Land Rover Defender — Buyer's Guide
Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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Land Rover Defender overview
With 163,722 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 £5,935 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £495/month or 80p/mile.
Theft risk is rated high at 15.1 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2020
Monthly Cost
£495
est. annual total
New From
£63,670
Safety rating
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%
Safety recalls
There are 33 known DVSA recalls affecting the Land Rover Defender. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/241
A concern has been identified on certain AJ20-D6 engines where the Front End Auxiliary Drive (FEAD) belt idler pulley may over-rotate following a high torsion input and lead to a clash with and damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor. A damaged oil pressure and temperature sensor can lead to an oil leak from the engine which can result in a slip hazard for following road users particularly two-wheeled vehicles.
Build dates: 2024-06-03 to 2026-04-18
R/2026/245
A concern has been identified where the connector to the driver’s airbag at the clockspring may experience fretting corrosion over time. This can lead to an increased resistance in the driver’s airbag circuit potentially resulting in the airbag failing to deploy when requested to do so. An airbag which fails to deploy as-intended will increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Build dates: 2019-04-02 to 2026-06-04
R/2025/553
Vehicles have experienced thermal overload which may manifest in smoke or fire that may occur underneath the rear of the vehicle where the high voltage traction battery is located. The root cause is not yet known and investigations are continuing. A vehicle thermal overload condition such as fire or smoke can result in increased risk of occupant injury and/or injury to persons outside the vehicle as well as property damage.
Build dates: 2020-10-01 to 2025-01-09
R/2026/177
A concern has been identified where the fuel tank wall thickness may be below design specification near the inlet check valve. A fuel tank with a thinner-than-designed wall may not perform adequately in the event of a crash leading to increased risk of fuel spillage and potentially fire.
Build dates: 2026-01-20 to 2026-01-30
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
+ 28 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
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Running costs
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Land Rover Defender are estimated at around £5,935 per year, or £495 per month.
Fuel
£2,256
/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.
Fuel economy
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 |
Depreciation
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 |
Theft risk
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.
How common is the Defender?
There are currently 163,722 licensed and 31,781 SORN Defenders in the UK (195,503 total). This makes it a very common vehicle on UK roads.
Frequently asked questions
How safe is the Land Rover Defender?
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.
How much does a Land Rover Defender cost to run?
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Defender are estimated at around £5,935 per year (£495/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
Are there any recalls on the Land Rover Defender?
There are 33 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.
Is the Land Rover Defender likely to be stolen?
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.
How much does a new Land Rover Defender cost?
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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