2021 Land Rover Defender

Off-road-oriented luxury SUV · Second generation (L663) (2020–present)

About the Defender

The Land Rover Defender is Land Rover's most off-road-focused model line, and in the US the name covers two very different vehicles. Through 1997, it was a rugged, body-on-frame 4x4 sold in small numbers as the North American Specification (NAS) Defender. After a two-decade absence, the nameplate returned for 2020 as a thoroughly modern SUV that pairs serious off-road hardware with a premium cabin, competing with vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, Toyota Land Cruiser, and upper-trim Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler models.

The modern Defender has earned a reputation for genuine off-road capability combined with everyday comfort and distinctive, boxy styling. It offers unusual breadth for one nameplate: two-, four-, and extended-wheelbase body styles, trims from practical to high-performance, and prices spanning a wide range. Buyers include outdoor-oriented families, luxury SUV shoppers who want capability and image, and enthusiasts. The 1997 NAS models, meanwhile, are sought-after collector vehicles that often trade well above their original prices.

The 2021 model: The Defender returned to the US for 2020 as a ground-up reinvention built on an aluminum-intensive unibody platform with independent suspension and available air springs, replacing the old ladder frame while retaining a low-range transfer case and strong off-road geometry. The four-door 110 arrived first; the two-door 90 followed for the 2021 model year and the three-row, extended-wheelbase 130 for 2023. US powertrains have included a turbocharged four-cylinder, a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 added for 2022, and the twin-turbo V8 OCTA flagship introduced for 2025.

  • Modern generation (2020+) comes in three body styles: two-door Defender 90, four-door Defender 110, and extended-wheelbase Defender 130
  • Seating ranges from five to eight depending on body style; the Defender 130 offers three rows
  • Four-wheel drive is standard across the lineup, with a low-range transfer case and available air suspension
  • US powertrains have included a turbocharged four-cylinder, a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six, and V8 options including the high-performance OCTA
  • Properly equipped modern Defenders are rated to tow up to roughly 8,200 pounds
  • 1997 models are classic body-on-frame NAS Defenders with a 4.0-liter V8 — now collector vehicles rather than typical used SUVs

Available trims

8 trims for the 2021 model year.

First EditionSSEStandardXX-Dynamic HSEX-Dynamic SX-Dynamic SE

Where to find one

No 2021 listings right now — these zip codes have Land Rover Defender cars from other model years.

Other Land Rover Defender model years

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