Lexus UX vs Land Rover Defender
What's the difference?

Lexus UX

—

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Land Rover Defender

$96,255 - $325,532

2026 price

View pricing & specs

Land Rover Discovery Sport

Mercedes-Benz A-Class

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

Mercedes-Benz E53

Mercedes-Benz EQ-Class

Mercedes-Benz G-Class

Mercedes-Benz G63

Mercedes-Benz GLA-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLB-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class

Mercedes-Benz GLS

Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class

Mini Countryman

Mitsubishi Outlander

Mitsubishi Pajero

Mitsubishi Pajero Sport

Summary

2026 Lexus UX

2026 Land Rover Defender

By Emily Agar

By Laura Berry

Safety Rating

Engine Type

Inline 4, 2.0L

Twin Turbo V8, 4.4L

Fuel Type

Unleaded Petrol/Electric

Premium Unleaded Petrol

Fuel Efficiency

4.2L/100km (combined)

13.1L/100km (combined)

Seating

Likes

Solid on-road handling
Great fuel economy
Long time between fills

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

Dislikes

Reminds you too often its a base grade
Drive modes largely indistinguishable
Cosy back seat

Quite thirsty
No third-row seating
Annoying speed warning system

2026 Lexus UX Summary

Replacing the long-standing UX250h, the more powerful Lexus UX300h hybrid sits at the luxury end of the compact SUV segment, and the latest update brings a refined line-up along with tweaks to both design and technology. In this review, I’m looking at the base Luxury grade to see what it's like to live with this hybrid day-today and how it stacks up against its nearest rivals.

View full pricing & specs

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.

View full pricing & specs

Deep dive comparison

2026 Lexus UX 2026 Land Rover Defender

Verdict

The updated Lexus UX300h Luxury is a solid entry in the premium compact SUV segment. It doesn’t break new ground, and there are areas that could be improved, but it handles well, offers a thoughtful selection of amenities for a base-grade luxury model, and its compact size makes it easy to park almost anywhere. For buyers seeking a stylish, efficient, and practical hybrid with a luxury badge, it’s a dependable choice.

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.

Lexus UX vs Land Rover Defender What's the difference?

Summary

Deep dive comparison

Verdict

Verdict

Lexus UX vs Land Rover Defender
What's the difference?