Land Rover Defender OCTA vs MG MGS5
A detailed look at how two of Australia's most popular SUVs compare on price, running costs, safety, and everyday livability.
MG MGS5 scores higher, 72 vs 55
Prices are RRP before on-road costs unless stated otherwise. Always confirm with the manufacturer or dealer before purchasing.
Data checked: specs 11 Jul 2026, price 23 Jul 2026
Land Rover Defender OCTA
24 of 27 standard · no option data · 3 no dataFrom
$304,500
RRP, before on-road costs
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Petrol
- Engine
- 4.4L V8 Twin-Turbo Petrol Mild Hybrid
- Power
- 467kW
- Economy
- 13.1 L/100km
- Safety
- Not rated by ANCAP
- Boot (seats up)
- No data
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
MG MGS5
23 of 27 standard · no option data · 4 no dataPrice TBC
The manufacturer has not published an Australian price for this model yet.
- Body
- SUV
- Fuel type
- Electric
- Engine
- Electric Motor
- Power
- 125kW
- Energy use
- 16.9 kWh/100km
- Safety
- ANCAP ★5 · 2025
- Boot (seats up)
- 453L
Top CarSorted Score, 72 vs 55
Driva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
MG MGS5: we're still completing price, turning circle, electric range and energy consumption.
A blank cell below means we don't have that figure, not that the car scores badly on it. We leave them empty rather than estimate, so any row where one car is blank isn't a like-for-like comparison yet.
$304,500RRP
- no option data for this car
No price
- no option data for this car
Printed option prices only. A pack is counted once and makes the figure a floor when it carries no printed price. Nothing is inferred from the other car.
Price and cost per week
Land Rover Defender OCTA OCTA
$304,500
RRP, before on-road costs. Checked 24 June 2026
No published drive-away price on our record.
About $1,385 a week in repayments ($304,500 RRP, before on-road costs; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
MG MGS5 Essence 49
No price published
The manufacturer has not published an Australian price.
$42,990 drive-away in VIC, as published by MG Australia
About $176 a week in repayments ($42,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a.). An estimate, not a loan offer.
On-road costs (stamp duty, registration, CTP and dealer delivery) depend on your state and the dealer; ask for a written drive-away price before you sign.
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Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$176/wk(≈$761/mo)
Estimate on the MG MGS5 at $42,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Land Rover Defender OCTADriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Safety Rundown
ANCAP's published record does not give the Land Rover Defender OCTA a rating. With no pair of ratings to compare, the active-safety features in the spec table above are the fairer comparison.
Driver assistance, as the manufacturer lists it
Driver assistance, system by system. We can confirm 7 of 10 key systems on the Land Rover Defender OCTA and 6 on the MG MGS5.
Swipe across. Tap a feature to see what it does and each car's source.
StandardOptional: printed price, +pack or NCO (no-cost)No, not offeredNo dataCounts beside each car use the same colours; ? is no option data.
From each manufacturer's Australian equipment list. No data means that car's document does not say. The drawings are our own illustrations of how each kind of system works.
Recalls on our record
Land Rover Defender OCTA
- REC-006645 · published 2 Jul 2026Driver airbag clock spring connector fretting corrosionYear range on the notice: 2019 - 2026
- REC-006642 · published 2 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the connection to the driver’s airbag clock spring may corrode over time and lead to an increased resistance in the airbag circuit.Year range on the notice: 2019 - 2026
- REC-006638 · published 2 Jul 2026Due to a manufacturing defect, the front-end auxiliary drive belt idler pulley may over rotate and cause damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor.Year range on the notice: 2024 - 2026
- 1 more on the model page.
MG MGS5
None open 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.
How long to charge
62kWh usablePublic DC
50kW charger · 0–80%
Ultra-rapid DC
up to 120kW · 0–80%
Estimates from usable battery size and the car's max charge rates (11kW AC, 120kW DC). Real times vary with temperature, starting charge, charger output and the charging curve.
Feature Showdown
The Land Rover Defender OCTA features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the MG MGS5 gets a 12.8-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.
The Land Rover Defender OCTA stands out with ventilated seats, Meridian audio and ambient lighting — features our data doesn't list for the MG MGS5. Which feature set matters more depends on your daily routine and priorities.
Equipment few rivals have, on either carShowHide
Drivetrain
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 MG MGS5 responds with a Electric Motor making 125kW and 250Nm, paired to a automatic driving the rear wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8.2 seconds.
The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the clear power advantage at 467kW vs 125kW. In the 0-100 sprint (manufacturer-claimed), the Land Rover Defender OCTA is 4.2s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.
Space & Comfort
The Land Rover Defender OCTA measures 4,813mm long on a 3,023mm wheelbase, 337mm longer than the MG MGS5 at 4,476mm (2,730mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Land Rover Defender OCTA generally means more rear legroom.
For towing, the Land Rover Defender OCTA leads with a 3,500kg braked capacity vs 750kg. That 2,750kg difference matters if you regularly hitch up.
The Land Rover Defender OCTA turns in a 12.8 m circle, kerb to kerb; the MG MGS5's turning circle is not on our record.
Cost to own
At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Land Rover Defender OCTA costs about $3,734 a year (13.1 L/100km) and electricity for the MG MGS5 about $811 a year (16.9 kWh/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh.
Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Land Rover Defender OCTA) and 10 years / 250k km (MG MGS5).
Where each one leads
The Land Rover Defender OCTA: more power (467kW against 125kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 750kg).
The MG MGS5: the longer warranty (10 years against 5).
The Verdict
MG MGS5 scores higher, 72 vs 55
The MG MGS5 scores 72 to the Land Rover Defender OCTA's 55 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 1 of the 4 spec rows that separate them. The biggest gaps: performance (Land Rover Defender OCTA ahead by 53 points), value (MG MGS5 ahead by 39 points). Warranty: 5 years on the Land Rover Defender OCTA, 10 on the MG MGS5.
Ways to buy
For the 2 cars on this page.
Finance
From ≈$176/wk(≈$761/mo)
Estimate on the MG MGS5 at $42,990 drive-away; assumes $5,000 deposit, 5 yrs at 7.5% p.a. Not a quote or an offer of credit.
Compare real car-loan ratesDriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link.
Novated lease
Paid from pre-tax salary with the running costs inside the lease. What it comes to depends on your salary and the term.
Novated lease quoteWork out a lease on the Land Rover Defender OCTADriva is an independent finance provider, not part of CarSorted. We aren't paid for this link. Opens apply.driva.com.au in a new tab.
Common questions
Which is cheapest, Land Rover Defender OCTA and MG MGS5?
The Land Rover Defender OCTA is the cheapest at $304,500 before on-road costs.
What are the ANCAP safety ratings?
MG MGS5 holds a 5-star ANCAP rating (tested 2025). ANCAP's published record does not give a rating to Land Rover Defender OCTA, so there is nothing to compare on crash performance. Compare the active-safety features above instead.
Which can tow the most?
The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the highest braked towing capacity at 3,500kg.
Which has the best warranty?
The MG MGS5 has the longest warranty that does not depend on dealer servicing at 7 years.
Which is the most powerful?
The Land Rover Defender OCTA makes the most power at 467kW. The Land Rover Defender OCTA is quickest to 100km/h in 4s.
Track the Land Rover Defender OCTA & MG MGS5
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How to read this page. Prices, specifications, ANCAP ratings, warranty, the CarSorted Score and the verdict come from our records for the grades shown, sourced from the manufacturers' Australian documents, and change when those records change; the date each was last checked is printed under the headline. Prices are recommended retail prices before on-road costs unless marked drive-away. A plug-in hybrid's fuel figure is labelled with its basis: with a full battery (the certified combined figure) or as a hybrid (battery depleted). Charging and running costs are estimates on the stated assumptions. Always confirm price and specification with the manufacturer or dealer before you buy. CarSorted does not accept payment for recommendations.
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