Land Rover Defender MPG by Year
Here's the official EPA Land Rover Defender MPG for every engine and drivetrain from 1993 to 2027.
Defender MPG by Year and Version
The EPA has rated 61 configurations of the Defender. Pick a year to compare engines and drivetrains.
| Version | Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Combined | EPA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defender 110Premium Gasoline | 2.0L 4-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 18 | 22 | 20 | View |
| Defender 110 MHEVMild hybridPremium Gasoline | 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 18 | 22 | 20 | View |
| Defender 90 MHEVMild hybridPremium Gasoline | 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 18 | 23 | 20 | View |
| Defender 90Premium Gasoline | 2.0L 4-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 18 | 21 | 19 | View |
| Defender 130 P300 MHEVMild hybridPremium Gasoline | 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 17 | 21 | 19 | View |
| Defender 130 OutboundMild hybridPremium Gasoline | 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 17 | 19 | 18 | View |
| Defender 130 P400 MHEVMild hybridPremium Gasoline | 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 16 | 20 | 18 | View |
| Defender 110 MHEVMild hybridPremium Gasoline | 4.4L 8-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 15 | 19 | 17 | View |
| Defender 110 Trophy MHEVMild hybridPremium Gasoline | 3.0L 6-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 17 | 18 | 17 | View |
| Defender 90Premium Gasoline | 5.0L 8-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 15 | 19 | 16 | View |
| Defender 110Premium Gasoline | 5.0L 8-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 14 | 18 | 16 | View |
| Defender 130Premium Gasoline | 5.0L 8-cyl | Auto (S8) | 4WD | 14 | 19 | 16 | View |
Defender MPG Over the Years
Each bar shows the range of combined MPG across every Defender configuration the EPA rated that year, from the thirstiest version to the most efficient. Hover or tap a year to see the numbers.
Years When Defender Fuel Economy Changed
Most years look a lot like the one before. These are the years where the EPA numbers moved in a way that matters if you're shopping for a used Defender.
- 1994: The top combined rating rises to 13 MPG, up from 10 MPG the year before.
How the Defender Compares
The EPA rated 55 full-size SUVs for 2026. The best Defender version, at 20 MPG combined, ties for 34th with 3 other models of 55. Combined ratings in the class run from 14 to 37 MPG, with a median of 21. Plug-in hybrids and electric models are ranked separately.
| Rank | Model | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeep Cherokee | 37 MPG |
| 2 | Toyota Grand Highlander | 36 MPG |
| 3 | Toyota Highlander | 35 MPG |
| 4 | Hyundai Palisade | 34 MPG |
| 5 | Lexus TX | 27 MPG |
| 34 | Land Rover Defender | 20 MPG |
What Does a Defender Cost to Fuel?
Pick a Defender, then enter your gas price and how much you drive. The math uses the EPA city and highway ratings, weighted by how much of your driving happens in each.
Defender MPG Questions
Which Defender year gets the best gas mileage?
The 2023 and 2026 Defender 90 MHEV holds the top EPA rating at 20 MPG combined (18 city, 23 highway).
Why doesn't my Defender match the EPA numbers?
EPA ratings come from standardized lab tests. Your results depend on speed, climate, idling, passengers and cargo, roof racks, tire pressure and upkeep. The ratings are best for comparing one vehicle against another. To track your own numbers, try the MPG calculator.
Keep Going
Where These Numbers Come From
Cedrick Reese built this page from the EPA fuel economy file published on fueleconomy.gov. It has 61 ratings for the Defender from 1993 to 2027, and every one of them is shown in the table. Each row in the table links to the matching EPA vehicle record, so you can check any figure against the source. Ratings from before 2008 use the EPA's revised estimates, which put older vehicles on the same scale as newer ones. When the EPA posts an updated file with new model years or corrected ratings, this page is rebuilt from it. The cost calculator uses the gas price you enter rather than a national average, so the result fits where you live.
Ratings on this page come from the EPA file downloaded on October 1, 2026.
Sources
- Download Fuel Economy Data, fueleconomy.gov, U.S. DOE and EPA
- Vehicle data field definitions, including the revised 1984-2007 estimates, fueleconomy.gov
- Factors that affect fuel economy, fueleconomy.gov