Land Rover Defender OCTA vs Volkswagen Tayron

Price and cost per week

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.

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.

Feature Showdown

The Land Rover Defender OCTA features a 11.4-inch touchscreen paired with a 12.3-inch digital dash, while the Volkswagen Tayron gets a 12.9-inch display and 10.3-inch instruments. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

The Land Rover Defender OCTA stands out with panoramic roof, heated front seats, ventilated seats and Meridian audio — features our data doesn't list for the Volkswagen Tayron. 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 Volkswagen Tayron offers cloth.

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 Volkswagen Tayron responds with a Petrol making 110kW and 250Nm, paired to a auto driving the front wheels.

The Land Rover Defender OCTA has the clear power advantage at 467kW vs 110kW. 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, 21mm longer than the Volkswagen Tayron at 4,792mm (2,790mm 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 1,800kg. That 1,700kg 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 Volkswagen Tayron's turning circle is 0.7 m tighter, 12.1 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 OCTA costs about $3,734 a year (13.1 L/100km) and fuel for the Volkswagen Tayron about $2,166 a year (7.6 L/100km), at $1.90 a litre and 32c a kWh. That is $1,568 a year less for the Volkswagen Tayron.

Warranty: 5 years / Unlimited (Land Rover Defender OCTA) and 5 years / Unlimited (Volkswagen Tayron).

Where each one leads

The Land Rover Defender OCTA: more power (467kW against 110kW) and the higher braked towing limit (3,500kg against 1,800kg).

The Volkswagen Tayron: the lower starting price ($48,290 against $304,500) and lower fuel or energy costs on our assumptions ($2,166 a year against $3,734).

The Verdict

Volkswagen Tayron scores higher, 73 vs 55

The Volkswagen Tayron scores 73 to the Land Rover Defender OCTA's 55 on the CarSorted Score, and leads 2 of the 4 spec rows that separate them, at the lower price. The biggest gaps: performance (Land Rover Defender OCTA ahead by 53 points), fuel economy (Volkswagen Tayron ahead by 50 points), value (Volkswagen Tayron ahead by 43 points). At 15,000 km a year, fuel for the Volkswagen Tayron costs about $1,568 less (7.6 L/100km against 13.1 L/100km, at $1.90 a litre).

Common questions