2 days ago
2026 Land Rover Defender Armed with New Tech and Revised Styling
By Somnath Chatterjee - News
Published: 11 June 2025 |Last Updated: 10 June 2025
Share Copy Link
Readtime: 5 min
Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here.
The best-selling Land Rover gets exterior and interior upgrades , including new front and rear lights, wheel choices and detailing.
, including new front and rear lights, wheel choices and detailing. Adaptive Off Road Cruise Control has been introduced as an option on the Defender for the first time.
has been introduced as an option on the Defender for the first time. Defender 90 and 110 body styles are now available with the 313kW P425 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 powertrain , replacing the P400.
, replacing the P400. The 26MY Defender range is due to arrive in Australia from October 2025 .
. Land Rover confirmed that pricing will be announced in June 2025.
If ever there was a vehicle that embodied the 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' idiom, it would be the Land Rover Defender. For decades, the hard-wearing road warrior has provided a platform of remarkable durability, discerning styling and innovative technology, all of which have led to monster sales figures worldwide. Just look at Australia, where sales in 2025 have already eclipsed the previous year for the same period.
However, while the formula is clearly working, Land Rover believes it won't hurt if some small tweaks are scattered across the range. Feast your eyes on the upgraded 2026 Land Rover Defender collection, which the brand believes will bring the burly off-roader up-to-date with the latest tech in today's highly competitive luxury SUV space.
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
Unveiled earlier this month, the 2026 Defender's minute styling updates are not entirely noticeable at first glance, but a closer look reveals a new headlamp design, a new set of bumpers for the front and rear, plus rear tail-lamps with a smoked effect. Eagled-eyed fans may also spot a new textured pattern for the bonnet inserts as well as side vents. Elsewhere, there are now wheel caps with the Defender logo, and you can now opt for a new set of 22-inch alloys as well as new accessories like an 'Expedition roof rack' and cross bars.
Visually, the biggest change will come in the colour palette updates, with the Defender 110 Sedona Edition bringing a new deep red colour inspired by Sedona, Arizona, while the rest of the range cops new paint options such as Silicon Silver and Carpathian Grey Satin. The more significant upgrade is on the inside, where the technology suite has been upgraded with a larger 13.1-inch infotainment touchscreen as well as optional Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control and a Driver Attention Monitor. The Signature Suite, meanwhile, adds removable side pockets with cable routing for charging devices, and an optional centre 'jump' seat.
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
Under the hood, the P400 3.0-litre turbo-petrol, which did duty in the Defender 90 and 110, has been replaced with a punchier supercharged 5.0-litre petrol V8 engine, which develops more power at 313kW as well as 500Nm of torque. This means that you can now have a Defender that will do 0-100 km/h in under 6 seconds (Defender 90).
It is not just V8s, though, as some sensible powertrain options have also been added with the D250 six-cylinder mild-hybrid 3.0-litre turbo-diesel, which comes in the short-wheelbase 90 and the 5-seater 110. For more power, the D350 turbo-diesel is available but only on the 130 and the 110, while the P400e plug-in hybrid continues to be offered only on the Defender 110.
2026 Land Rover Defender OCTA | Image: Land Rover
Of course, the most bonkers iteration of the Defender is the 110-based OCTA, which remains the flagship iteration with a thumping great twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 (BMW sourced). Changes to the OCTA include new Borasco Grey and the Sargasso Blue colours, as well as Charente Grey and Petra Copper. The exterior also now has a new Textured Graphite finish with a matte surface and peppered with a metallic flake.
'More than five years after its introduction, Defender has become an enduring success. With a bloodline that can be traced back to the first Series I of 1948, Defender continues to capture the imagination of our clients,' Mark Cameron, managing director, Defender, said.
'The range now includes everything from a Hard-Top commercial to the epic Defender OCTA. With production at full capacity to meet demand, the latest changes are part of our continuous commitment to make adventures even more satisfying. Fresh design enhancements, new colours and an expanded range of accessories follow Defender's comprehensive upgrade last year, ensuring our iconic 4×4 is better than ever.'
Pricing for the updated 2026 Defender will be revealed soon, ahead of deliveries by October. The Defender is the bestselling Land Rover, comfortably outselling its siblings. These updates might be small, but they are significant, especially the off-road cruise control, which enhances its capabilities.
2026 Land Rover Defender OCTA | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender OCTA | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender OCTA | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender OCTA | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
2026 Land Rover Defender | Image: Land Rover
