Land Rover Defender vs Volvo XC90 (2026)
Land Rover Defender (₹1.07 Crore – ₹2.62 Crore) and Volvo XC90 (₹98.80 Lakh) go head-to-head in the luxury suv space. Here is how they compare on the numbers (October 2026).
- The Volvo XC90 is more affordable — it starts ₹8.20 Lakh lower than the Land Rover Defender.
- The Land Rover Defender is the more powerful car, with 626 bhp against 247 bhp.
Specification Comparison
Shortlisting a third car? See the full three-way comparison →
Land Rover Defender in short
The Defender is Land Rover's icon and its widest Indian range: three body lengths (three-door 90, five-door 110, eight-seat 130) and four engines spanning ₹1.07 crore for the 2.0 petrol 110 X-Dynamic HSE to ₹2.62 crore for the 635 PS OCTA Black — the most extreme Defender ever made. In between sit the 350 PS D350 diesel, the 5.0L V8 across all three bodies, and the twin-turbo 4.4L V8 OCTA flagship. All prices are from Land Rover India's official July 2026 pan-India price list. Its only real rival in capability-plus-status terms is the Mercedes G-Class, at roughly double the entry money.
Full Defender prices & variants →Volvo XC90 in short
The XC90 is Volvo's seven-seat flagship, sold in India in its 2025-facelift form as a single fully-loaded variant: the B5 AWD Ultra at ₹98.80 lakh, powered by a 250 hp 2.0L mild-hybrid petrol. That one-variant strategy makes it the only sub-₹1-crore seven-seat flagship from a European luxury brand — the Mercedes GLS and BMW X7 both start well above. Volvo's safety-first engineering is the brand's calling card, and the electric EX90 flagship is slated to join it in India with a launch set for October 12.
Full XC90 prices & variants →Frequently Asked Questions
Which is cheaper: Defender or XC90?
The Volvo XC90 is more affordable — it starts ₹8.20 Lakh lower than the Land Rover Defender. (Ex-showroom prices, October 2026.)
Defender vs XC90 — which is safer?
NCAP ratings: Land Rover Defender — not yet tested; Volvo XC90 — not yet tested.
Should I buy the Defender or the XC90?
The Volvo XC90 is more affordable — it starts ₹8.20 Lakh lower than the Land Rover Defender. The Land Rover Defender is the more powerful car, with 626 bhp against 247 bhp. Beyond the numbers, shortlist by test-driving both — ride quality and dealer experience differ by city.