Lexus LX vs Land Rover Defender 90

The Lexus LX starts from $172,900 before on-road costs, while the Land Rover Defender 90 opens at $98,400. That makes the Land Rover Defender 90 the more affordable entry point by $74,500.

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 $190,190 and $108,240 respectively.

Over 5 years, the running costs favour the Land Rover Defender 90 by roughly $7,550 in fuel alone.

Both the Lexus LX and Land Rover Defender 90 hold a 5-star ANCAP safety rating.

Where the two diverge is in active safety technology. The Lexus LX 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 8 in the Lexus LX and 6 in the Land Rover Defender 90.

The Lexus LX features a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the Land Rover Defender 90 gets a 13.1-inch display. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across both.

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

The Lexus LX uses a Petrol producing 305kW and 650Nm of torque, sent through a automatic to a 4WD layout. It covers the 0-100km/h sprint in 6.7 seconds.

The Land Rover Defender 90 responds with a 3.0 i6 Diesel Mild Hybrid making 183kW and 570Nm, paired to a 8-speed automatic driving all four wheels. It gets to 100km/h in 8 seconds.

The Lexus LX has the clear power advantage at 305kW vs 183kW. In the real-world sprint, the Lexus LX is 1.3s quicker. For most buyers, the way each car feels day-to-day matters more than outright acceleration.

The Lexus LX measures 5,095mm long on a 2,850mm wheelbase, 772mm longer than the Land Rover Defender 90 at 4,323mm (2,587mm wheelbase). The longer wheelbase on the Lexus LX generally means more rear legroom.

Boot space is 487L in the Lexus LX and 397L in the Land Rover Defender 90, giving the Lexus LX a 90L advantage. The Lexus LX seats 7 vs 5.

For towing, the Land Rover Defender 90 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 $3,819/year for the Lexus LX and $2,309/year for the Land Rover Defender 90. That is a $1,510 annual difference in favour of the Land Rover Defender 90.

Estimated annual total: $3,819 (Lexus LX) vs $2,309 (Land Rover Defender 90). The Land Rover Defender 90 saves you roughly $1,510 per year in total ownership costs. Use our Fuel Cost Calculator to estimate based on your driving.

Warranty: 4 years / 100,000km (Lexus LX) vs 5 years / 999,999km (Land Rover Defender 90). The Land Rover Defender 90 has longer coverage. Capped-price servicing: 4yr (Lexus LX)—.