Land Rover Defender is a rugged SUV with an unmistakable road presence and admirable off-roading capabilities. Lexus NX is a compact crossover with luxurious interiors and premium features. Therefore, both these cars serve completely different types of customers. Also, both these cars fall in different price categories with Defender belonging to the upper level price segment. More details regarding the comparison of Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX have been provided in the below sections.
Table of Contents
Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX: Dimensions
Land Rover Defender is not only more rugged but it is also bigger than Lexus NX. Therefore, you can expect more interior space along with more legroom in the Defender. The detailed comparison of Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX is given in the below table.
| Dimensions | Land Rover Defender | Lexus NX |
| Length | 5018 mm | 4660 mm |
| Width | 2105 mm | 1865 mm |
| Height | 1967 mm | 1670 mm |
| Wheelbase | 3022 mm | 2690 mm |
| Bootspace | 520 litres | 520 litres |
| Ground Clearance | 218 mm | 195 mm |
Land Rover Defender is longer, wider, and taller car than Lexus NX. The wheelbase of Defender is also bigger meaning that the rear passengers can expect more legroom and overall cabin space. However, the bootspace of both these cars are identical. With a higher ground clearance of 218 mm, Land Rover Defender proves to be the better choice for those who indulge in off-roading regularly.
Summary: Land Rover Defender is considerably bigger than Lexus NX in all the departments. However, the cargo space offered by both the cars is identical when all the seats are up.
Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX: Engine & Transmission
The comparison of Land Rover Defender and Lexus NX in terms of engine specifications and transmission options is provided below:
| Basis of Comparison | Land Rover Defender | Mercedes Benz GLC |
| Engine Options | 2.0-litre Turbo Petrol3.0-litre Turbo Diesel5.0-litre Supercharged V84.4-litre Twin-Turbo V8 | 2.5-litre Petrol (4-cylinder) engine with hybrid plugin |
| Transmission | 8-Speed Torque Converter | e-CVT Automatic |
| Power | Ranges from 296 bhp to 626 bhp depending upon the variant | Up to 243 bhp |
| Torque | Ranges from 400 Nm to 750 Nm | Engine produces a torque up to 239 Nm whereas the electric motor generates a torque of up to 270 Nm |
| Mileage/Range | Up to 14 kmpl depending upon engine. Fuel-type, and variant | Up to 20 kmpl |
Land Rover Defender comes with multiple engine options whereas the Lexus NX is available with only one engine option. The power and torque-related figures of Land Rover Defender is also higher than Lexus NX that enables the Defender to provide a thrilling driving-experience. However, Lexux NX owing to its petrol-hybrid engine delivers a much better mileage than Land Rover Defender.
Summary: Defender owns this space with better power figures and multiple engine options but Lexus NX delivers better fuel-efficiency than it.
Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX: Features & Comfort
Now, let’s compare these cars on the basis of their features and comfort:
| Features | Land Rover Defender | Lexus NX |
| Infotainment | 131-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen infotainment system | 14-inch touchscreen infotainment system |
| Music | Meridian Surround Sound System | Burmester surround audio system |
| Climate Control | 3-zone automatic climate control (dual zone in some variants) | Dual Zone ACC with an advanced climate concierge system and built-in nano eX air purifier |
| Ventilated Seats | Front seats are equipped with both heating and cooling function | In higher trims, front seats are equipped with heating and cooling function |
| Adjustable Steering | Power-adjustable tilt and telescopic steering adjustment | Power-adjustable tilt and telescopic steering adjustment with memory settings |
| Drive Modes | Multiple drive modes including Sand, Mud, Rock Crawl, and Snow | Standard modes like Eco, Normal, and Sport are offered in most variants. The variants with Adaptive Variable Suspension come with Sport S and Sport+ modes for sharper handling |
| Instrument Cluster | 12.3-inch interactive driver’s display | Digital instrument cluster with customisable options and a heads-up display |
| Sunroof | Panoramic sunroof | Panoramic sunroof is offered only on higher trims |
| Adjustable Seats (Manual or Electric) | Electrically-adjustable front seats with memory function for the driver’s seat | Electrically-adjustable front seats with memory function |
| Rear AC Vents | Dedicated AC vents for both second and third-row passengers | Dedicated AC vents are provided for the rear passengers |
| 60:40 Rear Split Seats | 60:40 rear split seats | Available (60:40 split rear seats) |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control is available as an upgrade | More advanced Dynamic Radar Cruise Control |
From the above table, it is clear that both Land Rover Defender and Lexus NX are comparable in terms of features. However, Lexus NX proves to be better in terms of comfort and features, especially if we consider its higher trims.
Summary: Land Rover Defender is better overall when we compare its features across the variants with Lexus NX. However, the higher trims of Lexus NX come with more advanced comfort and tech-related features.
Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX: Safety Features
Let’s compare Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX on the basis of their safety features and specifications now:
| Safety Features | Land Rover Defender | Lexus NX |
| GNCAP Safety Rating | 5-star rating from Euro NCAP (ENCAP) | 5-star rating from Euro NCAP (ENCAP) and Australian NCAP (ANCAP) |
| Airbags | 6 airbags | 8 airbags is offered as a standard across the variants |
| ABS with EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| ESC | ✓ | ✓ |
| Traction Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rain-Sensing Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Hold Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Descent Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Sensors | Front and rear parking sensors | ✓ |
| Rear Parking Camera | ✓ (can be upgraded to a 3D Surround Camera) | 360-degree parking camera or reverse parking camera depending upon the variant |
| ISOFIX Child Seat Anchor Points | ✓ | ✓ |
| ADAS | Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keep Assist, Autonomous Emergency Braking, and other advanced safety features are included in the ADAS package of Land Rover Defender | Lane Tracing Assist, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System and other features are provided in its Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 |
Both Land Rover Defender and Lexus NX are comparable in terms of safety features. Both are really safe cars and come with advanced safety features. However, the safety specifications included in the Lexus NX variants seem to be slightly more impressive and it also offers more airbags than Land Rover Defender.
Summary: Both are safe cars but Lexus NX is slightly more advanced than Land Rover Defender when it comes to safety features.
Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX: Pricing Details
Pricing is a crucial factor while comparing two cars. Therefore, let’s see the detailed pricing comparison of Land Rover Defender and Lexus NX through the below table:
| Land Rover Defender | Ex-Showroom Price | Lexus NX | Ex-Showroom Price |
| Base Variants: 2.0 Petrol 110 SE, 2.0 Petrol 90 HSE, and 3.0 Diesel 90 HSE | Rs. 1.03 crore to Rs. 1.26 crore | Base Variant: NX 350h Exquisite | Rs. 67.59 lakhs |
| Mid Variants: 3.0 Diesel 110 X-Dynamic HSE, 3.0 Diesel 130 X-Dynamic HSE, and 3.0 Petrol 130 X | Rs. 1.29 crore to Rs. 1.46 crore | Mid Variants: NX 350h Overtrail and NX 350h Luxury | Rs. 71.43 lakhs to Rs. 72.33 lakhs |
| Top Variants: 5.0 V8 Petrol 110, and 4.4 V8 Petrol OCTA Edition One | Rs. 1.50 crore to Rs. 2.79 crore | Top Variant: NX 350h F SPORT | Rs. 74.50 lakhs |
From the above table it is clearly evident that the Land Rover Defender is more expensive as compared to the Lexus NX. The price gap increases as we compare the higher variants of these cars.
Summary: Lexus NX is cheaper than Land Rover Defender and offers better value-for-money in terms of safety, features, and overall comfort.
Summary
If we minutely inspect the above sections, it is clear that the Land Rover Defender is bigger, rugged, and more suited for those who are into ultra-luxury vehicles. Though Lexus NX is a smaller car, it does not disappoint when it comes to safety, comfort, and features. Also, if we compare the prices of Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX, the variants of Lexus NX provide more value-for-money than the variants of Defender. Yet, if we consider things such as the engine options, better road presence, and top-notch driving experience, Defender is the ultimate choice for car enthusiasts. Therefore, the better car choice boils down to your specific requirements, budget, and preferences.
FAQs About Land Rover Defender vs Lexus NX
Q. Which car provides a better mileage: Land Rover Defender or Lexus NX?
Due to the hybrid self-charging system in Lexus NX, it proves to be a better car than the Land Rover Defender in terms of mileage.
Q. Which car comes with a more premium interior design: Land Rover Defender or Lexus NX?
If you want a car with advanced tech-related features and classy-looking interiors, Lexus NX wins the race. However, if you want a rugged and more adventurous kind of interior styling and features, you must prefer the Land Rover Defender.
Q. Should I prefer Land Rover Defender or Lexus NX for off-roading?
Land Rover Defender is the ultimate choice for off-roading enthusiasts due to its rugged build-quality, adventurous driving modes, higher ground clearance, and 4×4 drivetrain options. Lexus is more suited for those who need a luxurious ride for city driving.
Q. Which car is the better in terms of overall safety features: Land Rover Defender or Lexus NX?
Both the cars are comparable in terms of overall safety and structural integrity. Yet, Lexus NX scores over the Land Rover Defender when we look at its advanced safety features and integrations.
Q. Land Rover Defender or Lexus NX: Which car should I choose for long trips?
If we consider fuel-efficiency, Lexus NX proves to be a better option for long trips. However, if your trip comprises uneven terrains and tough road conditions, it is better to choose Defender as your travel companion.
