BMW iX1 vs Land Rover Defender OCTA
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
BMW iX1 scores higher, 70 vs 55
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 25 Jun 2026, price 6 Sep 2026
BMW iX1
21 of 27 standard · 2 optional · 4 no dataFrom
$77,900
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric
- Power
- 230kW
- Energy use
- 20.2 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2022
- Boot (seats up)
- 490L
Top CarSorted Score, 70 vs 55
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Land Rover Defender OCTA
24 of 27 standard · no option data · 3 no dataFrom
$304,500
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid
- Power
- 467kW
- Economy
- 13.1 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- No data
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
$77,900RRP
- with the Land Rover Defender OCTA's standard kit: at least $77,900 (2 options priced only inside packages; 1 with no data, not charged)
2 added options
- Premium Audio: priced only inside the Enhancement (Z1T)
- Panoramic Roof: priced only inside the Enhancement (Z1T)
$304,500RRP
- with the BMW iX1's standard kit: $304,500 (nothing to add)
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
BMW iX1 xDrive30
$77,900
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 6 Sept 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $337 a week in repayments ($77,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
Land Rover Defender OCTA OCTA
$304,500
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $1,385 a week in repayments ($304,500 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
The BMW iX1 starts $226,600 lower on RRP.
The BMW iX1 currently qualifies for the electric-vehicle FBT exemption, which applies to novated leases. The Land Rover Defender OCTA does not: only battery-electric vehicles qualify.
Matching the Land Rover Defender OCTA's standard equipment means adding extra-cost options to the BMW iX1, and 2 are priced only inside packages whose price the manufacturer doesn't publish, so the true gap is larger than the sticker difference suggests.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$337/wk(≈$1,461/mo)
Estimate on the BMW iX1 at $77,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW iX1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Land Rover Defender OCTA a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 9 of 10 key systems on the BMW iX1 and 7 on the Land Rover Defender OCTA.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
BMW iX1
- REC-006090 · published 2 Oct 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, a component of the brake booster system may have been incorrectly welded and could break.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2024
- REC-005906 · published 5 Mar 2024Due to a manufacturing defect, signal interference may occur within the electronics of the brake system.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
- REC-005746 · published 8 Aug 2023Due to a manufacturing defect, the front right drive shaft may become loose and detach from the eDrive.Year range on the notice: 2022 - 2023
- 1 more on the model page.
Land Rover Defender OCTA
- REC-006645 · published 2 Jul 2026Driver airbag clock spring connector fretting corrosionYear range on the notice: 2019 - 2026
- REC-006642 · published 2 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the connection to the driver’s airbag clock spring may corrode over time and lead to an increased resistance in the airbag circuit.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2026
- REC-006638 · published 2 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the front-end auxiliary drive belt idler pulley may over rotate and cause damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor.Year range on the notice: 2024 - 2026
- 1 more on the model page.
A recall covers the builds its notice lists, not every car of a model. Check your VIN at vehiclerecalls.gov.au.
Charging times
How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to a DC fast charger, estimated from battery size and the car's own maximum charge rates.
How long to charge
64.8kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 130kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 130kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The BMW iX1 features a 10.7-inch touchscreen paired with a 10.3-inch digital dash, while the Land Rover Defender OCTA gets a 11.4-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The BMW iX1 stands out with Harman Kardon audio — features our data doesn't list for the Land Rover Defender OCTA. The Land Rover Defender OCTA counters with panoramic roof, ventilated seats, Meridian audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Interior trim differs: the BMW iX1 gets sensatec synthetic leather upholstery while the Land Rover Defender OCTA offers leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the BMW iX1 and 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender OCTA.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
The BMW iX1 uses a Electric producing 230kW and 494Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.1 seconds.
The Land Rover Defender OCTA responds with a 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid making 467kW and 750Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 4 seconds.
The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the clear power advantage at 467kW vs 230kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Land Rover Defender OCTA is 2.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The BMW iX1 measures 4,500mm long on a 2,692mm wheelbase, 313mm shorter than the Land Rover Defender OCTA at 4,813mm (3,023mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender OCTA generally means more rear legroom.
For towing, the Land Rover Defender OCTA leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 1,200kg. That 2,300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the BMW iX1's turning circle is 0.9 m tighter, 11.9 m against 12.8 m kerb to kerb. The street estimate is indicative, worked from the published turning circles.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, electricity for the BMW iX1 costs about $970 a year (20.2 kWh/100km) and fuel for the Land Rover Defender OCTA about $3,734 a year (13.1 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (BMW iX1) and 5 years / Unlimited (Land Rover Defender OCTA).
Where each one leads
The BMW iX1: the lower starting price ($77,900 against $304,500).
The Land Rover Defender OCTA: more power (467kW against 230kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,200kg).
The Verdict
BMW iX1 scores higher, 70 vs 55
The BMW iX1 scores 70 to the Land Rover Defender OCTA's 55 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: value (BMW iX1 ahead by 39 points), performance (Land Rover Defender OCTA ahead by 27 points).
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$337/wk(≈$1,461/mo)
Estimate on the BMW iX1 at $77,900 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Electric, with an RRP under the $91,661 fuel-efficient LCT threshold (2026-27): under the ATO's electric cars exemption a novated lease of an eligible electric car attracts no FBT if luxury car tax was never payable on it. The benefit is still reportable.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the BMW iX1Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, BMW iX1 and Land Rover Defender OCTA?
The BMW iX1 is the cheapest at $77,900 before on-road costs. That undercuts the Land Rover Defender OCTA by $226,600.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
BMW iX1 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2022). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Land Rover Defender OCTA, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which can tow the most?
The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which is the most powerful?
The Land Rover Defender OCTA makes the most power at 467kW. The Land Rover Defender OCTA is quickest to 100km/h in 4s.
Track the BMW iX1 & Land Rover Defender OCTA
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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