A much beloved evolution
For nearly 70 years, the original Land Rover (later named Defender) was a tractor you could take to dinner, a simple, rugged box of aluminum built to conquer the globe. It was loved, but it was also an antique. When it finally left production in 2016, the world held its breath. How could Land Rover possibly replace the irreplaceable without committing heresy?
The answer, it turns out, was to not even try. Instead, Land Rover did a total reinvention, swapping the old ladder frame for an advanced monocoque chassis, making the new Defender a sophisticated, premium-luxury SUV that just so happens to be one of the most capable off-road vehicles on the planet.
I spent a week with the Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE, the model that Land Rover’s own data suggests is the “sweet spot” of the lineup. It’s the perfect equilibrium, blending the potent mild-hybrid inline-six engine with a rugged yet premium aesthetic.
Kristen Brown
The off-road DNA carries through
The soul of the modern Defender, and the secret to its dual personality, lies in its architecture. The most profound change is the complete abandonment of the classic, truck-like body-on-frame design. In its place is an aluminum-intensive monocoque chassis known as the D7x platform. Land Rover claims this is the stiffest body structure it has ever produced, boasting three times the torsional rigidity of a traditional ladder frame.
Why does this matter? A stiff chassis is the foundation for everything. It prevents the body from flexing and twisting, which not only makes the vehicle feel solid and quiet but, more importantly, provides a stable platform for the suspension to do its job properly. This is the lynchpin that allows the Defender to have both on-road civility and off-road supremacy.
Kyle Edward
Under the hood of this P400 model is a 3.0-liter Ingenium inline six-cylinder engine. In a world of V6s, an inline-six is a mark of refinement, known for its inherent smoothness and balance. This one is further enhanced by both a turbocharger and a 48-volt mild-hybrid (MHEV) system. The MHEV component harvests energy during braking to power a small electric motor that assists the engine, smoothing out the stop-start function and, more crucially, providing “torque fill” at low RPMs to sharpen throttle response. The result is a robust 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque.
This power is routed through a silky 8-speed automatic transmission to a permanent all-wheel-drive system. Just to prove it hasn’t forgotten its roots, the Defender comes standard with a twin-speed transfer box, giving you a selectable low-range gear set for serious off-road crawls.
The final piece of the puzzle is the suspension. Up front is a sophisticated double-wishbone setup, with an advanced multi-link design in the rear. This X-Dynamic SE is equipped with the optional Electronic Air Suspension and Adaptive Dynamics that can raise the vehicle to provide a towering 11.5 inches of ground clearance for clearing obstacles, or lower it for easier entry and better on-road aerodynamics. The adaptive dampers constantly monitor the road and driver inputs, adjusting their stiffness hundreds of times per second to optimize both comfort and control.
Land Rover
Just as perfect on-road
All that engineering translates into an on-road driving experience that is deeply, deeply impressive. The P400 inline-six is a gem. It is exceptionally smooth, and as my notes reflect, it forms a brilliant partnership with the 8-speed transmission. The power delivery is strong and linear. Thanks to that mild-hybrid assist, you get solid, immediate power low in the rev range, and the engine never feels strained, even when you ask it for a quick highway pass. It feels quick on its feet for a vehicle weighing over 5,000 pounds, with Land Rover claiming a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds.
Now, let’s talk about the handling. This is a tall, heavy, off-road-focused vehicle. As I jotted down immediately, there is “lots of body roll, as to be expected.” If you try to hustle it through a corner like a BMW X5, you will be met with significant lean.
The air suspension and adaptive dampers create a “super comfortable ride,” as I noted. It simply glides. Potholes, expansion joints, and broken pavement that would send shudders through a lesser, sport-focused SUV are simply erased. The Defender has an imperious, isolating quality that makes daily driving incredibly relaxing.
Kyle Edward
Kyle Edward
Looks to match its nature
In terms of design, the 2025 Defender says adventure, African safari, and British all at the same time. The look is defined by its purposeful, boxy silhouette, short overhangs (for good approach angles), and powerful stance. But the details are what make it. The designers kept the iconic “Alpine” windows, those “interesting window placements” high on the roof that evoke the original. The taillights are small, vertical, “circular” (or squared-circle) units that are thoroughly modern yet feel perfectly appropriate.
The X-Dynamic SE trim adds a layer of urban cool, with “Silicon Satin” dark grey accents on the grille and badging, plus a gloss black contrast roof and 20-inch wheels. It looks tough, but it also looks expensive. It’s a design that is cohesive, confident, and, in my opinion, one of the best on the road today.
Land Rover
The lux-rugged theme from the outside continues flawlessly into the cabin. This is, hands down, one of my favorite car interiors on the market because it is so cohesive to the mission of the vehicle. Step inside and you’re greeted by a massive, structural magnesium cross-car beam that spans the dashboard, left exposed and finished in a tough powder coat. The door panels feature exposed rivets. The floors can be had in a durable rubberized material, and the X-Dynamic SE trim features “Resist” synthetic upholstery, which feels premium but is designed to be tough, durable, and easy to clean.
The driving position is commanding, the seats are comfortable for long hauls, and visibility is excellent thanks to the upright glass. When it comes to interior tech, the centerpiece is a large, 11.4-inch “Pivi Pro” touchscreen. With standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, I found it to be very easy to use.
Final thoughts
The 2025 Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE starts around $72,100, and with a few options, it will easily push toward $82,000. This places it in a strange competitive set. It’s far more luxurious and refined than a top-spec Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler, yet significantly cheaper than its main luxury off-road rival, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Land Rover
The 2025 Land Rover Defender 110 is a brilliant, multifaceted vehicle. It has successfully reinvented an icon for the modern age, creating a product that is far more relevant to today’s buyer than a simple update of the original ever could have been. Its greatest strength is its incredible bandwidth. It is a supremely comfortable, quiet, and refined luxury cruiser for the 99% of your life spent on pavement. Yet, it possesses a depth of engineering and off-road hardware that gives it genuine, world-conquering capability. This, combined with an exterior and interior design that is both impossibly cool and perfectly functional, makes it one of the most desirable vehicles in the segment.
About the author
Kyle Edward
Editor-in-Chief, Autoblog