Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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With 158,483 currently licensed in the UK, the Land Rover Defender is one of Britain's most popular cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the Defender 5 stars in 2020, with 85% adult occupant and 85% child protection scores.
Annual running costs are estimated at £5,922 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £493/month or 80p/mile.
Theft risk is rated high at 15.1 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2020
Monthly Cost
£493
est. annual total
New From
£63,670
Euro NCAP tested the Defender in 2020 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
85%
Child Occupant
85%
Pedestrian
85%
Safety Assist
79%
There are 29 known DVSA recalls affecting the Land Rover Defender. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/115
On affected vehicles a concern has been identified where the third-row lower seat belt anchorage bracket may contain a weld stud of insufficient ISO strength due to material contamination at the supplier. An insufficiently strong weld stud in this position could result in the safety restraint system not functioning correctly in the event of a crash increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Build dates: 2025-03-11 to 2026-03-25
R/2024/390
The manufacturer has determined on affected vehicles the routing of low-pressure fuel pipes may clash with the rear right-hand damper. There is a risk that the fuel pipe could abrade and cause a fuel leak.
Build dates: 2012-01-12 to 2015-10-09
R/2025/065
Affected vehicles have had an incorrect set of settings in Dynamic Mode. Dynamic Mode therefore does not provide adequate stability suspension stiffness nor provide adequate stability control system operation thereby increasing the risk of loss of vehicle control.
Build dates: 2024-07-01 to 2025-01-24
R/2024/255
On affected vehicles the incorrect specification of plastic was used to manufacture the oil filter housing. This housing may over time and with vehicle use crack. This could result in oil under pressure leaking and coming into contact with hot components of the engine which may result in a fire. Additionally oil may leak onto the road surface posing a skid hazard.
Build dates: 2020-12-03 to 2024-02-27
R/2024/201
On affected vehicles converted by JLR Classic Works the brake pipes may have been incorrectly assembled to the brake modulator.
Build dates: 2011-10-19 to 2016-01-21
+ 24 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Land Rover Defender are estimated at around £5,922 per year, or £493 per month.
Fuel
£2,243
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£2,829
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
The Defender achieves a combined fuel economy of around 25.5 mpg (14.7 mpg urban, 24.4 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEFENDER | PETROL | 25.5 mpg | 3.0L |
| DEFENDER STATION WAGON | DIESEL | 28.3 mpg | 2.4L |
| DEFENDER, 20MY | PETROL | 24.4 mpg | 2.0L |
| DEFENDER, 20MY | DIESEL | 31.3 mpg | 2.0L |
| DEFENDER, 20MY | PETROL | 24.9 mpg | 3.0L |
Starting from £63,670 new, a Land Rover Defender typically retains about 62% after 3 years and 51% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 83% | £52,550 | −£11,120 |
| 2 years | 70% | £44,650 | −£19,020 |
| 3 years | 62% | £39,300 | −£24,370 |
| 4 years | 56% | £35,350 | −£28,320 |
| 5 years | 51% | £32,550 | −£31,120 |
| 6 years | 48% | £30,250 | −£33,420 |
| 7 years | 45% | £28,450 | −£35,220 |
| 8 years | 42% | £27,000 | −£36,670 |
| 9 years | 40% | £25,650 | −£38,020 |
| 10 years | 38% | £24,400 | −£39,270 |
The Defender has a theft rate of 15.1 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Consider additional security measures such as a steering lock or tracking device.
There are currently 158,483 licensed and 30,818 SORN Defenders in the UK (189,301 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
Euro NCAP awarded the Defender 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2020. It scored 85% for adult occupant protection, 85% for child occupant protection, 85% for vulnerable road users, and 79% for safety assist features.
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Defender are estimated at around £5,922 per year (£493/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
There are 29 known safety recalls affecting the Defender. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
The Defender has a theft rate of 15.1 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Extra security measures like tracking devices and steering locks are recommended.
A new Defender starts from around £63,670. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 51% of its original value.
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