, the 130 is actually on the smaller side. Still, there's plenty of room in the first two rows. Impressively, the third-row seat is also pretty roomy. Two average-size adults can fit in relative comfort.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Save as much as $1,510 with Edmunds Click on the trim you’re interested in to see what Edmunds suggests you should pay to get a good deal. Savings vary by trim; $1,510 refers to estimated savings off of MSRP for the 130 P400 X trim.
2025 Land Rover Defender 130 pricing in Saint Joseph, MI
How’s the tech? If there's one area the Defender needs to work on, it's tech. The infotainment setup is pretty easy to use thanks to a logical menu structure and a permanent side rail that makes navigating between functions a breeze. Our test SUV's Meridian audio system sounded, to our ears, like it has decent acoustics and good bass.
Beyond that, however, this Land Rover could really benefit from more USB ports up front, a more reliable wireless Apple CarPlay connection, and voice controls that aren't limited to a set of preprogrammed prompts. Additionally, our test car's infotainment needed resetting three times in our two weeks with it, and that's something you don't expect from a near $90,000 vehicle.
Our test vehicle lacked the available adaptive cruise control; for a vehicle this large that families will often use for longer trips, it's almost a must. Otherwise, the lane keeping assistance and blind-spot warning systems work well, and the 360-degree view camera system makes parking in tighter spaces less stressful.
Storage
8/10
How’s the storage? The 130 is the biggest Defender you can buy, and it features 13.7 cubic feet of space with all three rows up. Drop all of the rear seating down and you'll have 88.9 cubic feet of cargo room to work with. It's easily big enough to handle more Ikea and Home Depot runs (even if you hit both on the same day). It offers similar cargo capacity to the BMW X7 but isn't quite as capacious as the Mercedes GLS or Jeep Wagoneer. The rear air suspension can also be lowered at the touch of a button located at the back of the vehicle, making loading and unloading cargo just a little easier on your back.
Storage spaces for small items are also abundant. The door bins are a good size, the center console is both deep and wide, and there is a handy parcel shelf that runs almost the entire length of the dash. The shelf is a great-looking feature that elevates the Defender's interior and adds a practical place to put phones, wallets and other smaller addenda. Parents who need to install a car seat might find the Defender's height an issue, but lowering the standard air suspension into "entry height" remedies this somewhat.
Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below
Fuel Economy
7/10
How economical is the Defender 130? The EPA says the Defender 130 gets 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving, which is about average fuel economy for a large SUV with a six-cylinder. Over the course of our mixed-driving test route, our Defender 130 with the 395-hp engine got 18.7 mpg. We typically expect to see a number higher than EPA combined on our route, so this could indicate the Defender 130 will use slightly more fuel than the EPA estimates in real-world driving.
Value
7.5/10
Is the Defender 130 a good value? It seems build quality has gone up since our initial impressions of the Defender. We initially reported misaligned panels and squeaks from the interior, but not anymore. This Defender is built with an almost stone-wall solidity. The panels fit nicely together, too, and they should for a luxury SUV in this price range. When you factor in the 130's extra utility, standard air suspension (an option on other Defenders), and its excellent on- and off-road performance, the 130 is fully worth its price tag.
Land Rover's warranty coverage falls slightly below the industry average in this class, however. It only offers four years/50,000 miles of basic and drivetrain coverage. Many other manufacturers also offer a free maintenance package of some sort, but not Land Rover.
Wildcard
8.5/10
The Defender is an icon, and despite the immense popularity of SUVs, it continues to be one of the originals. It's a well-thought-out reimagination of a classic nameplate, and it looks like little else on the road while still being comfortable, competent off-road and largely vice-free. The Defender 130 is a very complete SUV, and an option that's difficult to ignore if you're looking for a big off-road-capable SUV that can also seat eight.
Which Defender does Edmunds recommend?
The Land Rover Defender's impressive off-road abilities call for a trim level that leans into its legacy, so we recommend the X trim. It's only available with the 110 and 130 trims and comes with all the best all-terrain features, including expanded terrain modes, a height-adjustable adaptive air suspension that offers more ground clearance and a more comfortable on-road ride, heated and cooled front seats, and orange brake calipers for a dash of style.
The overall sentiment about the 2025 Land Rover Defender is positive. Owners love its comfortable ride, spacious interior, and standout looks. Many praise its impressive off-road capabilities and advanced features, like the big touchscreen and smooth ride. Some owners do mention drawbacks, such as windshield issues and concerns about reliability, which they hope Land Rover will address.
This summary is AI-generated from the text of owner reviews
2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for the automotive industry, with tons of exciting new cars on the horizon. In this video, Edmunds’ Nick Yekikian tells you all about which ones we’re most looking forward to.
The Edmunds experts tested the 2025 Defender both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.9 out of 10. What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Defender has 15.3 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 2025 Land Rover Defender?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2025 Land Rover Defender:
New Octa version with even more on- and off-road capability
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 2025 Land Rover Defender a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2025 Land Rover Defender is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2025 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 2025 Defender is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2025 Land Rover Defender?
The least-expensive 2025 Land Rover Defender is the 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 P300 S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $69,700.
Other versions include:
130 P300 S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) which starts at $69,700
130 P400 X-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) which starts at $81,400
130 P400 X 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) which starts at $100,900
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 130 P300 S 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A), 130 P400 X-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A), and 130 P400 X 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A). For a full list of Defender models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
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