MY26 Land Rover Defender introduced

LAND ROVER has updated its popular Defender off-roader introducing new technology and amenity items, and alternative driveline offerings, as part of the significant model-year update.

Priced from $98,400 plus on-road costs, the entry point to the line-up increases by $5874 with price hikes elsewhere in the range of up to $14,754.

The Defender remains available in 90, 110, and 130 body styles, each characterised by a new headlight design, standard front fog lights, smoked rear lenses, and a refreshed colour palette.

The “clean yet tough” exterior further sports reprofiled front and rear bumper covers, a new textured pattern for the bonnet inlays and side vents, gloss black wheel caps, and matching gloss black grille bar and dark oval badge, and all-new seven-spoke 22-inch Diamond Turned Dark Grey alloy wheels.

Inside, a larger 13.1-inch infotainment touchscreen provides what Land Rover says is even more intuitive control, while the gear shift lever is repositioned to improve ergonomics.

Land Rover has also revised the design of its centre control to “make the most of the space on offer”, the new unit featuring a small sliding section to keep items out of view.

For those venturing off-road, the Defender is now available with optional Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control for the first time. Land Rover says the technology is an evolution of its All Terrain Progress Control system, allowing drivers to “set a desired comfort level (speed) when negotiating rough terrain”.

Optionally, a Driver Attention Monitor features a driver-facing camera to monitor the driver’s gaze and provide audio-visual alerts if attention is not being paid to the road ahead.

Up front, the upgrades continue with the addition of the P425 5.0‑litre supercharged V8 petrol engine in 90 and 110 body designs, replacing the existing P400 six-cylinder Ingenium petrol.

Producing 313kW/550Nm of torque, the unit powers Defender 90 from 0‑100km/h in as little as 5.6 seconds offering what Land Rover says is “a compelling combination of performance, cruising refinement and capability”.

With the introduction of the P425, the Defender 90 is now available with two engine options, the second a D250 six‑cylinder Ingenium diesel with mild-hybrid assistance.

The Defender 110 engine line-up is also expanded for 26MY, with the addition of the P425 5.0-litre supercharged engine, as well as the D250 six-cylinder Ingenium mild-hybrid diesel for the first time.

Land Rover says these two powertrains add to the existing D350 six-cylinder Ingenium mild-hybrid diesel and Plug-in Electric Petrol Hybrid, as does the range-topping Defender OCTAs P635 Petrol twin-turbo V8 Mild Hybrid.

The OCTA variant is described by Land Rover as the “extreme performance hero of the unstoppable Defender family”. Its twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine delivers a whopping 467kW, the vehicle further incorporating the 6D Dynamics suspension, Body and Soul Seats, and a dedicated OCTA Mode for performance off-road use.

As the “fastest and most capable Defender” available, the OCTA has a revised colour palette, more rugged visuals, numerous personalisation options, four interior colour ways, and a choice of wheel and tyre combinations including 20-inch forged alloy wheels.

Finally, we note the introduction of a new Defender 110 S D250 variant featuring an in-line six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine with mild-hybrid assistance for a total output of 183kW/570Nm.

The new S D250 model comes standard with Electronic Air Suspension, 19-inch alloy wheels, and can be optioned with 18-inch steel wheels at no additional cost.

“More than five years after its introduction, (the) Defender has become an enduring success,” said Land Rover Defender managing director Mark Cameron.

“With a bloodline that can be traced back to the first Series I of 1948, Defender continues to capture the imagination of our clients.

“The range now includes everything from a Hard-Top commercial to the epic Defender OCTA.

“With production at full capacity to meet demand, the latest changes are part of our continuous commitment to make adventures even more satisfying.

“Fresh design enhancements, new colours and an expanded range of accessories follow Defender’s comprehensive upgrade last year, ensuring our iconic 4x4 is better than ever.”

The MY26 Land Rover Defender range is now available to order.

2025 (MY26) Land Rover Defender 90 pricing*:

2025 (MY26) Land Rover Defender 110 pricing*:

2025 (MY26) Land Rover Defender 130 pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.