Land Rover Defender vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was a blend of practicality and subtle luxury. Its design echoed the popular RAV4, scaled up to accommodate up to eight passengers and ample cargo space. The exterior, painted in Storm Cloud, was a conservative yet appealing choice, while the interior in Platinum trim offered a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery. Despite some hard plastic surfaces, the cabin was functional, with logically arranged controls and a straightforward climate system. However, the infotainment interface left room for improvement, with a small volume knob and no tuning knob.

In contrast, the 2026 Land Rover Defender maintained its rugged heritage with a modern twist. Its boxy shape and minimalist lighting gave it a fresh look, even six years into its design cycle. The Defender offered various body styles, including the high-performance Octa model with distinctive fender flares and optional carbon fibre trim. Inside, the Defender combined rugged style with upscale quality, featuring a concave dashboard and exposed hardware. While not as luxurious as a Range Rover, it provided a practical and distinctive cabin environment, with Windsor leather or textile upholstery and a massive glass roof.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance, boasting a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine paired with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, producing 362 horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate swiftly, with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoiding the droning typical of CVTs. While the Hybrid Max sacrificed some fuel efficiency, it offered a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. During testing, it achieved fuel economy in the mid-9s L/100 km range. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though handling was secure only up to a modest point.

The 2026 Land Rover Defender offered multiple powertrain options, with the turbocharged 3.0-litre inline-six being the most common, producing 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, provided robust performance and a 0 to 100 km/h time of just over six seconds. The high-performance Defender Octa featured a twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 with 626 horsepower, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds. The Defender excelled off-road, with advanced suspension systems and Terrain Response 2 technology. Despite its ruggedness, the Octa offered a surprisingly refined ride on regular roads.

The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered spacious seating for up to eight passengers, with more than 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The interior featured comfortable seats with heating and ventilation in the front and second rows. However, the long rear doors and sharp angles posed challenges for families with small children. The second-row captain’s chairs allowed easy access to the third row, which provided reasonable comfort for adults and tall teens. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 2,761 litres with the second row folded.

The Land Rover Defender accommodated different seating configurations, with the Defender 130 offering up to eight seats. The Defender 110 provided ample cargo space, with 963 litres behind the second row and 2,231 litres behind the first row in two-row models. The Defender 130, with its extended length, offered 433 litres of cargo space with all seats in use. While the rear seats lacked some luxury amenities, the front featured ample storage and analog controls. The Defender also boasted a towing capacity of 3,720 kilograms, rivaling full-size SUVs.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was easy to use, though it lacked the ability to display multiple main-menu screens simultaneously. The Platinum trim included a colour head-up display, a camera-based digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system. The digital voice assistant responded accurately to commands, enhancing the overall user experience.

The 2026 Land Rover Defender received a larger 13.1-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The three-pane main menu was stylish and user-friendly, though it required deliberate inputs. The digital instrument cluster impressed with its graphics and layout. The Defender offered multiple Meridian audio systems, with the Octa featuring a 14-speaker, 700-watt system. The "Body and Soul" front seats added a unique touch by vibrating in time with the music. The array of cameras, including a low-angle front view, proved useful for off-roading and tight parking situations.

The Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane keep assist and adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was standard, though it could be irritating in certain situations. The Grand Highlander earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to headlight performance and frontal-impact protection.

The Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and blind spot monitoring. A driver attention monitor was new for 2026. However, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.