2025 BMW X3 vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights paid homage to its rugged heritage while aligning with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender's cabin diverged from its siblings, offering a more robust and adventure-ready feel, akin to a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco, but with superior soft-touch materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each with various trims like the S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, featuring the County visual package, highlighted its vintage appeal with white wheels and retro graphics, though modern styling options were also available.

In contrast, the 2025 BMW X3 exuded a seductive and athletic appearance for a two-box SUV. Its long hood, captivating dashboard-to-axle ratio, and tapering greenhouse contributed to its sporty demeanor. The test model, adorned in Arctic Race Blue paint with Calm Beige upholstery, showcased a harmonious blend of style and sophistication. Inside, the X3's cabin was simple yet elegant, with a BMW Curved Display housing a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While the front seats offered comfort and adjustability, the rear seats were less accommodating, particularly for taller passengers. The cargo area provided 31.5 cubic feet of space, with practical features like a lightweight cargo cover and additional storage under the load floor.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, the Defender offered two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender excelled in towing, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder version could tow up to 5,500 pounds. Off-road prowess was a highlight, with features like adaptive air suspension, Terrain Response 2, and all-terrain progress control enhancing its capabilities.

The 2025 BMW X3 30 xDrive, with its turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, produced 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Despite its seemingly modest power figures, the X3 achieved a respectable zero-to-60 mph time of six seconds, thanks to its eight-speed automatic transmission and xDrive AWD system. The engine's broad power curve, aided by a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, ensured responsive performance. For those seeking more power, the M50 xDrive variant offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six with 393 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, achieving a zero-to-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds. Our test vehicle, equipped with the M Sport package and performance tires, delivered an engaging driving experience, though the ride quality on imperfect roads was less forgiving. Fuel economy was commendable, with an observed 24.2 mpg, though short of the EPA's 29 mpg combined rating.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and functionality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside practical elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. Seating capacity varied, with the Defender 110 offering an optional third row for children, while the Defender 130 accommodated up to eight passengers, albeit with limited space. Cargo capacity depended on the model, with the Defender 130 providing 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 offered 34 cubic feet behind the second row in its two-row configuration, expanding to 78.8 cubic feet with seats folded. The two-door Defender 90 provided 15.6 cubic feet behind the second row and up to 58.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with power-adjustable front seats featuring Veganza artificial leather. The dashboard, dominated by the BMW Curved Display, created a sense of width and openness. While the front seats were comfortable, the rear seats were less so, with passengers positioned low and facing hard seat-back panels. The cargo area measured 31.5 cubic feet, with practical features like a lightweight cargo cover, netted storage, and a temporary spare tire under the load floor. The 40/20/40 split-folding rear seat allowed for versatile cargo and passenger arrangements.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, offering a straightforward and utilitarian interface. Standard features included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The touchscreen's simplicity complemented the Defender's rugged persona, with home buttons for easy navigation.

The 2025 BMW X3 introduced the iDrive 9 operating system, an evolution of iDrive 8.5, with a focus on user-friendly navigation through its menus. However, our experience with the system was marred by issues with profile creation and access to BMW Digital Services. The system occasionally froze, and media preferences were sometimes forgotten. Despite these challenges, the navigation system with augmented video provided accurate directions. Wireless Apple CarPlay connectivity worked seamlessly, offering a reliable alternative to the native infotainment features.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist systems were noted for being overly sensitive.

The 2025 BMW X3 offered a robust array of driver assistance features, with the standard Active Driving Assistant suite including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and active blind-spot monitoring. The Premium Package added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Steering Assistant technology. The Parking Assistant Professional Package offered semi-automated parking tech, while the Driving Assistant Professional Package included hands-free Traffic Jam Assistant and other advanced features. The X3 earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four-star ratings for frontal-impact crash tests.