Land Rover Defender vs Toyota Land Cruiser 300
Updated Report an error By Oleksandr Hnatiuk
Land Rover · 2020–present
Defender L663
- Power
- 221 kW300 PS
- Kerb mass
- 2,520 kg
Toyota · 2021–present
Land Cruiser 300 J300
- Power
- 227 kW309 PS
- Kerb mass
- —
At a glance
Who suits what, worked out from the catalog figures of the versions above.
Categories won: Defender L663 1 Land Cruiser 300 J300 0
- City Defender L663 Length: 4,758 mm vs 4,980 mm
- Running costs Too close to call Fuel per year: €2,230 vs €2,200 (estimated)
- Off-road Too close to call Drive and body: Four-wheel drive (4×4) · SUV vs Four-wheel drive (4×4) · SUV
Verdict Opinion
The Defender is the better all-rounder for European roads. Its independent suspension favours comfort on tarmac, it holds a Euro NCAP five-star rating, and its engines run from 147 kW diesels to a 467 kW V8.
The Land Cruiser 300 is the tool for remote country. Its ladder frame, the 700 Nm diesel and 110 litres of fuel in two tanks serve the goals Toyota set for it: reliability, durability and less tiring long journeys on any road.
— Oleksandr Hnatiuk
Two famous names, two opposite answers to the same brief. The Land Rover Defender of 2020 dropped its ladder chassis for an aluminium monocoque and independent suspension. The Toyota Land Cruiser 300, revealed on 10 June 2021, kept a separate frame and simply made it new.
Both replaced long-serving predecessors. The classic Defender ran at Solihull from 1983 to 29 January 2016; the L663 made its debut at the Frankfurt show in September 2019 and comes from Nitra in Slovakia. The 300 Series took over from the Land Cruiser 200 of 2007, swapping its V8s for twin-turbo V6 engines on the GA-F platform.
Defender vs Land Cruiser 300: structure, engines, size and cost
Monocoque against ladder frame
The Defender's D7x body shell is aluminium and every wheel is independently sprung, on coil or air springs. Toyota's GA-F ladder frame is stiffer than the old one, and the engine was moved down by 28 mm and back by 70 mm. Toyota also quotes up to 200 kg less weight than the 200 Series. A frame is easier to repair after hard use far from a workshop; the monocoque gives the Land Rover a more car-like ride on tarmac.
Diesel against diesel
The most comparable versions are close on paper. The Defender D300 has a 3.0-litre straight-six mild-hybrid diesel with 221 kW (300 PS) and 650 Nm, and since 2024 the D350 has 257 kW (350 PS) and 700 Nm. The Land Cruiser's 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 diesel delivers 227 kW (309 PS) and 700 Nm from 1,600 rpm. Land Rover uses an eight-speed ZF automatic; Toyota a ten-speed Direct Shift-10AT.
Petrol and hybrid tops
The fastest Defender is the 2024 OCTA, whose twin-turbo 4.4 V8 produces 467 kW (635 PS); below it sits the supercharged P525 V8 with 386 kW. Toyota's strongest pure petrol version uses the twin-turbo V6, rated at 305 kW (415 PS), or the hybrid with 341 kW and 790 Nm, which is 36 kW more than the petrol alone. Land Rover also sells a P400e plug-in hybrid (297 kW) that covers about 43 km on its battery.
Off-road numbers and size
On air springs the Defender 110 clears 291 mm, and its wheelbase is 3,022 mm. To see how either fits a parking space, use our size comparison tool. The Land Cruiser uses 2,850 mm between the axles, 230 mm of clearance and approach and departure angles of 32 and 26.5 degrees. Both have a two-speed transfer case and locking differentials, front and rear on the Toyota GR Sport. Toyota Australia rates the diesel to tow 3,500 kg braked, and Land Rover rates the Defender's front winch mounting at 4,536 kg.
Prices and crash ratings
German list prices in 2026 began at €68,900 for the Defender 90 and €72,600 for the 110. The Land Cruiser 300 is not a European-market car; in South Africa the diesel GX-R was launched in July 2021 at R1,283,200, roughly €75,000 at July 2021 exchange rates. The L663 holds a five-star Euro NCAP result from 2020, while no Euro NCAP or ANCAP rating was available for the 300 Series.
Size and weight
Side view to scale, all cars from the front bumper.
| Defender L663 | Land Cruiser 300 J300 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,758 mm187.3 in † | 4,980 mm196.1 in +222 mm +8.7 in +4.7% |
| Width | 2,008 mm79.1 in † | 1,980 mm78.0 in −28 mm −1.1 in −1.4% |
| Height | 1,967 mm77.4 in † | 1,950 mm76.8 in −17 mm −0.7 in −0.9% |
| Wheelbase | 3,022 mm119.0 in † | 2,850 mm112.2 in −172 mm −6.8 in −5.7% |
| Fits a standard garage? | Too wide | Too wide |
Difference vs Defender L663 (±). Garage check: a standard single garage takes a car up to about 5.0 m (16 ft 5 in) long and 1.9 m (6 ft 3 in) wide (width as listed in the catalog; some makers include the mirrors). Leave about 0.6 m (2 ft) to open the doors. † from another version of this generation.
Full specifications
| Land Rover Defender | Toyota Land Cruiser 300 | |
|---|---|---|
| General | ||
| Version | Defender L663 · D300 3.0 MHEV · diesel · 221 kW (300 PS) | 3.3 V6 twin-turbo diesel (F33A-FTV) · 227 kW (309 PS) |
| Production years | 2020–present | 2021–present |
| Body | SUV | SUV |
| Class | SUV / crossover | SUV / crossover |
| Country | United Kingdom | Japan |
| Performance | ||
| Power Why it matters: More power means stronger acceleration and easier overtaking, especially with a full load. | 221 kW (300 PS) 296 hp | 227 kW (309 PS) 304 hp |
| Power, all versions | 51–467 kW (69–635 PS) 68–626 hp | 201–341 kW (273–464 PS) 270–457 hp |
| Torque Why it matters: Torque is the pulling force you feel when accelerating from low revs, towing or climbing hills. | 650 Nm 479 lb-ft | 700 Nm 516 lb-ft Better |
| Power per tonne | 88 kW/t 107 hp/ton calculated | No data |
| Engine and transmission | ||
| Fuel | Diesel | Diesel |
| Engine | 6 cyl | 6 cyl |
| Engine code | No data | F33A-FTV |
| Gearbox | 8-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Drive | Four-wheel drive (4×4) | Four-wheel drive (4×4) |
| Dimensions and weight | ||
| Length | 4,758 mm 187.3 in † | 4,980 mm 196.1 in |
| Width | 2,008 mm 79.1 in † | 1,980 mm 78.0 in |
| Height | 1,967 mm 77.4 in † | 1,950 mm 76.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 3,022 mm 119.0 in † | 2,850 mm 112.2 in |
| Kerb weight Why it matters: A lighter car is usually more agile and uses less energy. | 2,520 kg 5,556 lb | No data |
| Fuel tank Why it matters: A larger tank means more distance between fuel stops. | No data | 110 l 29.1 gal US |
| Economy and running costs | ||
| Fuel consumption Why it matters: Lower consumption cuts running costs and CO₂ emissions on every trip. | 9.0 l/100 km 26.1 mpg US | 8.9 l/100 km 26.4 mpg US |
| CO₂ | 237 g/km | No data |
| Fuel cost per year | €2,230/year estimated | €2,200/year estimated |
| Range on a full tank | No data | 1,236 km 768 mi estimated |
| Safety | ||
| Euro NCAP | ★★★★★ (2020) | No data |
These cars do not differ in the data we have.
Equal rows hidden (5): Body, Class, Fuel, Engine, Drive.
Better marks the stronger figure — only for measurable specs (power, torque, 0–100 km/h, consumption, boot, weight).
Estimated at 15,000 km a year with fuel at €1.65/l diesel. † from another version of this generation.
In plain words
Toyota Land Cruiser 300 has more power: 227 kW (309 PS) against 221 kW (300 PS) for Land Rover Defender. Toyota Land Cruiser 300 is 222 mm longer than Land Rover Defender (4,980 mm vs 4,758 mm). At 15,000 km a year, fuel would cost about €2,230 (Land Rover Defender), €2,200 (Toyota Land Cruiser 300) (estimated). Land Rover Defender is the older design (from 1983); Toyota Land Cruiser 300 arrived in 2021. On the catalog figures, the Land Rover Defender is the pick for city. Our catalog has no kerb mass for the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 yet, so some checks above leave it out.
Which one to choose
Choose the Defender if most of your driving is on asphalt, you want the latest safety systems and you live where Land Rover service is close by.
Choose the Land Cruiser 300 if you tow heavy loads over long distances, drive far from workshops or intend to own it for a very long time.
For serious off-road work compare the Land Cruiser GR Sport with its two extra lockers against a Defender 110 on air suspension, which has the larger ground clearance.
Frequently asked questions
Which has more torque, the Defender D300 or the Land Cruiser 300 diesel?
The Land Cruiser: its 3.3 V6 diesel gives 700 Nm against 650 Nm for the Defender D300. The newer Defender D350 matches it with 700 Nm.
Is the new Defender still body-on-frame?
No. The L663 has an aluminium monocoque and independent suspension. The classic Defender of 1983–2016 had a steel ladder chassis.
Where is the Land Cruiser 300 sold?
Japan, Australia, Africa and the Middle East are among its markets. Toyota does not offer it in the United States or Canada.
Which is safer?
Only the Defender has a Euro NCAP result: five stars in 2020. No Euro NCAP or ANCAP rating was available for the Land Cruiser 300.