Compare the2026 Land Rover DefenderVS 2026 BMW X3

Both the Defender 110/130 and X3 have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The Defender has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The X3’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Land Rover Defender’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system is only offered on some models of the BMW X3.

Both the Defender and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Defender second among large premium suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The X3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Defender has more powerful engines than the X3:

As tested in Motor Trend the Defender P525 5.0 supercharged V8 is faster than the X3 30 xDrive 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid:

The Defender has 6.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (23.8 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Defender’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X3:

For better traction, the Defender has larger standard tires than the X3 (255/65R19 vs. 245/50R19). The Defender’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (275/45R22 vs. 255/40R21).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Defender offers optional 22-inch wheels. The X3’s largest wheels are only 21-inches.

The Defender has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X3; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Defender 110’s wheelbase is 6.2 inches longer than on the X3 (119 inches vs. 112.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Defender is 4.3 inches wider in the front and 3.2 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

For better maneuverability, the Defender 90’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the X3’s (38 feet vs. 40 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Defender 110 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 M50 xDrive (9 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Defender to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Defender 110 OCTA’s minimum ground clearance is 4.2 inches higher than on the X3 30 xDrive (12.7 vs. 8.5 inches).

The Defender 130 offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the X3 can only carry 5. The Defender 90 offers optional seating for 6.

The Defender 110’s cargo area provides more volume than the X3.

The Defender 130’s cargo area provides more volume than the X3.

The Defender’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the X3’s (7715 vs. 4001 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the BMW X3 is only 4850 pounds. The Defender offers up to a 8200 lbs. towing capacity.

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the X3, the Defender has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle and climate settings and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Defender’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Defender has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The Defender offers available headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The X3 doesn’t offer headlight washers.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Defender’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The X3 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Defender has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the X3.

The Defender has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the X3.

The Defender has a 115-volt a/c outlet in the cargo area, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Land Rover Defender comes in two door and four door bodystyles; the BMW X3 isn’t available as a two door.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Land Rover Defender retains 49.08% of its original value after 5 years, more than the 46.09% resale value of the 2025 BMW X3 after five years, which can save the Land Rover’s owner.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Defender second among large premium suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The X3 isn’t in the top three in its category.

Motor Trend selected the Defender as their 2021 Sport Utility of the Year. The X3 has never been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Defender as the 2021 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The X3 has never been chosen.