Land Rover Defender vs Porsche Cayenne
The Porsche Cayenne is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 20 mpg for the Land Rover Defender, a 4 mpg advantage and costs about $500 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Porsche Cayenne leads in 5. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2020–2026
Land Rover Defender
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 54 configurations
2015–2026
Porsche Cayenne
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 97 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Land Rover Defender | Porsche Cayenne |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 20 mpg | 24 mpg ✓ |
| Best city MPG | 18 mpg | 21 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 23 mpg | 29 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $3,800 | $3,300 ✓ |
| Lowest CO2 output | 444 g/mi | 174 g/mi ✓ |
| Engines offered | SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI | SIDI, SIDI; PHEV, 4.0, 3.0 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S8) | Automatic (S8), Automatic (AM8) |
| Drivetrains | 4-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Premium | Premium, Premium and Electricity, Premium Gas or Electricity |
| EPA class | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2020–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 54 | 97 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Defender vs Cayenne: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Land Rover Defender or the Porsche Cayenne?
The Porsche Cayenne is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 24 mpg combined versus 20 mpg for the Land Rover Defender, a 4 mpg advantage and costs about $500 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Porsche Cayenne runs about $3,300 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $3,800 for the Land Rover Defender — a difference of roughly $500 per year.
What engines do the Defender and Cayenne offer?
Land Rover Defender: SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI. Porsche Cayenne: SIDI, SIDI; PHEV, 4.0, 3.0.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
Yes — the EPA classifies both the Land Rover Defender and the Porsche Cayenne as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they compete directly.
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