2026 Land Rover Defender gets upgraded

The 2026 Land Rover Defender has freshened up, the updated model sporting a pair of new LED headlights and darkened flush taillights, all-new infotainment and driver alert tech, off-road cruise control, and a powerful supercharged V8 to replace the old six-pot P400.

Locked in for an arrival in Australia this October, pricing for the updated Land Rover Defender range will be announced in coming weeks.

When the new model arrives, buyers of the Defender 90 and Defender 110 will no longer have the option of the P400’s 294kW/550Nm 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder petrol engine, with the unit replaced by the more powerful P425. A 5.0-litre V8, the P425 produces a potent 313kW but the same 550Nm of peak torque.

A new addition to the lineup includes the D250. It uses the same 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder mild-hybrid turbo-diesel as the D350 (257kW/770Nm) but produces 183kW and 550Nm, and is offered with both the short-wheelbase 90 and the 110 wagon.

The D350, meanwhile, is only available on the 110 and longer 130 wagons, while the P400e plug-in hybrid remains exclusive to the Defender 110.

At the top of the tree is the wild OCTA P635 variant, which sees the Defender 110 come equipped with a BMW-sourced twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 producing 467kW and 750Nm.

Externally, as well as the new lights, the updated Defender also comes with new front and rear bumpers, gloss-black Defender-branded wheel caps, and a new gloss-black strip across the grille.

The new 110 S D250 variant, meanwhile, keeps the more expensive version’s adaptive air suspension and comes with 19-inch alloy wheels. The latter can be swapped out for a set of heavy-duty 18-inch steel wheels at no extra cost.

Within, another major change is the introduction of a larger all-new 13.1-inch infotainment system (up from 11.4 inches). It sits above a repositioned gear lever that has made space for designers to add a new closed cubby that can hide items when parked.

New tech includes an optional Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control that works with the brand’s All Terrain Progress Control tech. This allows owners to set a desired comfort level or speed and then sit back and let the car take care of the acceleration and braking. All the driver has to do is steer.

Another piece of optional tech is the Driver Attention Monitor that introduces a driver-facing camera to monitor you behind the wheel. If it thinks your concentration is wavering, it provides an audio-visual alert.

Land Rover Australia has also announced that the most powerful OCTA is now available in two new hues, Borasco Grey and Sagrasso Blue, which can be combined with the firm’s ‘Chopped carbon-fibre’ exterior and interior accents.

The British 4x4 brand says it will also now offer textured finishes for the bonnet inserts and side vents, while other options include a fresh set of 22-inch seven-spoke ‘Diamond Turned’ dark grey alloy wheels.

Further options include Explorer, Adventure and Urban packs, while individual accessories have been extended to include an Expedition roof rack, cross bars and a front bash plate. A rear bash plate is also available in a dark finish.

The Defender OCTA comes with a 4500kg winch that is hidden behind a carbon cover. The Defender 130 is also available with an integrated air compressor, while the Defender 90, 110 and 130 are all offered with matte-black Defender bonnet decals.

Land Rover recorded its highest first-quarter revenue ever in the first three months of 2025 and that success seems to be replicated in Australia. In the first four months of this year, sales data indicates the British brand shifted 1277 Defenders – a respectable 53.9 per cent increase on the previous corresponding period.

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