- The Land Rover Defender receives a series of updates for the 2026 model year, including new paint colors and tweaked lighting graphics.
- The cabin features a new 13.1-inch touchscreen and a redesigned center console.
- Other changes include a driver-facing camera for monitoring the driver’s attention and a new adaptive off-road cruise control system.
Land Rover revived the iconic Defender nameplate in 2020, the first time the long-running off-roader had received an all-new generation in over four decades. But Land Rover doesn’t seem content to let the latest Defender stagnate like its predecessor, revealing a host of upgrades including fresh lighting, new colors, and a larger touchscreen. While these updates have so far only been announced for the European market, we expect the Defender to adopt similar changes for the 2026 model year in the United States.The visual changes are incredibly subtle. The headlights feature a new LED graphic, fog lights are now standard, and the taillights now sit flush with the body and wear smoked lenses. Other changes include tweaked front and rear bumpers and a new textured pattern for the trim on the hood and side vents. The Defender also gains two new paint colors for the exterior, Woolstone Green and Borasco Grey. The grille bar is now finished in gloss black and wears a darkened Land Rover badge, while the Defender-branded wheel center caps also become gloss black. The Defender also offers new 22-inch seven-spoke wheels.Inside, all Defenders sport a new 13.1-inch touchscreen on the dashboard. The outgoing model came with a standard 10-inch screen, with the option to upgrade to 11.4 inches. Land Rover also moved the dashboard-mounted gear shifter to improve ergonomics and reworked the center console to create a sliding section for storing small valuables out of sight. Land Rover also wants to make the Defender even more capable over rough terrain, offering an adaptive off-road cruise control system, which it calls “an evolution” of the All Terrain Progress Control system. The Defender 130 also gains an optional integrated air compressor, allowing you to quickly change tire pressures. The Defender also gains a new driver-facing camera that monitors the driver’s gaze to ensure that they are paying attention to the road ahead.The Defender Octa, introduced for the 2025 model year, also received updates, including two new paint hues—Borasco Grey and Sargasso Blue—and Texture Graphite exterior accents. Starting in late 2025, Land Rover will also offer the Octa and other V-8-equipped Defenders with a Patagonia White Matte wrap, and the Octa can also now be had with carbon fiber exterior and interior accents. The changes apply to all three versions of the Defender, ranging from the two-door 90 to the extra-long 130. U.S.-specific details and pricing will be announced later this year, but we don’t expect the base price to change significantly from the $58,525 currently required to snag a 2025 Defender.More on the DefenderCaleb Miller began blogging about cars at 13 years old, and he realized his dream of writing for a car magazine after graduating from Carnegie Mellon University and joining the Car and Driver team. He loves quirky and obscure autos, aiming to one day own something bizarre like a Nissan S-Cargo, and is an avid motorsports fan.
Source: caranddriver.com
