10 best Land Rover Defender alternatives

April 11, 2022 by

If you’re after a tough off-roader to tackle all terrains, the Land Rover Defender is probably the first car which comes to mind. But what if you fancy something different?

There are loads of cars on the market for those who want an SUV which can handle itself on the rough stuff, here are 10 of the best.

Our pick of the top 10 Land Rover Defender alternatives are:

  1. Toyota Land Cruiser
  2. Jeep Wrangler
  3. Mercedes G Wagon
  4. Land Rover Discovery
  5. Porsche Cayenne
  6. Subaru Outback
  7. Suzuki Jimny
  8. BMW X5
  9. Dacia Duster
  10. Fiat Panda 4X4

1. Toyota Land Cruiser

  • Recommended trim: Invincible
  • Recommended engine: 2.8-litre diesel
  • Carwow price from: £40,082*
  • Wowscore: 6/10

If bullet-proof reliability is at the top of your wish list, you’ll want to take a look at the Toyota Land Cruiser. For decades now it’s been building a reputation as one of the most dependable cars money can buy.

It’s also a spacious and practical car with plenty of tech, as long as you avoid the entry level version. It may not be the most comfortable SUV, but you can rest assured that it’ll get you pretty much anywhere you need to go, even if that’s at the top of a mountain.

2. Jeep Wrangler

  • Recommended trim: Rubicon
  • Recommended engine: 2.0-litre petrol
  • Carwow price from: £49,153*
  • Wowscore: 5/10

Few cars are as instantly recognisable as the Jeep Wrangler. That slatted grille and the round headlights are pure Americana, and the Wrangler is more than just a fashion statement. It’s also pretty much unstoppable off-road.

It may be quite uncomfortable on the road, and it’s quite expensive to buy, but the standard equipment is generous across the range, and there are plenty of personalisation options to make your Wrangler stand out even more.

3. Mercedes G-Wagon

  • Recommended trim: AMG-Line
  • Recommended engine: 3.0-litre diesel
  • Carwow price from: £108,815*
  • Wowscore: 8/10

The Mercedes G Wagon has come a long way since it was a bare-bones military vehicle back in the 70’s, and now it’s a fully-fledged luxury SUV. Don’t think the leather and alloy wheels take away from it’s off-road ability though, as this is a car which can still hold its own when the going gets rough.

Granted, it’s a very expensive way to go green-laning, and it’ll cost a lot to run as well. But once you step inside the wonderful cabin it all makes sense, and the AMG G63 models can scare supercars on the quarter mile.

4. Land Rover Discovery

  • Recommended trim: R-Dynamic
  • Recommended engine: 3.0-litre diesel
  • Carwow price from: £53,320*
  • Wowscore: 8/10

If you like the Land Rover brand, but want something a bit more refined than the Defender, the Land Rover Discovery may be worth a look. It offers all the same off-road ability but with added comfort and luxury on the tarmac.

It may not be the most fun SUV to drive, and some may find the styling a bit challenging. But you can’t doubt the off-road ability of the Discovery, and it’s similarly priced to the Defender as well.

5. Porsche Cayenne

  • Recommended trim: Standard
  • Recommended engine: e-Hybrid
  • Carwow price from: £64,8870*
  • Wowscore: 8/10

A Porsche? As an alternative to a Land Rover Defender? You wouldn’t think so but price wise they’re pretty similar. The Porsche Cayenne is an excellent luxury SUV with plenty of space and a rapid range of engine options.

It’s a shame that those engine options don’t include a diesel, however the e-Hybrid plug-in unit offers 25-miles of electric range, as well as better economy than most diesel SUVs. It’s also very comfortable and quiet on long journeys.

6. Subaru Outback

  • Recommended trim: Touring
  • Recommended engine: 2.5-litre petrol
  • Carwow price from: £33,445*
  • Wowscore: 7/10

If what you want is ultimate functionality and durability, the Subaru Outback could be worth a look. It offers a spacious cabin, generous equipment and impressive off-road ability, all for around half the price of the Defender.

The interior may look a bit dull, and it’s not the most economical car in the world. However if it can tackle most terrain with minimal fuss and, being a Subaru, it’ll be reliable for years and years.

7. Suzuki Jimny

  • Recommended trim: SZ5
  • Recommended engine: 1.5-litre petrol
  • Carwow price from: £23,999* (Used)
  • Wowscore: 6/10

Few cars offer as much off-road ability for such a small price as the Suzuki Jimny. It can take on more or less anything you want to throw at it, which you wouldn’t expect given its dinky size and cutesy looks.

It’s a shame that you can’t buy one new anymore, and the popularity of this pint-sized mud-plugger means that used values have skyrocketed. It’s also fairly uncomfortable on the road and not all that practical, but you can forgive it seeing as it has so much character.

8. BMW X5

  • Recommended trim: M Sport
  • Recommended engine: 3.0-litre plug-in hybrid
  • Carwow price from: £58,984*
  • Wowscore: 9/10

The BMW X5 would be the ideal choice for anyone who wants a large SUV, but also wants to have fun on twisty roads. Few Chelsea tractors feel this engaging on a back road, and it’s also very comfortable when you want it to be as well.

You’ll want to avoid the larger alloy wheels if comfort is top of your priorities, and some of the standard equipment is quite mean. You’ll have to pay extra for lumbar support, for example. The engines are all fabulous though, as they’re powerful and efficient, and the cabin is a nice place to spend time.

9. Dacia Duster

  • Recommended trim: Comfort
  • Recommended engine: 1.5-litre diesel
  • Carwow price from: £13,891*
  • Wowscore: 6/10

Few SUVs offer great value quite like the Dacia Duster. With prices starting from as little as £14,845 (before carwow discounts) you get an awful lot of space for the money. You’ll want to step up to the mid-spec comfort model, as then you get a slick infotainment system and alloy wheels.

You can get the Duster with all-wheel-drive if you want to take it off road, and it handles itself when the going gets muddy surprisingly well. It’s also perfectly comfortable and efficient on the road.

10. Fiat Panda 4X4

  • Recommended trim: Cross
  • Recommended engine: 0.9-litre petrol
  • Carwow price from: £16,423*
  • Wowscore: 7/10

The Fiat Panda 4X4 is the cheapest way of getting into a brand new off-roader. Based on the standard Fiat Panda, it gets jacked up suspension and flared wheel arches to make it look a bit tougher, however it’s still a cute looking thing.

It’s easy to navigate around town thanks to its square shape and light controls, and it performs really well off-road as well. The boot is on the smaller side, and some alternatives are safer, but you really can’t go off-roading in a brand new car for less than this.

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*Prices correct at the time of writing