Land Rover Defender OCTA vs BMW X5 M

The Land Rover Defender OCTA starts from $304,500 before on-road costs, while the BMW X5 M opens at $247,800. That makes the BMW X5 M the more affordable entry point by $56,700.

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 $334,950 and $272,580 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs are nearly identical since both have similar efficiency.

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

The Land Rover Defender OCTA features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the BMW X5 M gets a 14.9-inch display and 12.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender OCTA stands out with Meridian audio and ambient lighting that you will not find on the BMW X5 M. The BMW X5 M counters with head-up display and Harman Kardon audio. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.

Interior trim differs: the Land Rover Defender OCTA gets leather upholstery while the BMW X5 M offers merino leather. Climate control is 3-zone in the Land Rover Defender OCTA and 4-zone in the BMW X5 M.

The Land Rover Defender OCTA uses a 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid producing 467kW and 750Nm of torque, sent through a 8-speed automatic to a AWD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 4 seconds.

The BMW X5 M responds with a Petrol making 460kW and 750Nm, paired to a auto driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the clear power advantage at 467kW vs 460kW. In the real-world sprint, the BMW X5 M is 0.1s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Land Rover Defender OCTA measures 4,813mm long on a 3,023mm wheelbase, 135mm shorter than the BMW X5 M at 4,948mm (2,972mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender OCTA generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 972L in the Land Rover Defender OCTA and 650L in the BMW X5 M, giving the Land Rover Defender OCTA a 322L advantage.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender OCTA leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 2,700kg. That 800kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.

Based on 15,000km of annual driving, fuel costs roughly $3,734/year for the Land Rover Defender OCTA and $3,563/year for the BMW X5 M. That is a $171 annual difference in favour of the BMW X5 M.

Estimated annual total: $3,734 (Land Rover Defender OCTA) vs $3,563 (BMW X5 M). The BMW X5 M saves you roughly $171 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 OCTA) vs 5 years / 999,999km (BMW X5 M). Both match on warranty length.