Is the 2021 Land Rover Defender a good car?
No.
3 of 7checks
- Family car: 2 of 4. Rear legroom 36.6 in. Class median 38.2 in.
- First car: 2 of 5. Price $46,100. Class median $39,195.
- Commuter: $146 a month. Class median $116.
- Good buy: 6 rivals beat it on all four.
20 miles one way, 5 days a week. Gas $3.20. Power 17 cents per kWh.
| Check | Result | Number |
|---|---|---|
| Family car | No | 2 of 4 parts |
| First car | No | 2 of 5 parts |
| Commuter | No | $146 vs $116 a month |
| Seniors | Yes | 2 of 3 parts |
| Off-road | Yes | 8.8 in, top 19% |
| Worth the money | Yes | 14% below predicted |
| Good buy | No | 6 beat it on all four |
- Each check compares the cheapest trim with the number to its class.
- A check passes when it misses at most 1 part.
- Yes when the car passes more than half of its checks.
Is the Defender a good family car?
No. Passes 2 of 4 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 seats | 5 or more | N/A | Yes |
| Rear legroom | 36.6 in | Median 38.2 in | 131 | No |
| Rear headroom | 40.4 in | Median 38.9 in | 131 | Yes |
| Cargo behind the last row | 15.6 cu ft | Median 22.9 cu ft | 140 | No |
Is the Defender a good first car?
No. Passes 2 of 5 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $46,100 | Median $39,195 | 144 | No |
| Horsepower | 296 hp | 155 hp to 349 hp | 145 | Yes |
| Length | 197.6 in | Median 188.6 in | 136 | No |
| Turning circle | 37.0 ft | Median 38.4 ft | 134 | Yes |
| Fuel cost per mile | 16.8 cents | Median 13.3 cents | 143 | No |
Horsepower: 10th to 75th percentile of the class.
Is the Defender a good commuter car?
No. $146 a month to commute. Class median $116.
- Miles a month
- 867
- This car
- $146
- Median of 143 SUVs
- $116
- Highway mpg
- 21 mpg, top 84% of 137
Is the Defender a good car for seniors?
Yes. Passes 2 of 3 parts.
| Measure | This car | Class | Cars | Pass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step-in height | 8.8 in clearance, 77.5 in tall | 7.3 to 8.4 in clearance, 64.8 to 69.8 in tall | 123 | No |
| Front headroom | 40.6 in | Median 39.8 in | 134 | Yes |
| Turning circle | 37.0 ft | Median 38.4 ft | 134 | Yes |
Step-in: clearance and height in the middle half of the class.
Is the Defender a good off-road vehicle?
Yes. 8.8 in clearance. Top 19% of 132 trucks and SUVs.
- AWD or 4WD
- Yes
- Best trim for clearance
- 90 AWD, 8.8 in
- Cohort
- 132 trucks and SUVs, AWD or 4WD trims
Is the Defender worth the money?
Yes. Priced 14% below cars like it.
- Price, 110 AWD
- $50,500
- Predicted price
- $58,486
- Gap
- -$7,986 (-14%)
- Model error
- 14% median, 277 cars
Price model: horsepower, length, width, drivetrain, powertrain, body and luxury, 2021 cars.
Passes at up to 5% above the predicted price.
Is the Defender a good buy?
No. 6 rivals cost less and beat it on fuel cost, cargo and power.
| Car | Price | Fuel cost per mile | Max cargo | Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defender 90 AWD | $46,100 | 16.8 cents | 58.3 cu ft | 296 hp |
| Chevrolet Traverse L FWD | $29,800 | 15.2 cents | 98.2 cu ft | 310 hp |
| Ford Explorer RWD | $32,925 | 13.3 cents | 87.8 cu ft | 300 hp |
| Buick Enclave Preferred FWD | $40,300 | 15.2 cents | 97.6 cu ft | 310 hp |
| Chevrolet Blazer RS FWD | $41,100 | 14.5 cents | 64.2 cu ft | 308 hp |
| GMC Acadia AT4 AWD | $41,400 | 15.2 cents | 79.0 cu ft | 310 hp |
| Ford Edge ST AWD | $43,600 | 15.2 cents | 73.4 cu ft | 335 hp |
Compared with 974 trims of other makes, SUVs, 2021.
What this cannot tell you
No safety, reliability or insurance data.
Your prices, use and trim may differ.
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