Land Rover Defender vs BMW X5

As the rest of the lineup has trended toward luxury, the Land Rover Defender has stayed true to the brand’s roots of tough off-roaders ideal for the military and farmers alike. That’s mainly because Land Rover put off updates for decades. But a redesigned Defender that’s more passenger car than farm implement arrived for 2020, bringing the nameplate back to North America. Changes for 2026 include subtle styling updates, a larger touchscreen, and new colour and accessory options.

Verdict: The Defender offers an unmatched combination of off-road capability and everyday civility.

In Canada, four versions of this midsize luxury SUV are available for 2026, all satisfying in one way or another. The xDrive40i model costs the least but can be optioned with almost everything buyers could want. The xDrive50e is a plug-in hybrid with 64 kilometres of electric-only range. The M60i and X5 M are the performance models and offer a handful of desirable exclusive options, especially for audiophiles with deep pockets.

Verdict: Prices rise quickly with upgrades, but few luxury SUVs blend style, quality, comfort, tech, and performance like the 2026 X5.