Open Today Sales: 9 AM-6 PM
Hours:
Open Today Sales: 9 AM-6 PMOpen Today Service: 8 AM-3 PMParts: Closed
Location
Cross-brand comparison · Land Rover Schaumburg
Both are square-shouldered, genuinely trail-capable luxury SUVs that start within about $1,400 of each other. The Defender 110 brings available adjustable ride height, steeper approach and departure angles, and three body lengths. The Lexus GX 550 brings a 349-hp twin-turbo V6, a body-on-frame chassis, and the higher tow rating. Here is how the numbers actually line up.
Source: Land Rover USA Defender pages ($65,000 MSRP plus $1,950 destination; towing; wading depth); Lexus 2026 GX press release ($68,335 including $1,550 delivery, processing and handling; Overtrail towing).
Schedule a Defender test drive → See Defender 110 inventoryThe short answer
Choose the Defender 110 if off-road geometry, wading depth, an available ride height you can raise and lower, or a choice of 90, 110, and 130 body lengths matters most. Choose the Lexus GX 550 if you tow near 9,000 lb, want a V6 in every trim, or prefer a traditional body-on-frame truck. Prices are close at the entry point: $66,950 for the Defender 110 and $68,335 for the GX 550 Premium, each including delivery.
2027 Defender 110 against the 2026 Lexus GX 550, the current U.S. models. Prices include each brand's delivery charge so they compare directly.
| Spec | Defender 110 | Lexus GX 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price |
$66,950 (S) Lower entry price |
$68,335 (Premium) |
| Off-road-focused trim | Trophy Edition, $89,350 | Overtrail, $75,980 |
| Body lengths offered |
Three: 90, 110, 130 More choice |
One |
| Construction | Aluminum unibody | Body-on-frame |
| Base engine | 3.0L turbo six, mild hybrid, 296 hp, 347 lb-ft |
3.4L twin-turbo V6, 349 hp, 479 lb-ft More base torque |
| Upgraded engine | 3.0L six, 395 hp (X-Dynamic SE and up); 4.4L V8, 626 hp (OCTA) | None. Every grade uses the V6 |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| 0–60 mph | 7.2 sec (S); 5.8 sec (395 hp) | 6.5 sec |
| Maximum towing | 8,200 lb |
9,096 lb (Overtrail); 9,063 lb (Premium, Premium+, Overtrail+) Tows more |
| Maximum ground clearance |
11.5 in (with available air suspension, off-road height) Higher |
9.84 in (Overtrail); 8.66 in (other grades) |
| Maximum wading depth | 35.4 in | Not published by Lexus |
| Maximum seating | 7 (5+2) | 7 (Premium, Luxury grades); 5 (Overtrail) |
| Length | 197.5 in | 197.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 119 in Longer |
112.2 in |
| Maximum cargo | 78.8 cu ft (KBB); Land Rover USA lists up to 69.1 cu ft | 76.9 cu ft (7-seat grades); 90.5 cu ft (Overtrail) |
| Off-road hardware | Terrain Response, height-adjustable air suspension available | Overtrail: 1-inch lift, locking rear differential, E-KDSS, onboard air compressor |
Defender 110 prices, engines, 0–60, length, wheelbase, and cargo are from Kelley Blue Book's 2027 Defender 110 listing. GX prices, towing, clearance, and Overtrail hardware are from Lexus's 2026 GX press release; GX length, wheelbase, 0–60, and cargo are from Kelley Blue Book. KBB doesn't state seat position for cargo, so compare those numbers with each other, not with figures from other sources.
Six numbers that decide trail and towing ability. The GX wins two of them.
| Measure | Defender 110 | Lexus GX 550 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum ground clearance | 11.5 in (with available air suspension, off-road height) | 9.84 in (Overtrail); 8.66 in (other grades) | Defender, by 1.66 in over the Overtrail |
| Approach angle | 30.1° air / 31.2° coil (standard ride height) | Up to 26° | Defender, by 4.1–5.2° |
| Breakover angle | 22.0° air / 22.6° coil (standard ride height) | Up to 24° | GX, by 1.4–2° |
| Departure angle | 37.7° air / 37.8° coil (standard ride height) | Up to 21° | Defender, by 16.7–16.8° |
| Maximum wading depth | 35.4 in | Not published | Defender (only published figure) |
| Maximum towing | 8,200 lb | 9,096 lb (Overtrail) | GX, by 896 lb |
The angles need one caveat. Lexus quotes the GX at up to 26 degrees approach, 24 degrees breakover, and 21 degrees departure. Land Rover's specification sheet gives the Defender 110 30.1 degrees approach, 22.0 degrees breakover, and 37.7 degrees departure at normal ride height with air suspension, and 31.2, 22.6, and 37.8 degrees on the standard coil springs. With air suspension, those figures come before the body is raised. So even at the Defender's lowest setting, its approach and departure angles are steeper than the GX's best. Breakover is the one angle where the GX leads, by 1.4 to 2 degrees, thanks to its shorter 112.2-inch wheelbase. That's the angle that decides whether you scrape the middle of the vehicle cresting a sharp ridge.
Departure angle matters more than it sounds. It's what keeps the rear bumper and hitch off the ground when you drive down off a ledge or pull up a steep boat-launch ramp. Our Defender capability guide walks through what each of these numbers means on a real trail.
Two different engineering answers to the same rocky trail.
Defender 110
Available adjustable height on an aluminum unibody
Lexus GX 550 Overtrail
Lifted body-on-frame with a rear locker
Neither approach is wrong. A ladder frame is the traditional choice for heavy towing and hard use, and it's part of why the GX's tow rating is higher. The Defender's available adjustable air suspension is what lets one vehicle sit low and settled at 70 mph on I-90 and then stand tall on a rutted two-track in the Kettle Moraine. If you're curious how far you can push the Defender's specification toward trail use, our guide to custom-building a Defender covers packs, tires, and accessories.
Where the GX's extra 896 lb actually matters, and where it doesn't.
The GX comes in one size. The Defender comes in three, and that changes the comparison.
| If you're looking at | Starting price | Seats | Closest match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defender 90 | $62,950 | 5 | No GX equivalent. Shorter two-door for drivers who rarely use a back seat |
| Defender 110 | $66,950 | Up to 7 | GX 550 Premium ($68,335) or Premium+ ($72,800) |
| Defender 110 Trophy Edition | $89,350 | Up to 7 | GX 550 Overtrail ($75,980) or Overtrail+ ($83,445) |
| Defender 130 | $75,950 | Up to 8 | No GX equivalent. The GX tops out at seven seats |
Defender prices are Land Rover USA starting MSRPs ($61,000 / $65,000 / $74,000) plus the $1,950 destination charge, matching Kelley Blue Book's 2027 listings; Trophy Edition from Kelley Blue Book. GX prices include Lexus's $1,550 delivery, processing and handling fee.
The GX's real rival is the Defender 110, and the two are priced within $1,385 of each other at the start. The Overtrail is a sharper value as an off-road special: it bundles the lift, the locker, and the compressor for $75,980, where the Defender's Trophy Edition starts at $89,350. On the other hand, a buyer who needs an eighth seat or a third row adults can use has nowhere to go in the GX. That's the case for the Defender 130, and our Defender 110 vs. 130 comparison covers what the extra length buys.
Most of either SUV's life is spent on Golf Road, not on a trail.
For a commute on I-90 or a Saturday loop around Woodfield, ride quality and cabin manners matter more than approach angles. The Defender's unibody and long 119-inch wheelbase work in its favor here. GearJunkie's 2026 Defender 110 review scored comfort 8 out of 10 and called the air-sprung ride around town "very cushy." The GX's body-on-frame layout is tougher in the traditional sense, but frame-based SUVs generally let more of a road's ruts and expansion joints through to the cabin. Drive both over the same broken pavement before deciding which feel you prefer.
Power delivery is different too. The GX's twin-turbo V6 makes 479 lb-ft in every grade, which helps when merging with a trailer behind you. The entry Defender 110 S makes 296 hp and 347 lb-ft from a mild-hybrid six. Step up to the X-Dynamic SE ($76,350 with destination) and the same six makes 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, which cuts the 0–60 time from 7.2 to 5.8 seconds, quicker than the GX's 6.5.
Choose the Defender if
Choose the Lexus GX if
Defender 110
Lexus GX 550
Spec sheets narrow the list. The drive decides it. Book a test drive at Land Rover Schaumburg, 920 W Golf Rd, and take a Defender 110 over the same roads you drive every week, including a stretch of I-90 and some of the rougher pavement off Golf Road. We can set up the 90 or 130 too if you're unsure about size.
Browse current Defender 110, Defender 90, and Defender 130 inventory before you visit, or get a number for your current vehicle with our trade-in tool.
Schedule a test drive → See Defender 110 inventoryThe Defender 110 has more ground clearance (up to 11.5 inches with available air suspension), steeper approach and departure angles, a published 35.4-inch wading depth, and three body lengths. The Lexus GX 550 tows more (up to 9,096 lb against 8,200 lb), has a slightly better breakover angle, and uses a body-on-frame chassis with a 349-hp V6 in every grade. Starting prices are close: $66,950 for the Defender 110 and $68,335 for the GX, each including delivery.
Yes. The Defender 110 rides on an aluminum unibody with a 119-inch wheelbase, and with available air suspension it lowers itself for highway driving. GearJunkie's 2026 review scored its comfort 8 out of 10 and described the air-sprung ride around town as very cushy. For a daily commute on I-90 or around Schaumburg, it behaves like a luxury SUV first and a trail vehicle second.
On the published numbers, the Defender 110 has the edge in ground clearance, approach angle, departure angle, and wading depth. The GX 550 Overtrail has a slightly better breakover angle and a standard locking rear differential. Both are genuinely capable, so the better choice depends on the terrain you drive and how you plan to equip the vehicle.
The Lexus GX. Lexus rates the GX 550 Overtrail at 9,096 lb and the Premium, Premium+, and Overtrail+ at 9,063 lb. Land Rover rates the Defender 110 at up to 8,200 lb.
No. The GX 550 Overtrail and Overtrail+ seat five. Seven seats are available on the Premium, Premium+, Luxury, and Luxury+ grades. The Defender 110 is available with seven seats, and the Defender 130 seats up to eight.
Not at the entry point. The Defender 110 starts at $66,950 including destination, and the GX 550 Premium starts at $68,335 including delivery. Off-road trims flip that: the GX Overtrail starts at $75,980, while the Defender 110 Trophy Edition starts at $89,350.
Sources: Land Rover USA Defender and Defender 110 pages (starting MSRPs effective April 1, 2026, $1,950 destination, 8,200 lb towing, 35.4-inch wading depth, seating); Land Rover U.K. Defender 110 specification sheet (approach, breakover, and departure angles at standard ride height, coil and air suspension); Land Rover Defender 110 technical data (eight-speed automatic); Kelley Blue Book 2027 Defender 110 specifications (trim prices, engines, 0–60, dimensions, cargo); IEEE Spectrum (11.5-inch maximum ground clearance with air suspension); Lexus 2026 GX press release (prices including $1,550 delivery, processing and handling, towing, clearance, angles, Overtrail equipment, horsepower, torque, transmission); Kelley Blue Book 2026 Lexus GX specifications (dimensions, cargo, seating by grade, 0–60, ground clearance on non-Overtrail grades); GearJunkie 2026 Defender 110 review (ride comfort; coil springs standard, air suspension optional on the 110). Prices are as published in October 2026 and exclude tax, title, license, and retailer fees. They can change, so confirm current pricing and availability with our sales team.