Land Rover Defender 130 vs Lexus GX

The Land Rover Defender 130 starts from $114,500 before on-road costs, while the Lexus GX opens at $119,950. That makes the Land Rover Defender 130 the more affordable entry point by $5,450.

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 $125,950 and $131,945 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Land Rover Defender 130 by roughly $2,705 in fuel alone.

Both the Land Rover Defender 130 and Lexus GX hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Land Rover Defender 130 packs more ADAS features with 7 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 4 in the Lexus GX.

Both include the essentials: lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera.

Both come with modern infotainment systems. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

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

The Land Rover Defender 130 uses a 3.0 i6 D350 Diesel Mild Hybrid producing 257kW and 700Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.8 seconds.

The Lexus GX responds with a Petrol making 262kW and 650Nm, paired to a 10-speed auto driving the rear wheels.

The Lexus GX has the clear power advantage at 262kW vs 257kW. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Land Rover Defender 130 measures 5,099mm long on a 3,587mm wheelbase, 144mm longer than the Lexus GX at 4,955mm (2,850mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 130 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 389L in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 390L in the Lexus GX, giving the Lexus GX a 1L advantage.

For towing, the Lexus GX leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 3,000kg. That 500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $2,309/year for the Land Rover Defender 130 and $2,850/year for the Lexus GX. That is a $541 annual difference in favour of the Land Rover Defender 130.

Estimated annual total: $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 130) vs $2,850 (Lexus GX). The Land Rover Defender 130 saves you roughly $541 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

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