2027 Land Rover Range Rover vs Land Rover Defender: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Defender — it leads our weighted scorecard 2.5–1.5 across 4 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (45.2% vs 27.6%) and more towing capacity (8,200 lb vs 7,716 lb). Choose the Range Rover if fuel economy comes first (22 mpg vs 18 mpg best EPA combined).
Scorecard: Range Rover 1.5 pts · Defender 2.5 pts across 4 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2027 Range Rover | 2027 Defender | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 27.6% | 45.2% | Defender |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 22 mpg | 18 mpg | Range Rover |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 606 hp | 626 hp | Tie |
| Max towing (1) | 7,716 lb | 8,200 lb | Defender |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 17 | — | No data |
| Weighted points | 1.5 | 2.5 | Defender |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Range Rover — 22 mpg vs 18 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Defender — 45.2% vs 27.6% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: the Defender — 8,200 lb vs 7,716 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
A current starting MSRP isn't on file for both models.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Range Rover: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Defender: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2027 Range Rover | 2027 Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 395–606 hp | 296–626 hp |
| Max torque | 627 lb-ft | 553 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 18–22 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 17–18 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 7,716 lb | 8,200 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | — / 7 | — / 8 |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Range Rover lists for a median $38,900 — 27.6% of today's median new price of $140,770. A 5-year-old (2021) Defender lists for a median $39,995 — 45.2% of today's median new price of $88,394.
Shop both
- See 3,944 new 2027 Land Rover Range Rovers for sale →Median listed price $138,589 · updated Nov 7, 2026
- See 2,969 new 2027 Land Rover Defenders for sale →Median listed price $88,899 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Land Rover Range Rover
More on the Land Rover Defender
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Range Rover better than the Defender?
On our data, no — the Defender comes out ahead. Our pick: the Defender — it leads our weighted scorecard 2.5–1.5 across 4 categories, winning on better 5-year value retention (45.2% vs 27.6%) and more towing capacity (8,200 lb vs 7,716 lb). Choose the Range Rover if fuel economy comes first (22 mpg vs 18 mpg best EPA combined).
Which is more reliable, the Range Rover or the Defender?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet.
Which holds its value better, the Range Rover or the Defender?
The Defender: a 5-year-old example lists for 45.2% of the new price, versus 27.6% for the Range Rover, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Range Rover or the Defender?
We don't have a current starting MSRP for both models.
Which has better gas mileage, the Range Rover or the Defender?
The Range Rover: up to 22 mpg combined vs 18 mpg for the Defender (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2027 Land Rover Range Rover vs Land Rover Defender: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/land-rover-range-rover-vs-land-rover-defender, updated November 8, 2026.