Land Rover Defender 110 S D250 vs Nissan Patrol Ti-L

As of mid-2026 they cost almost the same, about $115,000 for the Defender 110 S D250 and $117,000 for the Patrol Ti-L. But they sit at opposite ends of their ranges. The Ti-L is the top Patrol, so the money buys leather, heated and ventilated seats, a sunroof, seven seats and the 298kW V8. The Defender 110 S is the cheapest Defender, so the same outlay buys the badge, a current five-star ANCAP rating, superior off-road hardware and 8.1L/100km economy, but in plain base trim with five seats. Neither is overpriced for what it is; they are simply built to opposite briefs. More kit for the dollar goes to the Patrol; badge, safety and capability to the Defender.

The Patrol Ti-L wins on outright power. Its 5.6-litre petrol V8 makes 298kW and 560Nm to the Defender 110 S's 183kW and 570Nm from a 3.0-litre inline-six diesel, so it has well over a third more power, though the two are almost level on torque. The Defender is quicker than its outputs suggest at a claimed 8.3 seconds to 100km/h, helped by a much lighter body, and its diesel is built for efficiency and low-down pull rather than top-end. That power gap is most obvious at highway overtaking speeds. But if you want the muscle of a big petrol V8, only the Patrol has it.

The Defender has the clear safety edge. The current Land Rover Defender carries a five-star ANCAP rating tested in 2020, which still applies to the on-sale 110, while the Nissan Patrol has no current ANCAP rating: the Y62 has never been tested to a current protocol. Both come with autonomous emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control as standard, so the active-safety kit is close. But a five-star result, even a 2020 one, against no rating at all is a genuine gap, and for buyers who weigh a crash rating it is a strong reason to take the Land Rover.

The Defender 110 S is the more capable off-roader on paper, and it is not close on the numbers. It brings a 37.6-degree approach and a huge 41.9-degree departure angle, 293mm of ground clearance and 900mm of wading, against the Patrol Ti-L's 28 and 26.3 degrees, 273mm and a shallower wading depth. The Ti-L's side steps blunt its approach angle, where the Defender's air suspension can raise the body for clearance. Both have low-range gearing, and the Patrol's sheer size and 140-litre range have their own appeal on long remote trips. But for technical terrain, the Defender's geometry gives it the edge.

It splits. The Patrol Ti-L seats seven across three rows on second-row captain's chairs, where the Defender 110 S is a five-seater as standard, with a third row only optional. For carrying people, the Patrol wins. For cargo, the Defender turns the tables: its boot holds 972 litres behind the second row to the Patrol's 553 behind its third, and 2277 litres folded flat to the Nissan's 1620. The Patrol's boot grows once its third row is folded, but the Defender starts from a bigger, more usable base. So a five-seat family that hauls gear may prefer the Defender's load space, while anyone needing the extra row takes the Patrol.

The Defender is much cheaper to fuel. Its 3.0-litre diesel claims 8.1L/100km against the Patrol Ti-L V8's 14.4, close to a 45 per cent saving at the pump, and over a big annual mileage that gap dominates running costs. The Defender also comes with five years of roadside assistance as standard, where the Patrol's runs one year by default and extends only if you service with Nissan. Both carry a five-year warranty. Its smaller 89-litre tank still out-ranges the thirsty Patrol on a fill, thanks to that economy. Land Rover servicing has a reputation for costing more than Nissan's, so the fuel saving is the Defender's clearest running-cost win rather than a clean sweep.

Because you are comparing the bottom of one range with the top of another. The Defender 110 S is the entry grade, so Land Rover fits it with the plainer standard trim and dual-zone climate, and charges for leather and luxuries as you climb to SE, HSE and X grades. The Patrol Ti-L is the flagship, so Nissan loads it with leather-accented, heated and ventilated seats, a heated wheel, a sunroof and tri-zone climate as standard. At about the same price you are choosing a stripped-back premium badge against a fully-equipped mainstream one. That is the whole tension of this match.

It comes down to what your $115,000 is buying. Take the Defender 110 S if you want the prestige badge, the current five-star safety rating, the superior off-road geometry and the diesel economy, and you can live with base trim and five seats. Take the Patrol Ti-L if you want a fully loaded cabin, seven seats and the petrol V8, and you would rather have equipment and space than a premium nameplate. One sells you capability and image in plain trim; the other sells you luxury and grunt in a mainstream badge. Match the truck to what you actually value.