Comparison: Turning circle Land Rover Defender vs. competitors 2025
In the realm of off-roading and robust charm, the Land Rover Defender has traditionally been a class of its own, blending British sophistication with mud-plugging prowess. However, amidst its ruggedness, an aspect that frequently gets overlooked is the vehicle's turning circle, a critical factor when you're trying to maneuver through tight spots either in the wild or in the concrete jungle. The current Land Rover Defender boasts a turning circle that's tight enough to make some hatchbacks blush. But was it always this nimble? Let's journey through the evolution of the Defender's turning circle and see how it stands against its siblings and rivals.
Land Rover Defender - How has the turning circle changed over the generations?
The lineage of the Defender spinning its way through tight spaces begins rather ambiguously. The early Defender I models (1990-2007) are like those mysterious monoliths in sci-fi movies - no official turning circle data exists. But as we transition into the realm of the Defender I (1. Facelift) from 2007-2016, things get clearer with a respectable 12.30 meters. Then, like a ballerina mastering her pirouettes, the Defender II (2020-now) trims it down even further to a neat 12.00 meters, showcasing Land Rover's commitment to improving maneuverability alongside ruggedness.The difference in Turning circle between first generation (I) from 1990 and last generation (Defender II) from 2020 is 12 m.
The turning circle of the current generation of Defender is 13 m.
The turning circle compared to other Land Rover models
When it comes to the Defender's brethren, it’s quite the middle child in terms of turning agility. The iconic Range Rover takes the crown within the Land Rover family, flaunting a balletic 11.00 meters, leaving the Defender's 12.00 meters seem a tad sluggish. The Discovery Sport and Evoque pirouette close behind the Range Rover, with 11.80 meters and 11.90 meters respectively. However, it ties with the Range Rover Velar and slightly outshines the Discovery and Range Rover Sport, proving that when it comes to turning, size isn't everything in the Land Rover household.Land Rover Defender vs other current cars by Land Rover
(Turning circle)
1. Range Rover
11 m
3. Discovery Sport
11 m
4. Range Rover Sport
12 m
5. Range Rover Velar
12 m
6. Discovery
12 m
7. Defender
13 m
How does the turning circle of the Land Rover Defender compare to it's nearest competitors?
Now, pulling these British contenders alongside their international rivals sheds more light on where they stand in the tight circle dance. The Defender, with its 12.00 meters, stands its ground against the Mercedes-Benz G-Klasse’s 11.30 meters and slightly edges out behemoths like the Hyundai Trajet and Audi Q8, with their 13.20 meters and eye-watering 13.30 meters, respectively. Yet, it gives way to more nimble movers like the Mazda 2 and Fiat 500, cheeky compacts with turning circles of 9.80 meters and 9.20 meters, making them urbanite darlings. But none, absolutely none, can match the Defender's blend of turning circumference and rugged capability, weaving together off-road prowess with the occasional urban twist and twirl.Land Rover Defender vs. similar cars
(Turning circle)
7. Lada Urban 2016
11 m
