2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile was reminiscent of traditional Land Rover models, yet it incorporated angular headlights that aligned with the brand's contemporary aesthetic. Inside, the Defender distinguished itself from other Land Rover vehicles with a more rugged and adventure-ready feel, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with the added luxury of soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims such as S, X-Dynamic SE, X, V8, and Outbound.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop, with its black-on-black colour scheme, was less visually appealing in a tropical climate. However, once behind the wheel, the colour became irrelevant, especially with the windows down and roof panels removed. The Wrangler was available in several trims, including Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon X, with the Rubicon 392 discontinued in Canada after 2024. The Wrangler's design was rooted in its military heritage, offering a rugged and capable appearance that appealed to those seeking adventure, despite its lack of sophistication compared to modern vehicles.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Defender also offered two supercharged 5.0-litre V8 options, the P500 and P525, with the latter producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 3,500 kilograms, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 2,500 kilograms. The most powerful V8 accelerated the SUV from zero to 96 km/h in 5.1 seconds, showcasing its impressive performance capabilities.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a standard 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission, or an optional turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with a rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Our test vehicle, equipped with the four-cylinder engine, achieved an average fuel economy of 12.3 L/100 km over 300 kilometres. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it capable off-road, though its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, with a disconnected steering feel, but the Wrangler's off-road prowess was undeniable.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a luxurious yet functional interior, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and ample cargo compartments. Seating capacity varied from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration. The Defender 110 had an optional third row, while the Defender 130 offered three seats in the third row, though space was limited. Cargo capacity also varied, with the Defender 130 providing up to 2,155 litres with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 962 litres behind the second row in the two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 provided 441 litres behind the second row.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. The front seats were comfortable, with cloth upholstery and optional heated features. The Wrangler accommodated five passengers, though four were more comfortable. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. Cargo space was reasonable, with the four-door model offering 897 litres, expandable to 2,050 litres with the rear seats folded. Accessing the cargo area was cumbersome due to the tailgate and rear window design.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, was simple and utilitarian. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup provided a blend of refinement and utility, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler boasted the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered adventure guides and GPS trail logs for off-road navigation. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, remote engine start, and rear parking sensors.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with a comprehensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were overly sensitive. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced standard side curtain airbags for front and rear seats, a significant safety upgrade. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was limited to the Sahara trim. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were also available. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded Good ratings for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact tests, but a Marginal rating for the small overlap frontal-impact test.