Discovery, Defender, Evoque and more – here’s your full guide to the Land Rover model range

The Land Rover was first created in 1948 as a rugged, utilitarian off-road vehicle – but it’s fair to say that things have changed a fair bit in the last 78 years. Land Rover first started diversifying with the upmarket Range Rover in 1970 and has since added a whole raft of nameplates.

But expanding a model range can often bring confusion, and if you’re not totally au fait with the latest models it can be a little confusing knowing which one you’re after. What’s the difference between a Discovery and a Discovery Sport, for example? Or a Defender 90 and a Defender 110?

I’ve driven all of the latest Land Rover models, so keep reading and I’ll take you through the entire line-up so you know exactly what you’re looking for. I’ve divided them into the three distinct model ranges – Discovery, Defender, and Range Rover.

Remember, you can buy a brand new or used car right here on Carwow. And you can sell your car, too. We’re here to help you through every step of your car-changing journey.

Defender

Land Rover Defender 90

This is the smallest of the three Defender models, offering just three doors and not much space in the back seats or boot. But thanks to its short wheelbase, it’s the best of the three Defender models off-road. All three versions are stonkingly good on the rough stuff, though, thanks to full-time four-wheel drive, great ground clearance and Land Rover’s fiendishly clever off-road tech.

All Defenders come with beefy six-cylinder engines or the option of a petrol V8, and have a more rugged visual appearance than the Range Rover or Discovery. That extends to the inside with cool exposed bolts and chunky switchgear. The 90 is best for single people or couples, due to that lack of practicality.

Land Rover Defender 110

This is the sweet spot in the Defender range, as it has five doors and the option of a third row of (compact) seats, making it a really family-friendly and versatile offering. It’s a classic alternative to the Toyota Land Cruiser or Ineos Grenadier.

Land Rover Defender 130

The ultimate in Land Rover practicality, the Defender 130 gets a stretched body compared to the 110 and up to eight seats. Or, you can have five seats and a truly mammoth boot. Other than that, it’s pretty similar to the 110, though the styling is definitely a bit more ungainly.

Land Rover Defender Hard Top

This is the Commercial variant of the Defender, available in 90 or 110 body styles. It swaps out the rear seats for a flat load bay, with blanked-out rear windows and a solid bulkhead behind the front seats. Alternatives include the Toyota Land Cruiser Commercial.

Land Rover Defender Octa

If the standard, 500+hp Defender V8 isn’t enough for you, the Defender Octa ought to float your boat. It uses a 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing a monstrous 635hp. To handle all that power, you get giant all-terrain tyres and a trick suspension system that links the wheels together with a rat’s nest of high-pressure hydraulics.

The result is a car that seemingly defies physics – it’s huge and heavy, but stays flat in the corners and feels like a nuclear bomb is exploding when you hit the ‘OCTA’ mode button on the steering wheel. It’s fast on tarmac but crazy off-road, especially if you find a fast-flowing set of sand dunes or similar. Despite costing over £150,000, the Defender Octa somehow seems worth it. And next to a Mercedes-AMG G63, it still seems reasonably good value…

Land Rover Defender Classic V8

If you’re blessed with extremely deep pockets and have a penchant for more classic motors, Land Rover will happily sell you a restored, re-worked and totally customised version of a classic Defender. They’re fitted with modern 5.0-litre V8s, trimmed in the finest materials, and tailored to each specific customer, and are hand-built in the UK to exacting standards. Prices start from £190,000 and only go up from there…

Range Rover

Range Rover Evoque

The baby of the Land Rover range and one that’s proven immensely popular. The Evoque distils down the luxury of the bigger Range Rovers into a package that’s city-friendly and easy to drive. The Evoque gets more economical four-cylinder engines and suspension that’s set up more for potholes and speed bumps than it is rock-crawling.

It’s still great off-road compared to other luxurious small SUVs such as the Volvo XC40 or Audi Q3, but the focus is more on comfort. It’s a good car, though alternatives are roomier, more efficient and will likely prove more reliable.

Range Rover Velar

This has always seemed like the odd one out in the Range Rover line-up. The Velar sits between the Evoque and the Range Rover Sport and is meant to be an alternative to the Porsche Macan and BMW X3. It’s a very handsome car, but it feels closer to the Evoque than it does the full-sized Range Rover – and for the price, that just isn’t really enough.

Range Rover Sport

First introduced in 2005, the Range Rover Sport has been a runaway success for Land Rover, filling the gap left as the full-sized Range Rover became ever-more luxurious and bigger over the years. The latest model was launched in 2022 and features six-cylinder or V8 engines, a long-range plug-in hybrid option and a seriously plush interior.

It’s lower and stiffer than the regular Range Rover making it better to drive on the tarmac, but remains better off-road than nearly all of its closest alternatives. They include the BMW X5, Porsche Cayenne and Mercedes GLE.

Range Rover Sport SV

This is the halo of the Range Rover Sport line-up, featuring the same 4.4-litre, 635hp V8 engine and trick hydraulic suspension of the Defender Octa. It’s not quite as off-road biased as that car, getting more standard tyres (wrapped around mega-expensive forged carbonfibre wheels as an option). It’s still physics-defying in the corners, and costs around £140,000 at the base level.

Range Rover

This is the big daddy of the line-up, and a key alternative to full-on luxury cars like the Mercedes GLS, Bentley Bentayga and Rolls-Royce Cullinan. The Range Rover offers a family-friendly seven-seat layout but you can also opt for hyper-luxe models with individual chairs for two rear occupants.

A long-wheelbase model is offered for even more space, and the bespoke ‘SV’ programme means that if you have the money, you can have just about anything you want from paint finishes to upholstery. The price does add up, with base models costing more than £100,000 and rising to nearly £200,000 if you tick every box – but there’s no denying that this is as classy as luxury off-roaders get. And don’t forget that – it can still off-road with the best of them, leaving a Bentayga or GLS floundering in the mud. That might appeal if you’re regularly in the overflow car park at Ascot or exploring the far reaches of the family estate…

Discovery

Land Rover Discovery

The Discovery range was first launched in 1989 as a more family-friendly Land Rover – more roomy and utilitarian than the luxurious Range Rover but a bit more comfortable than the rugged Defender. That’s pretty much how the Discovery remains to this day.

It comes as standard with seven seats, each big enough for an adult, and has a simple, hardwearing interior and sensible engines instead of the hyper-powerful V8 engines or ultra-lux interiors of the more expensive models in the lineup. The current model was launched in 2017 – to some complaints at the weird off-centre number plate – but remains one of our favourite family cars due to its space and comfort. It’s still amazing off-road, too, though if you’re not using that capability then a Hyundai Santa Fe is a better all-rounder for less money.

Land Rover Discovery Sport

The Discovery Sport isn’t really a sporty car, despite the name – but it is a much smaller model in the Discovery family. It’s cheaper, too, and can be had with five or seven seats, though the third row’s only really suitable for children.

It’s definitely less upmarket than the full-sized Discovery – you can only get four-cylinder engines, for example – but it’s still comfortable and makes a great family car. Budget seven-seaters like the Chery Tiggo 8 offer much of the same for far less money, though.

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