Land Rover Defender vs Range Rover
What's the difference?

Land Rover Defender

$96,255 - $325,532

2026 price

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Range Rover

$124,990 - $274,990

2023 price

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Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz Eqb250

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLA35

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC300

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2026 Land Rover Defender

2023 Range Rover

By Laura Berry

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Twin Turbo V8, 4.4L

Fuel Type

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

13.1L/100km (combined)

11.8L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Black elements make design even more appealing
Smooth and powerful 4.4L turbo-petrol V8
Practical but super luxurious

Cavernous, practical, luxurious cabin
Easy and smooth to drive
530 horsepower V8!

Dislikes

Quite thirsty
No third-row seating
Annoying speed warning system

Heavy rear doors hard to open for little kids
Retractable door handles
Centre touchscreen looks aftermarket

2026 Land Rover Defender Summary

This feels wrong to say this, but it’s so refreshing not to be driving an electric vehicle. There I said it.

After testing so many EVs lately reviewing a car that has an actual engine is a nice change. And this car definitely has an internal combustion engine - it's the Land Rover Defender Octa Black with a twin-turbo petrol V8.

The Defender Octa is the ultimate form of the 110 Defender. It’s wilder looking, more powerful and more capable, while the Black edition adds darkened elements inside and out for even more visual appeal.

While the Defender Octa Black is special, it’s not alone in a world of high-performance luxury SUVs and its head-to-head rival would be Mercedes-AMG’s G63.

I had the Defender Octa Black for a week and while I didn’t take this beast off-road where it is superbly capable, I put it to the test on some challenging tarmac as well as some challenging real-world family duties.

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2023 Range Rover Summary

Land Rover was making SUVs before they were even called SUVs.

Range Rovers were ferrying families around in prestigious four-wheel drive comfort decades before Audi, BMW or Mercedes-Benz even thought of doing it, too.

So, even with all its rivals these days, how well does a Range Rover do modern family duties?

Well the Range Rover Autobiography came to live with my little family of four for a week. We had the seven-seater long-wheelbase version with the twin-turbo petrol V8 engine, and this is what we discovered…

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Deep dive comparison

2026 Land Rover Defender 2023 Range Rover

Verdict

The Land Rover Defender Octa Black could well be the ultimate form of the Defender. There's also the combination of Land Rover style and utility, but with one of the best V8 powerplants gifted to it from BMW. The Black edition adds extra appeal and highlights how stealthily something this good can fly under the radar against rivals like the Mercedes-AMG G63.

Verdict

The Range Rover Autobiography long wheelbase is an outstanding SUV that is not just beautiful to drive but makes family practicality a priority, too,

The price is reasonable relative to the competition, the features list is long and complementary servicing offers peace of mind.

If you don’t need the third row, I’d consider the standard wheelbase Autobiography even if it does reduce legroom, there’s still plenty of space.

My son stopped short of giving the Range Rover Autobiography full marks "because there are no massaging seats in the second row".

Land Rover Defender vs Range Rover What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Land Rover Defender vs Range Rover
What's the difference?