BMW Z4 vs Land Rover Defender 90

The BMW Z4 starts from $99,200 before on-road costs, while the Land Rover Defender 90 opens at $98,400. That makes the Land Rover Defender 90 the more affordable entry point by $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 $109,120 and $108,240 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the BMW Z4 by roughly $1,995 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 Z4 features a 10.3-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Land Rover Defender 90 gets a 11.4-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The BMW Z4 stands out with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto that you will not find on the Land Rover Defender 90. The Land Rover Defender 90 counters with Apple CarPlay, wireless charging and heated front seats. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the BMW Z4 gets vernasca leather upholstery while the Land Rover Defender 90 offers leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the BMW Z4 and 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 90.

The BMW Z4 uses a Petrol producing 145kW and 320Nm of torque, sent through a auto to a RWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.6 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 90 responds with a 3.0 i6 Diesel Mild Hybrid making 183kW and 570Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 90 has the clear power advantage at 183kW vs 145kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW Z4 is 1.4s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The BMW Z4 measures 4,324mm long on a 2,470mm wheelbase, 1mm longer than the Land Rover Defender 90 at 4,323mm (2,587mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 90 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 281L in the BMW Z4 and 397L in the Land Rover Defender 90, giving the Land Rover Defender 90 a 116L advantage. The Land Rover Defender 90 seats 5 vs 2.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $1,853/year for the BMW Z4 and $2,252/year for the Land Rover Defender 90. That is a $399 annual difference in favour of the BMW Z4.

Estimated annual total: $1,853 (BMW Z4) vs $2,252 (Land Rover Defender 90). The BMW Z4 saves you roughly $399 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (BMW Z4) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 90). Both match on warranty length.