Prices hikes for MY21 Land Rover Defender

Just a month after the Australian launch of the all-new Land Rover Defender, the British 4x4 specialist has announced an upgraded 2021 model year line-up ahead of its arrival here in February next year.

The big news about the MY21 range is the long-awaited addition of the short-wheelbase Defender 90 two-door and two new engines: an entry-level 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol and a new 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel.

The Land Rover Defender’s brand-new 3.0-litre straight-six diesel will replace the smaller four-cylinder oilers when the MY21 models arrive next year.

But in bad news for those who were hoping for a sub-$60,000 Land Rover Defender 90, the born-again ‘shorty’ will be priced from closer to $75,000 once on-road costs are factored in.

The new Land Rover Defender 90 is priced from $71,500 plus ORCs, making it even more expensive than the cheapest version of the four-door MY20 Defender 110, which currently costs $69,626 plus ORCs.

However, when the revised model range arrives in early 2021, the Defender 110’s starting price will rise to $74,500 plus ORCs when paired with the new entry-level four-pot petrol engine.

The most expensive MY21 Defender 90 X D300 variant will cost $132,590 and the Defender 110 X D300 will be a $135,590 proposition.

Both flagship vehicles are paired with the most powerful version of its new 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder ‘Ingenium’ turbo-diesel engine, offering a lusty 220kW/650Nm in D300 tune.

The same six-pot diesel is available in more cost-effective but detuned D200 (147kW/500Nm) and D240 (183kW/570Nm) forms.

Meantime, the P300 and P400 petrol engines comprise a 221kW/400Nm 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo and 294kW/550Nm 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo engines respectively, the latter adding Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) tech.

There is also a new plug-in hybrid powertrain coming for the new Defender. Announced overnight but not yet confirmed for Australia, Land Rover’s new P400e powerplant combines an electric motor, lithium battery and a 2.0-litre petrol engine to generate a healthy 300kW/650Nm – and the potential for silent off-roading.

All models are hooked up to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The significant price rises coming next year will be partially offset by extra safety equipment across the range, including adaptive cruise control, blind spot assist, rear collision, traffic and clear exit monitors as standard.

This is in addition to standard 2020 Land Rover Defender safety features including autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive speed limiter, wade sensing, 360-degree parking cameras, traffic sign recognition and a driver condition monitor.

Equipment levels for the three-door Defender 90 are yet to be confirmed but given the pricing it’s expected to mirror the five-door models, which means a 10.0-inch central touch-screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, dual-zone climate control and power-adjustable and heated front seats.

The Land Rover Defender 110 comes with a seven-seat option while the Defender 90 can be a six-seat vehicle with the front-row ‘jump seat’ installed.

How much does the 2021 Land Rover Defender cost?
Defender 90 P300 – $71,500
Defender 90 S P300 – $80,390
Defender 90 SE P400 – $95,290
Defender 90 HSE P400 – $105,190
Defender 90 First Edition P400 – $106,190
Defender 90 X P400 – $134,690
Defender 90 D200 – $78,590
Defender 90 S D250 – $87,490
Defender 90 SE D300 – $89,390
Defender 90 First Edition D250 – $104,990
Defender 90 X D300 – $132,590
Defender 110 P300 – $74,500
Defender 110 S P300 – $83,390
Defender 110 S P400 – $91,790
Defender 110 SE P400 – $98,290
Defender 110 HSE P400 – $108,190
Defender 110 X P400 – $137,690
Defender 110 D250 – $82,590
Defender 110 S D250 – $90,490
Defender 110 SE D300 – $92,390
Defender 110 HSE D300 – $101,690
Defender 110 X D300 – $135,590
* All prices exlude on-road costs