Land Rover Defender 130 vs Polestar 4

Price and cost per week

Safety Rundown

ANCAP's published record does not give the Land Rover Defender 130 a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.

Recalls on our record

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.

Feature Showdown

The Land Rover Defender 130 features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Polestar 4 gets a 15.4-inch display and 10.2-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender 130 stands out with Meridian audio — features our data doesn't list for the Polestar 4. The Polestar 4 counters with 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 4 offers synthetic leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender 130 and 2-zone in the Polestar 4.

Drivetrain

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 4 responds with a Electric Motor making 200kW and 343Nm, paired to a single-speed fixed gear driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.1 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 130 has the clear power advantage at 257kW vs 200kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Land Rover Defender 130 is 0.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

Space & Comfort

The Land Rover Defender 130 measures 5,099mm long on a 3,022mm wheelbase, 259mm longer than the Polestar 4 at 4,840mm (2,999mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender 130 generally means more rear legroom.

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.

Neither U-turns in one sweep on a 7 m local street (both need a three-point turn); the Polestar 4's turning circle is 1.2 m tighter, 11.6 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, fuel for the Land Rover Defender 130 costs about $2,309 a year (8.1 L/100km) and electricity for the Polestar 4 about $806 a year (16.8 kWh/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.

Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Land Rover Defender 130) and 5 years / Unlimited (Polestar 4). Capped-price servicing: 5 years (Land Rover Defender 130), no data (Polestar 4).

Where each one leads

The Land Rover Defender 130: more power (257kW against 200kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,000kg against 1,500kg).

The Polestar 4: the lower starting price ($78,500 against $136,000).

The Verdict

Polestar 4 scores higher, 75 vs 64

The Polestar 4 scores 75 to the Land Rover Defender 130's 64 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: safety (Polestar 4 ahead by 27 points), value (Polestar 4 ahead by 25 points), performance (Land Rover Defender 130 ahead by 15 points).

Common questions