Land Rover Defender 90

The Defender 90 is a premium compact off-road SUV with room for up to five passengers. It’s the smaller of two available Defender models offered by the British automaker, measuring about 17 inches shorter than the midsize Defender 110, which can seat up to seven. Land Rover reintroduced the Defender to the U.S. for the 2020 model year after a 23-year absence.

Under the hood, the Defender 90 can be equipped with one of three available engines: a 296-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (dubbed P300), a 395-hp 3.0-liter turbo inline-six (P400), or a 518-hp 5.0-liter supercharged V8 (P525), which first appeared in 2022. All versions employ an eight-speed automatic transmission, which routes power to all four wheels. A two-speed transfer case with low range is also standard.

The Defender 90 comes in a wide variety of trims and special editions. The entry-level base (or Standard) and upgraded S trims utilize the P300 four-cylinder engine and include standard steel wheels, LED headlights, heated and power-adjustable front seats, and a 10-inch center touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Also standard are forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, and a surround-view camera. To get the P400 turbo inline-six, buyers must step up to either the sport-themed X-Dynamic S or the mid-level X-Dynamic SE or X-Dynamic HSE trims, which offer additional creature comforts, too, such as a panoramic sunroof, leather upholstery, and adaptive cruise control. The P400-equipped X trim is the most capable off-road, thanks to its included adjustable air suspension, active rear differential, and low-range crawl control. The P525 supercharged V8 is reserved for the range-topping V8 and Carpathian Edition trims, which both debuted in 2022. Notable options include an 11.4-inch center touchscreen and a towing package.