2024 Land Rover Defender Configurations: Body Styles, Trims, and Powertrains Explained
The 2024 Land Rover Defender isn't a single vehicle — it's a family of configurations spanning three body styles, multiple trim levels, and several powertrain options. Understanding how those pieces fit together helps you compare what's actually available and what each combination delivers.
The Three Body Styles
Land Rover offers the 2024 Defender in three distinct sizes:
Defender 90 — A two-door, shorter-wheelbase version with seating for up to six. It carries the most classic proportions and is the least common configuration in the U.S. market.
Defender 110 — The standard four-door model with seating for up to seven. This is the most widely available version and the one most buyers encounter first.
Defender 130 — A stretched four-door variant designed to seat up to eight. It shares the 110's doors but adds length behind the rear axle for a third-row seat and expanded cargo space.
Each body style has different interior dimensions, seating capacity, payload ratings, and towing specs. The 90, for example, uses a fold-out rear jump seat arrangement rather than a conventional second row.
Trim Levels Across the Lineup
The 2024 Defender uses a layered trim structure. Not every trim is available on every body style, so the combination matters.
| Trim | Generally Available On |
|---|---|
| S | 90, 110 |
| SE | 90, 110, 130 |
| X-Dynamic SE | 90, 110, 130 |
| X-Dynamic HSE | 90, 110, 130 |
| HSE | 90, 110, 130 |
| X | 90, 110, 130 |
| First Edition | Select configurations |
Higher trims add features like air suspension, upgraded audio systems, advanced driver assistance technology, larger displays, and premium materials. The X trim sits at the top of the standard lineup and includes most available features as standard equipment.
Land Rover also offers special editions and limited configurations that can change by model year and market, so availability varies.
Powertrain Options 🔋
The 2024 Defender offers a range of engines, and powertrain availability varies by trim and body style:
P300 — Turbocharged 2.0L Inline-4 (300 hp) The entry-level petrol engine. Paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD.
P400 — Mild-Hybrid Inline-6 (400 hp) A turbocharged 3.0L six-cylinder with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system (MHEV). The mild hybrid assists but does not allow electric-only driving.
P500 — Supercharged V8 (518 hp) Available on the Defender 90 and 110 in higher configurations. Uses Land Rover's 5.0L supercharged V8.
P400e — Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) Available on the 110. Combines a 2.0L turbocharged engine with an electric motor for a combined output around 398 hp. Offers a limited electric-only range (EPA estimates vary) before the combustion engine takes over.
The PHEV configuration is notable because it affects ownership in ways beyond fuel type — charging infrastructure, EV incentive eligibility, insurance classification, and registration requirements can all differ depending on the buyer's state.
Off-Road and Capability Packages
Beyond the core configurations, Land Rover offers packages that affect capability and character:
Explorer Pack — Adds roof rails, side-mounted gear carrier, and exterior accessories suited for outdoor use.
Adventure Pack — Exterior styling and protection-focused equipment.
Country Pack / Urban Pack — Appearance and utility bundles targeting different use profiles.
Off-Road Pack — Adds features like all-terrain tires and underbody protection.
These packages can be added across multiple trims and body styles, which means two identically trimmed Defenders can have meaningfully different equipment depending on which packages were selected.
Suspension and Terrain Systems
All 2024 Defenders include Terrain Response 2, Land Rover's drive mode system that adjusts throttle, transmission, traction control, and differential settings for different surfaces. Higher trims and packages add air suspension, which adjusts ride height for different conditions and improves approach and departure angles off-road.
Wade sensing — a feature that monitors water depth during water crossings — is available on select configurations and is tied to the air suspension system.
What Shapes the Right Configuration for Any Buyer
The configuration question isn't just about which features you want. Several variables interact:
- Seating needs: The 90 seats fewer people; the 130 adds a third row but reduces cargo flexibility
- Powertrain goals: Buyers in states with strong EV incentives may find the P400e worth evaluating; those prioritizing towing may lean toward the inline-6
- Off-road use vs. daily driving: Package selection affects real-world capability, not just appearance
- Fuel costs and infrastructure: PHEV ownership depends heavily on charging access
- Trim-to-body-style availability: Not every trim is offered on every body style, which narrows decisions faster than most buyers expect
The full configuration matrix — including pricing, standard features by trim, and package compatibility — shifts between model years. The 2024 lineup reflects specific decisions Land Rover made for that model year, and those details are worth verifying against current manufacturer specifications or a window sticker. ���
How any specific configuration fits a buyer's situation depends on factors that only they can weigh — budget, intended use, where they live, and what trade-offs they're willing to make.
