BMW X5 M vs Land Rover Defender 130

The BMW X5 M starts from $247,800 before on-road costs, while the Land Rover Defender 130 opens at $136,000. That makes the Land Rover Defender 130 the more affordable entry point by $111,800.

Once you factor in stamp duty, registration, CTP insurance, and dealer delivery, expect to add roughly 8-12% on top of the RRP depending on your state. That puts estimated driveaway prices in the ballpark of $272,580 and $149,600 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Land Rover Defender 130 by roughly $6,270 in fuel alone.

ANCAP safety ratings have not been published for both models yet. We will update this section when crash test results are available.

The BMW X5 M features a 14.9-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Land Rover Defender 130 gets a 11.4-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW X5 M stands out with head-up display, panoramic roof, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Harman Kardon audio that you will not find on the Land Rover Defender 130. The Land Rover Defender 130 counters with Meridian audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BMW X5 M gets merino leather upholstery while the Land Rover Defender 130 offers leather. Climate control is 4-zone in the BMW X5 M and 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 130.

The BMW X5 M uses a Petrol producing 460kW and 750Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 3.9 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 130 responds with a 3.0 i6 D350 Diesel Mild Hybrid making 257kW and 700Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.8 seconds.

The BMW X5 M has the clear power advantage at 460kW vs 257kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW X5 M is 2.9s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW X5 M measures 4,948mm long on a 2,972mm wheelbase, 151mm shorter than the Land Rover Defender 130 at 5,099mm (3,022mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 130 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 650L in the BMW X5 M and 389L in the Land Rover Defender 130, giving the BMW X5 M a 261L advantage. The Land Rover Defender 130 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 130 leads with a 3,000kg braked capacity vs 2,700kg. That 300kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $3,563/year for the BMW X5 M and $2,309/year for the Land Rover Defender 130. That is a $1,254 annual difference in favour of the Land Rover Defender 130.

Estimated annual total: $3,563 (BMW X5 M) vs $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 130). The Land Rover Defender 130 saves you roughly $1,254 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW X5 M) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 130). Both match on warranty length.