The Land Rover Defender has long been known for its ability to handle rough terrain and its tough build. It is a vehicle that embodies adventure while also being very noticeable. The Defender is still changing for 2025, combining its classic style with cutting-edge technology, luxurious comfort, and unmatched versatility. The 2025 Land Rover Defender is ready to take over both the trails and the city jungle. It has new updates like the high-performance Defender Octa, more ways to customize it, and better interior features. Here’s a detailed look at what sets the 2025 Defender apart from other SUVs on the market.
A New Look at a Legacy
The Land Rover Defender has been a symbol of adventure and strength since it first came out in 1948. The second-generation Defender, which came out in 2020, was a big change from the body-on-frame version. It used a modern aluminum unibody platform that made it more comfortable on the road while keeping its off-road DNA. Land Rover builds on this base for 2025 by adding updates that improve performance, comfort, and versatility. This keeps the Defender at the top of its class in the luxury off-road segment.
The 2025 Defender comes in three body styles: the Defender 90 (two-door), the Defender 110 (four-door), and the Defender 130 (extended wheelbase with three-row seating). It is perfect for a wide range of drivers, from adventure seekers to families looking for both luxury and practicality. The new Defender Octa, which is the top-of-the-line model, takes the lineup to the next level by offering supercar-level performance in an off-road package.
Design: Strong, classic, and useful
The 2025 Defender keeps its boxy shape, which is a nod to its utilitarian roots, but adds modern design elements that make it look more sophisticated. LED headlights with auto-leveling, daytime running lights, and strong skid plates are just a few of the features that make it look tough but classy. The Defender’s upright stance, short overhangs, and Alpine lights (small windows above the rear side windows) pay homage to its heritage while making it look powerful on the road.
For 2025, the Defender will have more ways to customize it, such as gloss black, satin Ceres, satin Moonlight, Shadow Atlas, Phosphorous Bronze, orange, or chopped carbon fiber accents on the outside. The Defender Octa Black has a Narvik Black finish and unique gloss black exterior parts, an OCTA badge, and optional 22-inch gloss black wheels that give it a scary look. For off-road adventures, practical features like a side-mounted gear carrier and black exposed rear recovery eyes make the vehicle more useful.
The size of the Defender changes depending on the model:
With a spare wheel, the Defender 90 is 4,583 mm (180.4 in) long. Without a spare wheel, it is 4,323 mm (170.2 in) long. The wheelbase is 2,587 mm (101.9 in).
The Defender 110 is 5,018 mm (197.6 in) long with a spare wheel and 4,758 mm (187.3 in) long without one. Its wheelbase is 3,022 mm (119.0 in).
Defender 130: Has more space for three rows of seats, making it great for families or trips with a lot of gear.
Powertrains: Good performance on any surface
The 2025 Defender has a choice of powerful engines, all of which come with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive (AWD) with locking differentials and a two-speed transfer case for better off-road performance. There are different engine options:
The 2.0L Turbocharged Inline-4 (P300) engine has 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It can go from 0 to 100 km/h in about 7.4 seconds. It runs smoothly and quietly at low RPMs, but it can feel a little weak for the weight of the Defender, especially in lower trims.
The 3.0L Turbocharged Inline-6 Mild-Hybrid (P400) engine makes 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. It strikes a good balance between efficiency and performance, with an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 18/20/19 MPG (city/highway/combined) for the Defender 110.
5.0L Supercharged V8 (P525): This engine makes 518 horsepower and is available in higher trims like the Defender V8 and V8 Carpathian Edition. It gives you exciting performance on and off the road.
The new flagship, the 4.4L Twin-Turbo V8 (Defender Octa), makes the Octa the most powerful Defender ever with 626 horsepower. The 6D Dynamics air suspension is linked to the hydraulics in a way that makes it easier to control off-road and smoother on-road. With 22-inch wheels, the Octa can go as fast as 155 mph and wade through water that is 3.3 feet deep, which is twice as deep as the original Defender.
The Defender 90 with the P300 engine gets up to 18/21/19 MPG (city/highway/combined), while the Defender 130 with the P300 engine gets 16/19/18 MPG. Fuel economy varies by model and engine. In some places, you can get diesel options that get between 11.4 and 14.01 kmpl.
Off-Road Capability: Can’t Be Stopped in Any Environment
The Defender is still the best off-road vehicle because of features like Terrain Response® 2, which automatically changes settings to give you the best traction on mud, snow, or sand. The Defender Octa has a special OCTA mode that lets you control the launch off-road and changes the ABS settings for better performance off-road. The Octa is made for the toughest conditions. It has 11.5 inches of ground clearance, 3.3 feet of wading depth, and 33-inch all-terrain tires, which are the biggest ever put on a Defender.
The Defender can also tow a lot, up to 8,200 pounds when properly equipped. This makes it great for trailers, boats, or horseboxes. Advanced Tow Assist makes it easier to steer, and the 3D Surround Camera and Wade Sensing technology help you get through tough terrain and water crossings.
Inside: Modern luxury meets usefulness
The 2025 Defender’s cabin is a good mix of tough and comfortable. The inside has visible structural elements, long-lasting materials like Windsor leather or Resist and Resolve, and cutting-edge technology. The Defender Octa makes the experience better with semi-aniline leather and Kvadrat textile seats that have unique perforation patterns and new stitching details. The Defender 130 has heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, and optional captain’s chairs to keep everyone comfortable.
The standard Pivi Pro infotainment system now has a 11.4-inch touchscreen. It works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to connect your phone, and it has a high-resolution digital driver display and a Meridian sound system that can produce up to 700W of surround sound. The Defender Octa has SUBPAC™ Body and Soul Seat (BASS) technology, which gives you a multi-sensory audio experience with six wellness programs. The ClearSight rear-view mirror gives you a wide-angle view, which makes things easier to see.
Different models have different seating arrangements:
Defender 90: It can hold five people, and there is an optional front jump seat for a third person in the front row.
Defender 110 has a four-door layout and can seat five or seven people.
Defender 130: Has three rows and can hold up to eight people, making it great for families.
Safety and Driver Help: Peace of Mind on and off the road
The 2025 Defender comes with a set of advanced driver-assistance systems that make it safe on the road and off. Some of the most important features are:
- Automatic emergency braking that can see pedestrians
- Lane departure warning with help keeping the lane
- Adaptive cruise control that works off-road
- Camera system that can see all the way around with wade sensing
- The InControl App lets you use Guardian Mode to keep an eye on your car from afar.
You can look at the NHTSA and IIHS crash test results in detail, but the Defender’s strong construction and safety features make it safe to drive anywhere. The standard warranty lasts for four years or 50,000 miles, but other companies, like Lexus, offer longer powertrain warranties.
Trims and Prices: Something for Everyone
There are many trims of the 2025 Defender, such as Standard, S, SE, XS, HSE, X, V8, V8 Carpathian Edition, and the new Octa. The base Defender 90 costs about $60,000 (USD), but the Defender Octa or V8 Carpathian Edition can cost more than $120,000, depending on the options and the market. Prices in India range from ₹1.05 Crore to ₹2.79 Crore (ex-showroom).
At the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Defender Trophy Edition was unveiled. It pays tribute to the Camel Trophy with special Deep Sandglow Yellow or Keswick Green paint. The Grasmere Green paint on the 75th Anniversary Edition pays tribute to Land Rover’s history. There are four accessory packs—Explorer, Adventure, Urban, and Country—that let you customize your gear even more for your lifestyle.
What Owners and Critics Say in Reviews
People have praised the 2025 Defender for how well it combines off-road capability, on-road refinement, and modern luxury. Edmunds gives it a 7.8 out of 10, praising its comfort and versatility but saying that the 2.0L engine can feel weak. People like how it drives differently, how big the back seats are, and how powerful it looks, but some say they have problems with its reliability, which is a common complaint about Land Rover vehicles. The Defender has a 4-star consumer rating, which means that people are very happy with it. Reviewers have called it “a vehicle like no other” because it is both tough and stylish.
The Future: Defender Sport and More
By 2027, Land Rover plans to release a smaller “Defender Sport” or “Defender 80” to add to its lineup. This new SUV will be more compact and better suited for city driving. This move shows that Land Rover is serious about expanding the Defender brand while keeping its core values of adventure and capability.
Verdict: A Real Icon for Today
The 2025 Land Rover Defender is a great example of how to combine old and new ideas. The Defender is the best choice for any kind of driving, whether you’re going off-road, through the city, or on a family road trip. The new Defender Octa takes off-road SUVs to new heights, and updates like captain’s chairs in the Defender 130 and better infotainment across the board make sure that everyone will like it. Even though it costs a lot and people sometimes say it isn’t reliable, the Defender is still a great choice for people who want the best of both worlds: adventure and luxury.
The 2025 Land Rover Defender is now available at authorized dealers for people who are ready to take on the impossible. You can also build your dream car online. This famous 4×4 can take you anywhere, whether you choose the small Defender 90, the flexible Defender 110, or the big Defender 130.
