2020 Land Rover Defender 110 D240

Is the Diesel More Desirable?

There is no diesel-powered Defender in the U.S. lineup, so the Land Rover Defender 110 D240 is forbidden fruit for Americans. It’s also a rare beast: You can’t order one anymore, even in its home market.

After less than a year on the market, the Defender’s 2.0-liter turbodiesel I-4 powertrain—available in both 197-hp and 237-hp tune—has been replaced by a new 3.0-liter twin-turbo diesel mild-hybrid inline-six tuned to deliver 197 hp, 247 hp, or 296 hp, depending on how much you want to spend. Until it hits the market, though, the Defender 110 D240 is all we have to answer the question: Does a diesel engine make the new Defender even more desirable?

Torque and fuel efficiency are a diesel engine’s strong points, and both are desirable characteristics in an off-road-capable SUV weighing more than 5,100 pounds. But there are some downsides, too.