Land Rover Defender 90 vs Lexus RX Plug-in Hybrid: cost to own

Verdict, over 6 years

The Lexus RX Plug-in Hybrid costs about $26,337 less

That's $366 a month. Closest matching trims: same fuel and drive where possible.

Defender 90 S$2,171/moTrue cost

RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+✓ $1,805/moTrue cost

2027 Land Rover Defender 90

Closest matching trim: Defender 90 S

Sticker (MSRP)$77,100

+$16,419→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$93,519

+ running costs→↓− $37,779 resale

True cost$2,171/moA month to own, after resale

2027 Lexus RX Plug-in Hybrid

Closest matching trim: RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+

Sticker (MSRP)$78,260

+$13,968→↓Freight, fees, HST

Drive away$92,228

+ running costs→↓− $42,281 resale

True cost$1,805/moA month to own, after resale

Line by line


Price
Sticker (MSRP)	✓ $77,100	$78,260	Defender 90 by $1,160
Freight and fees, before tax	$5,660	✓ $3,358	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $2,302
Sales tax (HST)	$10,759	✓ $10,610	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $149
Drive-away price	$93,519	✓ $92,228	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $1,291
Running costs, 6 years
Fuel or charging	$28,971	✓ $5,227	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $23,744
Insurance (estimate)	✓ $20,126	$23,954	Defender 90 by $3,828
Maintenance (estimate)	$13,961	✓ $13,853	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $108
Loan rate	6.5%	6.5%	—
Loan interest	$18,617	✓ $18,345	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $272
Lost return on your money	$18,778	✓ $18,529	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $249
Resale after 6 yrs	−$37,779	✓ −$42,281	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $4,502
Total
True cost	$156,284	✓ $129,947	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $26,337
True cost a month	$2,171/mo	✓ $1,805/mo	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $366
You pay each month	$2,365/mo	✓ $2,065/mo	RX Plug-in Hybrid by $300
Practical
Fuel type	Premium gas	Plug-in hybrid	—
Seats	5	5	—
Carry-ons, 2 people	Not published	7	—
Towing, lb	—	3,500	—
Cargo behind row 2, litres	Not published	838	—
Length	—	4.89 m	—
Ground clearance	—	21 cm	—
Resale % after 6 yrs	49%	✓ 54%	—
US crash test	Not rated yet	Not rated yet	—
European crash test	—	✓ 5★ (2022)	—

Price

Sticker (MSRP)

Defender 90 S ✓ $77,100RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ $78,260Cheaper by Defender 90 by $1,160

Freight and fees, before tax

Defender 90 S $5,660RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $3,358Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $2,302

Sales tax (HST)

Defender 90 S $10,759RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $10,610Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $149

Drive-away price

Defender 90 S $93,519RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $92,228Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $1,291

Running costs, 6 years

Fuel or charging

Defender 90 S $28,971RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $5,227Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $23,744

Insurance (estimate)

Defender 90 S ✓ $20,126RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ $23,954Cheaper by Defender 90 by $3,828

Maintenance (estimate)

Defender 90 S $13,961RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $13,853Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $108

Loan rate

Defender 90 S 6.5%RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ 6.5%Cheaper by —

Loan interest

Defender 90 S $18,617RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $18,345Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $272

Lost return on your money

Defender 90 S $18,778RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $18,529Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $249

Resale after 6 yrs

Defender 90 S −$37,779RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ −$42,281Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $4,502

Total

True cost

Defender 90 S $156,284RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $129,947Cheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $26,337

True cost a month

Defender 90 S $2,171/moRX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $1,805/moCheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $366

You pay each month

Defender 90 S $2,365/moRX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ $2,065/moCheaper by RX Plug-in Hybrid by $300

Practical

Fuel type

Defender 90 S Premium gasRX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ Plug-in hybridCheaper by —

Seats

Defender 90 S 5RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ 5Cheaper by —

Carry-ons, 2 people

Defender 90 S Not publishedRX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ 7Cheaper by —

Towing, lb

Defender 90 S —RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ 3,500Cheaper by —

Cargo behind row 2, litres

Defender 90 S Not publishedRX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ 838Cheaper by —

Length

Defender 90 S —RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ 4.89 mCheaper by —

Ground clearance

Defender 90 S —RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ 21 cmCheaper by —

Resale % after 6 yrs

Defender 90 S 49%RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ 54%Cheaper by —

US crash test

Defender 90 S Not rated yetRX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ Not rated yetCheaper by —

European crash test

Defender 90 S —RX Plug-in Hybrid 450h+ ✓ 5★ (2022)Cheaper by —

✓ marks the better figure. Resale is from used prices: the Defender 90 typical for its type and brand, the RX Plug-in Hybrid from its own. These trims differ in fuel (premium gas vs plug-in hybrid), which drives part of the gap. Their stickers differ by $1,160.