10 best Land Rover Defender alternatives

The Land Rover Defender is one of the most iconic off-roaders in the world, and it’s an ideal candidate if you’re after an SUV which can go anywhere – but there are plenty of alternatives to consider.

If you’re in the market for a family-friendly SUV which can take you up a mountain at the weekend, you’ve probably been considering a Land Rover Defender. It’s a fantastic car, with rugged good-looks and cavernous practicality on its side – as well as the ability to tackle any terrain.

That’s not to say it’s the only option though. Perhaps you’re looking to go off the beaten track on a budget; or maybe you don’t need the Defender’s extreme off-road capabilities and want an SUV which is more targeted towards the tarmac.

There are loads of cars on the market to choose from if you want an SUV which can tackle the rough stuff, and 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-Class
4. Land Rover Discovery
5. Porsche Cayenne
6. Ineos Grenadier
7. Suzuki Jimny
8. BMW X5
9. Hyundai Santa Fe
10. Used Range Rover

1. Toyota Land Cruiser

The Toyota Land Cruiser has a long-standing reputation for bulletproof reliability and unstoppable off-road ability, and the latest version is no exception. Not only is it just as good off the beaten track as the Defender, it’s also available with a reassuring 10-year warranty if you keep it serviced within Toyota’s dealer network.

It may not be the most refined SUV on the market, with quite a lot of road noise entering the cabin, but it’s effortlessly cool thanks to the boxy styling and it comes with loads of equipment as standard – although you’d hope so for £75,000.

2. Jeep Wrangler

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 fantastic off-road.

The trade-off for this is that it’s quite uncomfortable on the road, and it’s quite expensive to buy. However, standard equipment is generous across the range, and there are plenty of personalisation options to make your Wrangler unique.

3. Mercedes G-Class

The Mercedes G-Class 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 can scare supercars on the quarter mile.

4. Land Rover Discovery

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

A Porsche? As an alternative to a Land Rover Defender? You wouldn’t think so but the Cayenne is pretty close in terms of price. It’s an excellent luxury SUV with plenty of space and a range of powerful 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. Ineos Grenadier

If you’re of the opinion that the latest Land Rover Defender has lost some of the rugged simplicity of the original, the Ineos Grenadier may take your fancy. It’s heavily-inspired by the classic Defender, and as such it’s a utilitarian SUV which can take on any terrain you point it at.

Sadly the Grenadier has also inherited the classic Defender’s poor on-road manners; it’s very noisy and the steering is unnervingly vague. On the plus side, it’s actually quite good over bumps and the interior is really cool – with big, chunky buttons for everything.

7. Suzuki Jimny

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

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 need 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 optional extras are 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. Hyundai Santa Fe

The Hyundai Santa Fe is one of the best seven-seat SUVs on the market at the moment. For around £15,000 less than a Defender 110 you can have this great-looking, spacious and comfortable family hauler with loads of kit as standard.

It won’t be able to tackle green lanes like the Land Rover can, but if you just need to carry seven people without fuss then the Santa Fe is a great way to do it. The interior is really nicely built as well.

10. Used Range Rover

Maybe the Land Rover Defender just isn’t regal enough for you, well you can get behind the wheel of a used Range Rover for similar money, and it’s hard to find a car which can tackle tough terrain in this level of comfort and luxury.

Prices for a two-year-old model start from just over £30,000 at the time of writing, rising to almost £55,000 for the last examples of the previous generation. Not only does it look classy, the interior is also gorgeous and the Range Rover is supremely comfortable to drive.

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