Retro-modern sleekness for the glampground comes in hard-edge British flair or family-friendly Korean chic. Pick the vehicle, price, and skills you desire.
2025 Land Rover Defender
Among luxury SUVs, there are many pretenders that are far more in their element parallel parking at a downtown bodega than maneuvering through rugged mountain passes. They may look good, but are a little light in capability. While the 2025 Land Rover Defender 110 may look a little too pretty for dirty, it’s the real cowboy.
Like OG Defenders there’s plenty of aluminum in the bodywork, but this one bears flush facias, sleek body sides, floating black roof, 20” wheels and quad taillamps mounted flush. Round LED headlamps, roof rails, and safari windows up-top pay homage to the ancestors. There are even black patches on the hood that look like steel step plates. Look closely to see wires embedded in the windshield for instant defrosting.
There are three lengths of Defender: Two-door 90, four-door 110, and four-door long-body 130. If you mostly drive with four to five passengers, choose the more maneuverable 110, but if you often need three rows of seats and cart cargo into the bush, go for the 130. Optional third-row seats in the 110 are for kiddos only.
Interiors continue the modern rugged theme with rubber mats and synthetic dash coverings that all look like they could be hosed down after a day of adventure, but that could ruin the heated/ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and heated steering wheel). A slick curved touchscreen sits proud of dash cubbies while flatscreen gauges, head-up display, and Meridian audio go deliciously with the panoramic sunroof and tri-zone automatic climate control.
You may be roughing it, but luxuries matter. Still, this is a proper boy scout with survival skills a-plenty.
For proof, check the adaptive air suspension, four-wheel-drive with 2-speed transfer case, and Terrain Response System to configure the powertrain and traction system for virtually all conditions. There’s even a wade sensing system for river fording. It’ll take serious stupidity to high center this mountain goat.
Safety is enhanced by automatic emergency braking, 3D cameras, blind spot warning, and rear cross path detection.
Tucked between the fenders is a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine and eight-speed transmission. A mild hybrid system adds power and efficiency. The assemblage delivers a robust 395 horsepower and 406 lb.-ft. of torque – enough to pull 8,200 lbs. of RV or boat. Clip 0-60 mph in 5.8s unattached. Drive as you wish because fuel economy rates just 18/20-MPG city/highway.
Beyond fuel thirst, start/stop takes a hot second to re-engage and has a jumpy throttle once it does. There’s adaptive cruise, but no hands-off function. While you may not need that when bounding across your estate, it would ease driving when snatching roadway between country lodges and boutique hotels.
This Land Rover has the all-road capability of its ancestors, but a considerably more comfortable ride. On the long drives it encourages, I’d have plenty of time to consider the 110’s base $63,500 and $85,023 as-tested prices. Competitors include the Toyota Land Cruiser, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen, GMC Yukon AT4, and Jeep Wrangler.
2025 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT
Hyundai’s latest Santa Fe, especially in more adventurous XRT trim, channels the Defender’s sleek modernist vibe into a more urban-aimed conveyance. It looks tough with squared sheetmetal, but also streamlined. It’s more suited for dropping offspring at camp than tackling the XX desert, but it definitely looks the part with all-road tread and black gloss black trim.
It would look more sinister with 20-inch wheels and low-profile tires, but the XRT’s 18-inch wheels shod in all-terrain tires are legitimately ready for light off-roading. Look close to notice an additional 1.3-inches of ground clearance, but a total of 8.3-inches is still fairly low for even moderate trails. This is more about looking the part with a little extra clearance for snow or rocky dirt roads.
Interiors continue the rugged technophile theme with simple dash panels, heated vegan leather seats, and subtle satin aluminum trim that elevates the panache slightly. As in the Defender, drivers face flatscreen gauges and command an intuitive flatscreen, though these are joined together in one sweeping panel. Dual charging pads, USBs for everybody, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto keep everybody connected in all three rows of seating.
Keeping this wagon moving is a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine whipping 277 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque through an 8-speed automatic transmission and electronic all-wheel-drive. That’s not going to challenge the Land Rover’s potent powertrain, but is plenty for lively acceleration in a mid-size crossover. Fuel economy rated 19/25-MPG city/highway is good for a non-hybrid three-row crossover.
The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT is not a Land Rover Defender off-road, but is at least as handsomely styled and looks suave moving family and posse to and fro. With base prices starting at $34,800, and coming to $41,790 for XRT editions, it’s also an incredibly good value.
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Send comments to Casey at AutoCasey@aol.com; follow him on YouTube @AutoCasey.