The 2026 Land Rover Defender presents a compelling off-road package, but buyers must prioritize confirming the completion of critical safety recalls, particularly concerning the fuel tank integrity.
Calculated from 10,000+ NHTSA, EPA & owner-complaint data pointsHow we score
Specifications by model year
Every section below is populated from the available EPA, NHTSA, and vehicle-specification data for this model.
EPA-rated city, highway, and combined economy by year.
Powertrain specifications can vary between model years.
| Year | Body style | Cylinders | Displacement | Fuel type | Transmission | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | suv | 8 | 5.0 | Premium | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive |
| 2025 | suv | 8 | 5.0 | Premium | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive |
| 2024 | suv | 8 | 5.0 | Premium | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive |
| 2023 | suv | 8 | 5.0 | Premium | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive |
| 2022 | suv | 8 | 5.0 | Premium | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive |
| 2021 | suv | 4 | 2.0 | Premium | Automatic | 4-Wheel Drive |
| 2020 | — | 4 | 2.0 | Premium | Automatic (S8) | 4-Wheel Drive |
Original pricing and model configuration where available.
Seating, cargo, and physical configuration by model year.
| Year | Seats | Doors | Cargo (L) | Cargo (cu ft) | bodyAndInterior | mechanical | Keyless ignition | Steering location | Seat rows | Axles | Wheels | Wheelbase | Front wheel | Rear wheel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | — | — | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard | — | Standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard | — | Standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2023 | 8 | 4 | 290 | 10.7 | Keyless ignition: Standard | — | Standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022 | — | — | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard | — | Standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021 | 5 | — | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 | Axles: 2, Wheels: 4 | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — |
| 2020 | 5 | — | — | — | Keyless ignition: Standard, Steering location: Left-Hand Drive (LHD), Seat rows: 2 | Axles: 2, Wheels: 4, Wheelbase: 118.9, Front wheel: 20, Rear wheel: 18 | Standard | Left-Hand Drive (LHD) | 2 | 2 | 4 | 118.9 | 20 | 18 |
NHTSA safety ratings and listed driver-assistance availability.
| Year | abs | esc | tractionControl | tpms | adaptiveCruiseControl | autoBrake | forwardCollisionWarning | pedestrianAeb | blindSpotMonitoring | blindSpotIntervention | laneDepartureWarning | rearCamera | rearCrossTrafficAlert | rearAeb | adaptiveDrivingBeam | autoReverseSystem |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | standard | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2025 | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard |
| 2024 | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard |
| 2023 | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard |
| 2022 | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard |
| 2021 | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard |
| 2020 | standard | standard | standard | standard | optional | standard | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard | standard | — | standard | standard |
Model year reports
The 2026 Land Rover Defender presents a compelling off-road package, but buyers must prioritize confirming the completion of critical safety recalls, particularly concerning the fuel tank integrity.
The 2025 Land Rover Defender presents a capable, albeit average, reliability profile.
The 2024 Land Rover Defender offers significant capability but comes with an average reliability rating.
The 2023 Land Rover Defender presents an average reliability profile, with significant ownership concerns centered on potential engine oil leaks and associated seizure risks.
The 2022 Land Rover Defender presents an average reliability profile, making thorough pre-purchase inspection crucial.
The 2021 Land Rover Defender presents a mixed reliability picture.
The 2020 Land Rover Defender presents a mixed reliability picture, with a high number of recalls overshadowing zero consumer complaints.
Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.
Carfocal currently has 7 published Defender reports, covering 2020 through 2026. Compare the year-specific reports directly to see how reliability, recalls, ownership costs, and value change over time. The newest published verdict says: The 2026 Land Rover Defender presents a compelling off-road package, but buyers must prioritize confirming the completion of critical safety recalls, particularly concerning the fuel tank integrity.
Published year coverage: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
There is no single reliability answer for every Land Rover Defender. Carfocal's published year reports show why the model year matters, with verdicts that include the 2026 land rover defender presents a compelling off-road package, but buyers must prioritize confirming the completion of critical safety recalls, particularly concerning the fuel tank integrity. and the 2026 land rover defender offers significant off-road prowess, but its value proposition is tempered by a history of critical recalls and a below-average reliability assessment. Compare the report for the year you are considering before you make a decision.
7 published year-specific reports are available for comparison.
Across Carfocal's published Defender guides, recurring problem areas include Fuel Tank, Seat Belt Anchorage (3rd Row), and Brake System. The exact risk depends on the model year, so open the report for the vehicle you are evaluating to see which issues, recalls, and repair concerns apply.
Common problem areas found in published repair predictions: Fuel Tank, Seat Belt Anchorage (3rd Row), and Brake System.