Land Rover Defender 90 vs Audi Q7

The Land Rover Defender 90 starts from $98,400 before on-road costs, while the Audi Q7 opens at $102,296. That makes the Land Rover Defender 90 the more affordable entry point by $3,896.

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 $108,240 and $112,526 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Land Rover Defender 90 by roughly $1,565 in fuel alone.

Both the Land Rover Defender 90 and Audi Q7 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating. Adult occupant protection scored 85% for the Land Rover Defender 90 and 92% for the Audi Q7.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Audi Q7 packs more ADAS features with 8 out of 10 key systems fitted, compared to 7 in the Land Rover Defender 90.

Both include the essentials: autonomous emergency braking, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a reversing camera. Airbag count is 6 in the Land Rover Defender 90 and 7 in the Audi Q7.

The Land Rover Defender 90 features a 13.1-inch touchscreen, while the Audi Q7 gets a 10.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender 90 stands out with Apple CarPlay and wireless charging that you will not find on the Audi Q7. The Audi Q7 counters with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, head-up display, panoramic roof, ventilated seats, power tailgate, Bang & Olufsen audio and ambient lighting. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Land Rover Defender 90 gets synthetic leather upholstery while the Audi Q7 offers leather. Climate control is 2-zone in the Land Rover Defender 90 and 3-zone in the Audi Q7.

The Land Rover Defender 90 uses a 3.0 i6 Diesel Mild Hybrid producing 183kW and 570Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 8 seconds.

The Audi Q7 responds with a 4-cylinder petrol with direct fuel injection system, turbocharging making 185kW and 370Nm, paired to a 8-speed tiptronic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 7.3 seconds.

The Audi Q7 has the clear power advantage at 185kW vs 183kW. In the real-world sprint, the Audi Q7 is 0.7s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Land Rover Defender 90 measures 4,323mm long on a 2,587mm wheelbase, 729mm shorter than the Audi Q7 at 5,052mm (2,994mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Audi Q7 generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 397L in the Land Rover Defender 90 and 740L in the Audi Q7, giving the Audi Q7 a 343L advantage. The Audi Q7 seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Audi Q7 leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 3,500kg. That 0kg 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 90 and $2,622/year for the Audi Q7. That is a $313 annual difference in favour of the Land Rover Defender 90.

Estimated annual total: $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 90) vs $2,622 (Audi Q7). The Land Rover Defender 90 saves you roughly $313 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 90) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Audi Q7). Both match on warranty length.