As the global auto industry is still dealing with trade uncertainty and regulatory hurdles over the recent tariffs, Jaguar Land Rover posted some record numbers with a pre-tax profit of £2.5 billion ($3.13 billion), JLR’s best annual profits in over a decade. JLR has recorded 10 consecutive profitable quarters. While smarter operations and stricter cost control were key drivers, one of the models leading the charge was the Land Rover Defender.
Five years have passed since the Defender was introduced, but demand for Land Rover’s most rugged model remains high, selling 115,404 units last year. But a mid-cycle refresh was in order, and Land Rover has decided to spruce up the Defender lineup for the 2026 model year with sharper design, smarter tech, and even more off-road hardware, available across 90, 110, and 130 body styles.
Visually, things have been tightened on the 2026 Defender. You get redesigned LED headlights with a new signature and foglights that are standard across the model range, while the flush rear lights now feature smoked lenses. The dark theme continues with a darkened grille bar, gloss-black Defender-branded wheel center caps, and the bumpers have been resurfaced for a cleaner, but tougher appearance with new textured finishes on the hood and side vents. Two new paint options join the palette: Borasco Grey, which is a shimmering metallic shade inspired by a historic Californian silver mine, and Woodstone Green, a deep green with warm undertones, that draws inspiration from a waterfall in the U.K.
Inside, tech upgrades include a larger 13.1-inch touchscreen (the outgoing 2025 model features a max 11.4 inches) mounted above the repositioned dash gear selector. A new Driver Attention Monitor that employs a driver-facing camera to track gaze and alert distracted drivers via audio-visual cues. Paired with a reworked center console, featuring sliding compartments, hidden cubbies, and removable side pockets, this is a cabin that packs utility without compromise. For added practicality, the jump seat upfront remains available in most models, allowing for three abreast seating.
But perhaps, for off-road fans, the biggest leap forward is with the terrain management system. For the first time, Land Rover is offering Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control in the Defender, which lets you select a comfort level rather than a set speed. The system automatically modulates throttle and braking across difficult terrain.
The more extreme Defender OCTA model gets its own share of updates. The high-performance flagship of the lineup continues to pack a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 with 635 horsepower, 6D Dynamics suspension, and OCTA mode tuned specifically for high-speed off-road performance. As for colors, a trim-exlusive Sargasso Blue or Borasco Gray is now available with a contrasting matt-surface Textured Graphite finish on key exterior elements. A Patagonia White Matte Wrap is due later this year on the OCTA and 5.0-liter V8 models.
One thing that makes the Defender so appealing is its vast selection of options, and the refreshed model doesn’t disappoint. Accessory packs like Explorer, Adventure, and Urban return, now with darker finishes and new details. The long-body Defender 130 now offers an integrated air compressor, handy for adjusting tire pressure on the fly, ideal after tackling soft sand. On the OCTA, optional carbon-fiber accents, forged 20-inch alloy wheels, and Matte Protective Film, along with a 4,500 kg-rated (9,900 lbs) winch with chopped carbon fiber cover, are available.
Prices in the U.K. start at £57,135, and while the updates were announced domestically, expect most of these features to carry over to the U.S. model. Given the Defender’s importance in JLR’s North American strategy, the luxury automaker will be keen to take advantage of the new U.S.-U.K. trade agreement that drops tariffs from 27.5% to 10% for British-built cars (with a limited annual quota) to maintain sales of this popular off-roader.
Source: Land Rover
