The 2025 Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE Edition Midsize SUV

What is a Defender? The Defender is an SUV built in the Nitra, Slovakia assembly plant and sold worldwide by Land Rover. Defender is a high performance luxury SUV from the British manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, JLR, renowned for its world class off road capabilities. Originally developed as a rugged workhorse inspired by military vehicles, it has evolved into a versatile family of SUVs that balance heritage with modern luxury.

The Land Rover Defender isn’t built in one single size; it comes in 3 different variants. The Defender 90 is a small compact luxury 4×4 SUV, the versatile Defender 110 is a midsize model, and the larger Defender 130 is a full size luxury SUV, offering seating for 5, 7, or even 8 passengers, depending on the model and trim configuration you pick.

For the 2025 model year the Land Rover Defender sizes and models are:

Defender 90: A compact 2 door model designed for agility and urban adventure. It typically seats 5 passengers and is categorized as a compact luxury 4×4 SUV.

Defender 110: The most popular 4 door model, a midsize luxury 4×4, offering 2 or 3 rows, and seating for 5 up to 7 passengers.

Defender 130: The longest 4 door model featuring an extended body, and this is a full size luxury 4×4 SUV, providing the most space with standard 3 row seating for up to 8.

Defender OCTA: Introduced for the 2025 model year, this is the most powerful and high performance version ever made, featuring a 626 hp twin turbo V8 engine.

So, the SUV class size depends on which Defender model you’re looking at, ranging from a compact, to a midsize, up to a large luxury SUV, and it’s perfect for growing families who enjoy taking the path less traveled. The 3 row Defender 130 has the most seating with the largest cargo area and the highest towing capacity. The base price for the 2025 Land Rover Defender 90 is $56,900. The Defender 110 costs $60,800, and the Defender 130 has a starting price of $69,700.

To promote this 2025 midsize model, this week Land Rover sent me a Defender 110 to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this X-Dynamic SE V8 Edition is $95,000. The options on the test SUV, which are plentiful, start with: the towing pack for $1,295, the 3 zone climate control system for $1,100, the head up display for $1,000, the special paint for $950, the Windsor leather seating for $750, the Wi-Fi data plan for $360, the 20″ 5 spoke satin and dark grey alloy wheels for $200, the air quality sensor for $100, the emergency pack for $75, the premium upgrade interior pack for $1,615, the extended black exterior pack for $1,310, the premium interior protection and storage pack for $720, the black wheel protection pack for $575, the body colored spare tire cover for $400, the cabin air purification plus pack for $375, and the Handover pack for $28. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP), including the $1,625 delivery charge is: $107,478.

After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price came to $120,913. At just 87 bucks under $121 Grand, you get a highly optioned, luxury midsize SUV, that gets 14 MPG city, 18 MPG highway, and 16 MPG in combined driving, with the ability to go near anywhere in the world, on or off road, with the power, comfort, and utility of a top tier luxury SUV.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE is special for blending rugged, iconic design with modern luxury, offering serious off road control with Terrain Response 2 with an air suspension, and refined on road comfort. All powered by a smooth and efficient 5.0 liter V/8 gas engine with 493 horsepower (HP) and 450 lb-ft of torque, bolted to an 8 speed automatic transmission, driving thru an all wheel drive (AWD) traction control system with a twin-speed transfer case. Plus it has smart tech, like Pivi Pro for enhanced safety, and a durable and easy to clean interior, making it a versatile, capable and stylish everyday driver, and your weekend adventure vehicle.

These key features make the Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE stand out in the crowd:

X-Dynamic Styling: Adds unique design elements, unique finishes, like gloss black trim, and durable interior materials for a tougher, more modern look than the base models.

Powerful Powertrain: The 5.0L V/8 engine with 493 HP, blends high performance and 450 lb-ft of torque, for seamless start and stop engagements.

Superior Off Road Capability: Features Terrain Response 2, with the optional air suspension system for high ground clearance with up to 11.5 inches, and AWD with very good approach and departure angles.

Advanced Tech: Comes with the Pivi Pro infotainment system with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto, an 11.4″ digital screen standard, and a Meridian Surround Sound premium audio system with a 700W watt amplifier, 14 speakers, and a subwoofer.

Luxury & Practicality: Offers comfortable seating, with durable flooring which is great for easy cleaning, with ample storage, and modern safety tech like 3D surround cameras.

Strong & Safe: Built on a tough aluminum body with a reinforced chassis, plus safety driver aids, like emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane keeping assist.

Comfortable Ride: Adaptive dynamics with the optional air suspension provides a smooth and composed ride, even on rough roads and off road trails.

In essence, the Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE Edition is the sweet spot. It gives you the luxury and tech of the higher trims, with a focus on rugged style, and serious off road capability, making it a true luxury off roader, that’s also a fantastic daily driver.

Some of the core features and performance options on a Land Rover Defender 110 SUV.

All Terrain Capability: Equipped with Terrain Response 2 technology, the vehicle automatically adjusts settings for mud, snow, sand, or rocks, and it also features an impressive wading depth of up to 35″.

Engineering: Modern models utilize an all aluminum unibody platform, which is three times stiffer than traditional body on frame designs.

Powertrains: Options range from a 296 HP 4 cylinder engine, to a 626 HP Turbo V8. Plug in hybrid PHEV, and a mild hybrid, are also available for increased efficiency.

Luxury Interior: Despite its rugged exterior, the cabin features premium materials, and a 11.4″ center stack display, with advanced driver assistance safety features.

If you’re ready to step up to a top tier luxury SUV, now is the time to review the 4 P’s; Prestige, Power, Performance and Price. The Land Rover Defender takes these 4 benchmarks seriously, and excels at all of them. So, call, click or visit your local Land Rover dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the 2025 Defender 110 SE Edition X-Dynamic Midsize SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Defender starts at only $60,800.

Land Rover’s primary tagline is Above & Beyond, emphasizing their vehicles’ capability, innovation, and spirit of adventure to conquer any terrain, a motto deeply rooted in the brand’s history, and reflected in its logo’s design elements. While they’ve used other campaign slogans like, Go Beyond, and Embrace the Impossible, for the Defender models, the tag Above & Beyond remains the overarching Land Rover brand promise.

The key to life is to learn something new every day, and by reading my Bottom Line review, I hope you did just that, learned about something new and exciting. So, be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Drive safely, have a great day, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.

This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net