The Land Rover Defender combines luxury and off-road capability in a way that few other SUVs can. Because of that, Land Rover charges a hefty premium for what I believe is the brand's flagship product. While most of the lineup starts under six figures, the Defender OCTA, with its 626-horsepower V8, starts at more than $160,000. That's a lot of money, and there's plenty of used luxury off-road SUVs available for well under $. These are a few of them.Toyota Land CruiserKristen BrownThe Toyota Land Cruiser is maybe the most obvious budget alternative to the Land Rover Defender. Even new, they start at a comparatively tame $60,000. The retro looks fit in well with the Defender's similarly retro-ish vibe, as does the four-wheel drive capability. The Land Cruiser, though, is decidedly softer and less powerful than the Defender.However, if you want a cruiser with some respectable off-road chops, heritage-inspired looks, and some of that Toyota reliability, it isn't a bad option, especially at such a discount over the Defender. The added fuel economy from the hybrid powertrain doesn't hurt, either.Mercedes-Benz G-Class2025-2026 Mercedes-AMG G 63MercedesThe greatest true alternative to the Defender is a used G-Class Mercedes. The beloved G-Wagen is exactly the kind of luxury off-roader you want in your garage. There's serious power, true curb appeal, heritage styling, and some serious depreciation to take advantage of. More than that, AMG versions often carry more than 500 horsepower and a V8 engine, making them similarly powerful when contrasted with the Defender's V8 lineup. Don't expect to pay more than $100,000 for a pristine used example with the V8.Land Rover DefenderJames Riswick2026 brings a slew of updates to the current Defender, like a refreshed front end, a larger screen, and other minor changes. Don't let that push you into a new one, especially with used models priced the way they are. Lower-tier inline-six-powered Defenders are a particularly good bargain if you can live without the V8 engine. These can easily be had in pristine condition on the used market, and for less than $70,000. Most of the ones I saw had fewer than 25,000 miles on them.Lexus GXLexusAnother new-or-used option, the Lexus GX also delivers on the promise of a luxury off-roader, but fixes a lot of the problems I have with the Land Cruiser. The hybrid engine is great, but the power from the GX's 349 horsepower turbo V6 is much more appetizing. Add to that a plush ride and some serious off-road capability from the Overtail and Overtral+ trims, and the GX is hard to turn your nose up at. You'd have no trouble finding one for under $85,000, and that's including last year's refreshed 2025 models with better off-road capability.
+35 others
