The so-called new Land Rover Defender isn’t so new any more. And yet, it’s still one of the most controversial vehicles on the road; the styling alone usually places it into a love-it-or-hate-it bucket for most. The interior is more of the same: Attractive to some, unfathomably odd to others. What’s not controversial is the driving experience, which betrays the looks in a good way. As for us? Well, we’ve always liked the modern Defender, and a recent week driving one confirmed that we still dig the Defender experience as a whole.

Land Rover’s L663 Defender has been on sale since the 2020 model year and the brand has made a valiant (and in our opinion successful) effort to keep it fresh ever since its debut. Originally only available in two-door 90 guise and as the mass-appeal four-door 110, the brand eventually added a lengthened variant called the 130 in an effort to steal sales from other luxury SUVs with a spacious third row. Along the way there have been models with turbocharged four-cylinder engines, a mild-hybrid inline six cylinder, and a supercharged V8, and that’s just here in the USA. Look overseas and two diesel engines and a plug-in hybrid are all available.

Similar to the wide array of models and trims, the Defender’s pricing covers a huge spread. For 2025, a base Defender 90 S (which represents the least expensive Defender available) starts at $56,900. The new-for-2025 top-dog high-performance OCTA starts at $152,000; chuck every option at one and it’s a tank of gas shy of $175k. There aren’t that many vehicles that can triple the price while carrying the same name, let alone triple it.

The iteration we drove last month was a 2024 Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE. It carried a base MSRP of $72,000 and, in traditional press car fashion, was equipped with a lot of the option list. This vehicle had the Cold Climate Pack (heated windshield, washer jets, and headlight power wash) for $500, Off-Road Pack (electronic active differential, domestic plug sockets, and off-road tires) for $1,500, Air suspension Pack (adaptive electronic air suspension) for $1,600, Gondwana Stone paint for $950, Tow Hitch for $700, ClearSight Interior Rear View Mirror for $570. Heated rear seats add $500, the Meridian Sound System tacked on $450, special 20-inch wheels cost an additional $200, an Air Quality Sensor adds $100. Then there’s bits and pieces like a $75 Emergency Pack, Three-zone Climate Control ($400), Cabin Air Purification System ($375), Interior Protection Pack ($300), and “Handover Pack” ($28).

When all was said and done, the test vehicle’s total MSRP was $81,923. We suppose that at this price, with the MHEV 3.0L I6 engine, this makes the vehicle loaned to us an example of what’s near-center on the Defender spectrum, and probably representative of what most sold are outfitted as. And we must say, it was a very nicely optioned example of the model: Not over the top, but not missing anything notable.

The Defender’s party trick– and its charm– comes from the incongruity in how it looks and drives. The outside invokes thoughts of driving through the rainy UK woods, yet the on-road manners are more akin to those of a proper Range Rover than the Jeep Wrangler or Toyota 4Runner so many will cross-shop the Defender with. Even though the at-speed wind resistance and 2.5-ton weight make for 395 horsepower that feel more like 295, the Defender cruises effortlessly at speed. The commanding view out fairly upright front glass still feels great, and the seating position is somehow conducive to both long-haul comfort and being able to position tires on obstacles with ease.

We’ve driven a number of Defenders in the past: 2021 90 First Edition; 2022 90 V8; 2023 130 SE; and, now this 110 X-Dynamic SE. While our heart and soul still go back to the V8’s hilarious soundtrack and lovably evil nature, the model driven and featured in this review felt like the most complete and well-rounded package. The ride quality was fantastic, it works great as an everyday vehicle and family hauler, and, at least to our eyes, it’s still great to look at inside and out.

Things we don’t like aren’t many, but they’re still there. The 10” PIVI Pro screen is better than before, though it still doesn’t have an ideal interface and requires more swiping and prodding to adjust settings than is ideal. Also, the transmission’s upshifts and downshifts can both be harsh, especially when in traffic. Pair that with an engine that requires more of the gas pedal to motivate with ease than you’d expect, and any bout of hard acceleration or taking off from a stoplight can make one who has driven the 5.0-equipped Defender lust for those extra cylinders and attached supercharger. And the safari windows over the cargo area are effectively useless for anything other than heating up the interior further on warm days; still, we adore them.

You can probably tell by now that despite our few issues with it, we’re big fans of the current Defender for what it is. It doesn’t replace what we feel a true Defender is at heart, rarely invoking dreams of crossing the Sahara or participating in the Camel Trophy;  Old-school traditionalists are better served looking to the similarly-priced Ineos Grenadier for that experience. This L663 Defender would have been better served as an honest successor to the original on-road/off-road mojo of the Discovery model, rather than the road-going luxury-first rig the Discovery has become.

And yet, long-term reliability questions aside, the Defender is unlike anything else on the road. Gloss over the controversial looks and it’s everything a modern SUV should be, albeit with better driving dynamics and road manners than anything it competes with. It’s far from perfect, but the Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE is just the ticket for those looking for an interesting, luxurious all-weather family-hauling experience that isn’t found elsewhere.

Yay

• Drives better than something of its shape and stature should
• Fun, quirky, and intuitive interior
• Genuine off-road cred (within reason)
• Has a certain oddball charm that can’t be quantified
• Feels like it can take on the world and keep you calm in the process

Nay

• Rear seats don’t fold flat
• Swing-out tailgate still slightly inconvenient
• Doesn’t feel like a near-400 horsepower powertrain
• Transmission shifts can be clunky
• Some aerodynamics-related noise at speed
• PIVI Pro infotainment slightly over-complicated

The Takeaway

While the Land Rover Defender isn’t (and never has been) for everyone, the 110 X-Dynamic SE represents perhaps the widest mainstream appeal of a Defender product yet. It’s a comfortable, usable, and intelligent vehicle that is unquestionably quirky and imperfect, and taken as a whole it’s a deeply appealing vehicle that appeals to the heart as much (and probably even more than) the head.