Top 10: SUVs for Land Rover Defender money
The new Land Rover Defender has finally been revealed - and, predictably, it’s proving controversial.
While enthusiasts were never going to be entirely satisfied by its design, it’s the price tag which has caused most of us to baulk - initially priced from £45,240, with top-spec versions costing close to £80,000.
Fortunately, for that kind of money, there’s plenty of SUVs on the market. They might not be as iconic as the Defender, but you can bet most will be a smidgen more luxurious. They'll probably have shorter waiting lists, too...
Toyota Land Cruiser
Somebody somewhere once said: “If you want to go into the Outback, take a Land Rover. If you want to come back, take a Land Cruiser.” The Toyota Land Cruiser might not be the plushest SUV on sale, but it’s an excellent tow car, capable off road and feels like it could last forever. Prices start at £34,745.
Porsche Macan
The Defender is unstoppable off-road but the Macan is unstoppable on it. It’s arguably the best handling SUV on sale, while even the entry-level model is fun to drive, has a premium interior and looks the part. It costs from £46,910, meaning it’s marginally pricier than the cheapest Defender currently on sale.
Suzuki Jimny
If you’re looking for a boxy, capable off-roader, you could do a lot worse than buying a Jimny. OK, its road manners leave a lot to be desired, and it could probably fit in the boot of the Defender, but it starts at £15,999. You could buy three for the price of a Defender.
Mercedes-Benz X-Class
The Mercedes-Benz X-Class is a pick-up rather than an SUV, but it is the most upmarket pick-up money can buy. It tops out at £47,412 for the ultra-desirable X350d, with its 258PS 3.0-litre V6 diesel engine. That looks like good value alongside the Defender.
Jeep Wrangler
America’s answer to the Defender (or is it the other way around?), the Wrangler is the obvious answer if the new Land Rover doesn’t float your boat. Prices start at £44,955 for a three-door model.
Porsche Cayenne Coupe
We’ve already got one Porsche here, and entry-level Defender money isn’t going to get you a Cayenne. But the price of a top-spec Defender X will get you a Cayenne Coupe Carrera S, with enough left in the budget for a few choice options. It’s got an extra 40PS over the Defender, meaning it’ll reach 62mph around a second quicker.
Range Rover Velar
Once upon a time, it’d have seemed laughable that the cheapest Defender could be pricier than Range Rover models. We’re big fans of the new Range Rover Evoque and Defender money will get you a high-spec model. Alternatively, the trendy Velar has a £45,260 start price.
Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe
Land Rover enthusiasts will scoff at the idea of buying a Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe over a Defender, but it’s a stylish SUV with a superb interior. It’s recently been updated, with prices starting at £44,125 - that’s about the same as the cheapest Defender 110.
Audi Q8
We reckon the Audi Q8 is one of the most desirable SUVs on the market, and a £67,010 start price puts it bang into high-spec Defender territory. Even the flagship SQ8 starts at £81,740, making it only marginally more expensive than the desirable Defender X.
Jaguar I-Pace
The I-Pace might be from the same parent company as the Defender, but it’s a very different vehicle. It’s an electric SUV, with two electric motors producing a combined 400PS and good for a range of 292 miles. We reckon it could make for quite a cool two-car garage alongside the Defender...
