Used Land Rover Defender 2020-present review
Expensive running costs aside, the Land Rover Defender is stylish, practical and plush, and a great used buy.
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What's the used Land Rover Defender 110 like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
George Hill
Updated: 9 December 2025
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What's the used Land Rover Defender 110 like?
Some actors like to play the villain: they say it's more fun. If you see truth in that, then perhaps you saw 007's last outing, No Time to Die, and envied not Bond himself, but rather the baddies chasing him in a squad of Land Rover Defenders.
We don't blame you, actually, because this large SUV is a mighty machine, both in its stature and its go-anywhere ability. It also features plenty of retro design touches that hark back to the original 1990-2016 Land Rover Defender, yet this latest model offers much more luxury and refinement than that 4x4 could ever muster.
Overview
The Land Rover Defender is a very versatile SUV. It's stylish, practical and plush, plus it's available in a variety of body styles to cater for different needs. While the Defender is one of the more dependable seven-seaters, Land Rover's overall reputation for reliability remains a concern. It's also still quite expensive – even as a used buy.
Pros
- Comfortable on the road, excellent off it
- Roomy, expensive-feeling interior
- Variety of body styles, engines and trims to choose from
Cons
- Poor fuel economy
- Tiny boot in 90 models
- Question mark over Land Rover's reliability record
Used cars available now
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Land Rover Defender 110
2.5 TD5 Hard Top SUV MWB
£8,999
Land Rover Defender 110
2.5 TDi County Station Wagon MWB
£9,995
Land Rover Defender 110
2.4 TDCi Utility Wagon 4WD MWB Euro 4 5dr
£11,495
Land Rover Defender 110
2.5 TDi County Station Wagon 5dr Diesel Manual 4X4 (107 bhp)
£11,995
Land Rover Defender 110
2.4 TDCi Utility Wagon 4WD MWB Euro 4 5dr
£15,990
Land Rover Defender 110
2.4 TDCi Hard Top SUV 4WD MWB Euro 4 3dr
£16,794
Land Rover Defender 110
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£16,995
Land Rover DEFENDER 110
110 2.5 TD5 HI-CAPACITY PICK UP FULL INTERIOR RE-TRIM
£16,999
Land Rover Defender 110
2.2 TDCi Hard Top SUV 4WD MWB Euro 5 3dr
£17,982
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Engines & Performance: Aside from a pair of 197bhp and 237bhp 2.0-litre SD4 engines (that were discontinued after a year), all diesel Land Rover Defenders of this generation use 3.0-litre six-cylinder engines with mild-hybrid (MHEV) assistance to smooth out power delivery and increase efficiency. The 197bhp D200 is just about powerful enough to get by, but we appreciate the extra shove of the 246bhp D250 and 296bhp D300. A more powerful 345bhp version was also added to the line-up in 2024 – it allows for a 0-60mph sprint of just 6.1sec.
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Petrol power starts with the P300, with its 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit producing 296bhp and a 0-60mph time of 7.0sec. There's a punchier P400 version that uses a 3.0-litre six-cylinder engine, as well as a P525 model that uses a thunderous V8 petrol engine. A P425 version of the same V8 engine was added more recently.
Lastly, there's a plug-in hybrid (PHEV). It's called the P400e and uses a 2.0-litre petrol coupled with an electric motor. Together they produce 398bhp, which is good enough for 0-60mph in 5.4 seconds and an official electric-only range of 27 miles.
Ride & Handling: The Defender is not quite up there for comfort with the most luxurious SUVs, but it's the best-riding of the proper, off-road-ready SUVs. It's much smoother in town and on a motorway than the Jeep Wrangler, for example. Given its huge ability off-road, that it rides comfortably and quietly is remarkable.
It isn't as unwieldy on the road as its tall body might suggest, but you can’t rush it down a winding country lane the way you can some road-focused SUVs, including the Audi Q7 and the BMW X5. The steering is slow and doesn't give much sense of connection to the front wheels, but it's light and reasonably accurate.
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Venture off the beaten track and the Terrain Response system makes it simple to set up the car for different conditions and, in its highest off-road suspension setting (if air suspension is fitted), it powers over deep ruts and climbs up muddy hills with ease. In fact, once you've got your head around the myriad of controls, serious off-roading is incredibly straightforward.
Interior & Practicality: Fans of the previous Land Rover Defender will love the latest car's lofty driving position, which feels significantly higher than most of its rivals. It’s easy to set everything up so it's comfy, with even entry-level models getting 12-way electrically adjustable seats with memory settings, heating and cooling. All other versions except XS Edition get 14-way adjustment.
Everything inside the Defender seems solidly made and bolted together tightly, yet, while many of its more road-focused rivals have more lavish interior finishes, the Defender still manages to feel properly expensive.
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On the centre of the dashboard, there's a 10.0in touchscreen fitted to early cars, while later models get a 11.4in set-up. No matter the size of the screen, the infotainment system responds swiftly most of the time; the layout is simple and the graphics look quite impressive too. There’s also lots of functionality, including standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration.
You have three body styles to choose from with the Defender. There's the three-door Defender 90, the longer, five-door Defender 110 – which is available as a five, six or seven-seater – and the even longer Defender 130, which comes with up to eight seats.
Those sitting in the second row of seats in the Defender 110 will find masses of head and leg room, and the sheer width of the Defender makes sitting three abreast pretty comfortable, too. The 90 also has lots of head room, and while leg room isn’t as impressive as it is in the 110 or the 130, a tall adult will still have space.
The 130’s extra length creates even more leg room than the 110's already-roomy third row and it adds a middle seat that, while narrow, will accommodate an adult of average height.
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The Defender 90 has less boot space than many family hatchbacks. The boot is really tall, though, which is fine if you're happy to stack items on top of each other, but there's not much room between the tailgate and the back seats. The 110 has a more impressive boot, with space for seven carry-on suitcases below its load cover.
The seven-seat 110 and the eight-seat 130 lose some underfloor storage and have much less boot space when the rear-most seats are in use, but the 130’s extra length introduces a bit more capacity. The capacity champion is the 130 Outbound, which does without the third row of seats fitted to other 130s. As a result, it has almost twice the boot space of the 110.
Trims & Equipment: The Defender's trim levels have been constantly revised over the years, with the entry-level trim often fluctuating between S and SE. Even so, both trims come well-equipped, with power-folding door mirrors, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, climate control, heated front seats and adaptive cruise control offered as standard. HSE is more expensive and adds upgraded seats, a panoramic roof and a leather steering wheel.
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There's also a range of X-Dynamic models, available with their own S, SE and HSE trim levels. They're recognisable by their contrasting black roof and grey wheels. X trim adds darker rear lights, opening panoramic roof, heated rear seats, a head-up display and orange brake calipers.
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The Defender 130 Outbound – available only as a five-seater – is finished with matt grey bumpers to make it look more rugged.
Interested in buying a used Land Rover Defender? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
Tips & Advice
How to test drive a car
There’s no substitute for a test drive in a new car. Take it on a variety of roads and surfaces to ensure it measures up.
Will the car fit your needs?
As part of the test drive, fill the car with regularly-carried luggage, and make sure the family can get comfy before you buy
Ownership cost
What used Land Rover Defender 110 will I get for my budget?
You can pick up a used Land Rover Defender (90 or 110) for around £36,000. For the money, expect a 2020/2021 model with an SD4 in S trim, with the D200, D250 and D300 rising by roughly £4000. Have at least £38,000 if you fancy a petrol: expect the entry-level P300, with the P400 – and the D300, actually – rising closer to £50,000 and often exceeding that.
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A P525 in Defender 90 form attracts prices of around £70,000, while the 110 version ups that to around £75,000. Have around £55,000 if you'd like the P400e PHEV.
The Defender 130 arrived later than the 90 and 110 did – it came about in 2022, specifically – and they go for at least £60,000.
Nearly new 2025 Defenders currently go for upwards of £60,000.
Check the value of a used Defender with What Car? Valuations
Find used Land Rover cars for sale
How much does cost to run a Land Rover Defender 110?
MPG: The Defender will be more expensive to fuel than many alternatives. The D300 diesel, for instance, officially averages a smidge more than 30mpg. We saw as high as 34mpg on a gentle motorway cruise before dipping to 26mpg in stop-start traffic. The petrols will fare worse, whichever engine you choose.
Your best bet for low fuel costs is the P400e PHEV, but only if you can do most of your journeys on battery power.
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Road tax: The petrols and diesels will set you back £195 each year in road tax. Expect to pay an extra £425 on top of this on cars less than five years old (only for the first five years), because the Defender qualifies for the luxury car tax, with all models costing upwards of £40,000 when new.
Insurance and servicing: Insurance groups waver greatly depending on your chosen Defender, with some low-powered 90s belonging to groups in the 40s (out of 50s), and high-powered 110s and 130s easily hitting that maximum 50 mark. Generally, the Defender should be quite pricey to insure.
Servicing can also be expensive. For a fourth-year service of a Defender 110 (D250), we were quoted £751.85 via Land Rover.
Reliability
The 2020-present Land Rover Defender scored mixed reviews in our latest What Car? Reliability Survey.
While its rugged design and off-road prowess win praise, reliability concerns – especially with electronics and the AdBlue system on diesel models – were frequently mentioned. Owners reported recurring warning lights and frustration with faults reappearing after repairs.
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Repair complexity and costs added to the dissatisfaction, with dealer experiences being hit-and-miss. Some appreciated courteous staff, but delays in sourcing parts and lengthy repair times were common complaints.
The Defender’s bold appeal is undeniable, but reliability and aftercare need attention. Learn more about the Land Rover Defender’s reliability on our dedicated page.
Tips & Advice
Organise your motoring life
Whether you need to keep tabs on your insurance renewal, sort breakdown cover, or book a service, My What Car? has you covered
Never miss a motoring date
Remembering to arrange insurance, book a service or buy breakdown cover can be a pain. Fortunately, My What Car? is here to help
Can I buy a car with cash?
Paying cash isn’t always an easy way to a new car – and you may not be able to get the big discounts you might expect
Protect your investment
GAP insurance allows you to get the full price for your car if it’s stolen or written off, but only a quarter of Brits buy it
Reduce your car finance bills
Refinancing your car effectively means taking out one loan to pay off another, which could help reduce your monthly payments, or reduce your finance term
What is hire purchase?
Hire purchase allows you to make monthly payments to buy your next car – although these will be higher than with a PCP
What is PCP finance?
Low monthly payments are key to the appeal of Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreements. But are there downsides?
Our recommendations
Which used Land Rover Defender 110 should I buy?
The Defender 110 is much more practical than the 90 is, yet used prices are similar. We believe most people won't need the extra space of the Defender 130: we doubt they'll want to pay the hefty premium that variant demands, either.
Engine
Out of all the engines you have to choose from, the D250 offers the best balance between performance and buying/running costs. Yes, it's more expensive than SD4 examples, but we'd happily pay the extra few grand for what is a smoother and more powerful engine. In fact, as we touched upon, the D200, D250 and D300 are similarly priced – we're recommending the middle child simply because it's the most common, but if you can find a good D300, go for it.
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Specification
You'll see a mix of trims at all sorts of prices. For instance, around £50,000, you'll see S cars, First Editions – the short-lived and rather rare launch trim – and even the odd X-Dynamic HSE. We recommend seeking out one of the higher trims (because why not), but if you're struggling, there's no shame in going for the common S – despite being the entry-level trim, it's well equipped.
Our favourite Land Rover Defender: Defender 110 D250 S
Tips & Advice
Which smartphone integration should I have?
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fantastic – and free – technologies. Here we show you the benefits, drawbacks and best apps
Avoid ULEZ and clean-air zone fines
If you regularly drive into a clean air zone, you’ll want to ensure your next car is compliant to avoid costly fines
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Land Rover Defender 110?
The Land Rover Defender straddles the line between utilitarian 4x4 and refined, posh SUV. On the former side, you have the Jeep Wrangler to consider – that's about as formidable off-road as cars come. On the latter front, the Audi Q7 is a firm favourite of ours, especially as a used buy. Like the Defender, the Q7 is also available with seven seats.
If you have upwards of £60,000 to spend (and lots of fuel money), may we suggest a Bentley Bentayga? For the money, it'll be a 2016/'17 car, but you'll enjoy incredible interior quality and comfort, as well as a smooth and immensely powerful engine, whether you opt for the 4.0-litre V8 petrol or diesel, or the 6.0-litre W12 petrol.
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Interested in buying a used Land Rover Defender? Visit our Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed at great prices.
How reliable is the land-rover Defender ?
Reliability rating: 94.7%
land-rover Defender
Read reliability
Used cars available now
In partnership with
Land Rover Defender 110
2.5 TD5 Hard Top SUV MWB
£8,999
Land Rover Defender 110
2.5 TDi County Station Wagon MWB
£9,995
Land Rover Defender 110
2.4 TDCi Utility Wagon 4WD MWB Euro 4 5dr
£11,495
Land Rover Defender 110
2.5 TDi County Station Wagon 5dr Diesel Manual 4X4 (107 bhp)
£11,995
Land Rover Defender 110
2.4 TDCi Utility Wagon 4WD MWB Euro 4 5dr
£15,990
Land Rover Defender 110
2.4 TDCi Hard Top SUV 4WD MWB Euro 4 3dr
£16,794
Land Rover Defender 110
2.5 TDi County Station Wagon 5dr
£16,995
Land Rover DEFENDER 110
110 2.5 TD5 HI-CAPACITY PICK UP FULL INTERIOR RE-TRIM
£16,999
Land Rover Defender 110
2.2 TDCi Hard Top SUV 4WD MWB Euro 5 3dr
£17,982
See all available cars
About the writer
Name: George Hill
Title: Used car writer
Follow George Hill on
George Hill first joined the What Car? team as a staff writer in 2021, before becoming a used car writer in 2024 and a reviewer in 2026. In his current role he writes new car reviews for What Car? magazine and whatcar.com.
If you follow What Car? on social media, you might see him presenting the odd video on new cars too.
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