Land Rover Defender 130 vs Polestar 3

The Land Rover Defender 130 starts from $136,000 before on-road costs, while the Polestar 3 opens at $116,700. That makes the Polestar 3 the more affordable entry point by $19,300.

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 $149,600 and $128,370 respectively.

The Polestar 3 qualifies for FBT exemption as an electric vehicle, which can dramatically reduce the effective cost for novated lease buyers. The Land Rover Defender 130, as a petrol model, does not qualify.

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

How long each takes to charge, from a household power point to ultra-rapid DC, estimated from battery size and max charge rates.

The Land Rover Defender 130 features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Polestar 3 gets a 14.5-inch display and 9-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender 130 stands out with Meridian audio that you will not find on the Polestar 3. The Polestar 3 counters with head-up display, panoramic roof, ventilated seats, power tailgate and Bowers & Wilkins audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Land Rover Defender 130 gets leather upholstery while the Polestar 3 offers synthetic leather.

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 Polestar 3 responds with a Electric Motor making 245kW and 480Nm, paired to a single-speed fixed gear driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 6.5 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 130 has the clear power advantage at 257kW vs 245kW. In the real-world sprint, the Polestar 3 is 0.3s quicker. 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 3,022mm wheelbase, 199mm longer than the Polestar 3 at 4,900mm (2,985mm 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 597L in the Polestar 3, giving the Polestar 3 a 208L 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 1,500kg. That 1,500kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Running cost data is not yet available for both models. We will update when figures are confirmed.

Warranty: 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 130) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Polestar 3). Both match on warranty length.