Skip advert
Advertisement

Land Rover Defender updated for 2026… without a proper facelift

Some new options and an updated infotainment are all that’s needed to keep the Defender fresh for 2026

In September of this year it will be six years since the reveal of the L663 Land Rover Defender. The model’s been through a lot in that time, with the 130 joining the 110 and 90 models and the V8 and the flagship SV-developed 626bhp Octa joining the lineup, as well as PHEV variants. Hell, Defender has even graduated from a model in the Land Rover lineup, to a brand all of its own. What’s yet to come, is a significant facelift. It’s not coming today either, with the reveal of this slightly revised car.

Advertisement - Article continues below

So what will the buyers of 26MY Defenders be getting over previous versions? Outside, new spec options including Borasco grey and Woolstone green paint, very gently revised lighting and a new seven-spoke alloy wheel option. The Defender Octa gets more customisation options too, with a Patagonia White matte wrap option. You can also now order forged carbon exterior and interior trim. It’s claimed the front and rear lights are modestly revised but truthfully, they’re detail changes you wouldn’t notice without having the cars side by side.

Inside, you’ll see a new slightly odd-looking box through the steering wheel, on the column. That’s the new driver monitoring system, complete with a camera, to make sure you’re paying attention. The alerts can be switched off in the driver assistance menu. Look to the left and you’ll see a much larger, 13.1-inch curved infotainment screen that reaches all the way down to the climate control panel. We wonder if the ergonomics will be a bit odd, given the gear selector is mounted on that same panel and therefore, now obscures some of the larger screen.

A new feature for the Defender is adaptive off-road cruise control, which can manage the car’s speed when off the beaten track without any driver input, so the driver can concentrate on steering. A bit like a GT3 RS managing throttle and braking on track, it sounds like it takes a bit of fun and interaction out of the activity. The feature isn’t available on Defender OCTA, which should be no great loss to its buyers.

The OCTA does however get the option of a 4500kg-rated winch, which has its own chopped carbon cover. The 130 meanwhile can now be had with an on-board air compressor, for in situ reinflation of the tyres. If you’re wondering why you might choose to let your tyres down, it’s a well-known way of increasing available traction in slow, off-road situations, most commonly sand dunes.

The updated Defender is on sale now, with prices starting from £57,135. As for when we’ll see a proper fully-fledged facelift of the Defender? As aforementioned, it’s getting on. The thing is, it doesn’t matter much. Almost six years on, JLR are selling as many as they can build. With the half-million unit mark well clear, JLR built over 115,000 Defenders between March 2024 and March 2025. No rival has yet materialised either, to best the Defender as it is on raw style or indeed utility, unless you’re happy to suffer the agricultural four-cylinder in the new Toyota Land Cruiser. A facelift will come sooner rather than later but the market surely doesn’t need the impulse facelifts are traditionally intended to deliver.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Best performance SUVs 2025 – family-friendly supercars on stilts
Best SUVs 2025
Best cars

Best performance SUVs 2025 – family-friendly supercars on stilts

The best hot SUVs offer entertaining dynamic characters all of their own – even if we'd rather drive an equivalent fast estate...
23 Jun 2025
New Land Rover Defender 110 Trophy isn’t quite a half-price Octa
Defender Trophy Edition front
News

New Land Rover Defender 110 Trophy isn’t quite a half-price Octa

This rough and ready Defender calls back to this utilitarian icon’s rich off-road history
19 Jun 2025
Bentley Bentayga Speed 2025 review – should the Aston Martin DBX need to worry?
Bentley Bentayga Speed – front
Reviews

Bentley Bentayga Speed 2025 review – should the Aston Martin DBX need to worry?

The Bentley Bentayga Speed no longer uses a W12 engine, in its place a retuned twin-turbo V8 and some clever dynamic hardware and software. Is it a ma…
16 Jun 2025
2025 Bentley Bentayga Speed targets Range Rover Sport SV and avoids hybrid power
2025 Bentley Bentayga Speed – front
News

2025 Bentley Bentayga Speed targets Range Rover Sport SV and avoids hybrid power

Powered by a V8 without any electrical augmentation, the 641bhp Bentayga Speed is claimed by Bentley to be the most dynamic yet
2 Jun 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The EU is considering banning carbonfibre, but BMW has other ideas
BMW natural fibre composite
News

The EU is considering banning carbonfibre, but BMW has other ideas

BMW has developed a new type of eco-friendly composite, just as European Parliament has proposed limiting the use of carbonfibre in road cars
23 Jun 2025
The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is a hot hatch we’ve waited a decade for
Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 – front
News

The new Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 is a hot hatch we’ve waited a decade for

Volkswagen is finally letting the Mk8 Golf GTI off its leash with a hardcore, track-honed version called the Edition 50. If it’s anywhere near as bril…
20 Jun 2025
Aston Martin Vantage v Mercedes-AMG GT v McLaren Artura v Maserati MC20 – car pictures of the week
Aston Martin Vantage v Mercedes-AMG GT v McLaren Artura v Maserati MC20
Features

Aston Martin Vantage v Mercedes-AMG GT v McLaren Artura v Maserati MC20 – car pictures of the week

In issue 335 of evo, we tested a quartet of sports and supercars to find out which delivers the most thrilling drive – these are our favourite shots
21 Jun 2025