2008 Land Rover Defender vs. 2011 Toyota Highlander
To start off, 2011 Toyota Highlander is newer by 3 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2008 Land Rover Defender. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2008 Land Rover Defender would be higher. At 2,700 cc (4 cylinders), 2011 Toyota Highlander is equipped with a bigger engine. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2008 Land Rover Defender weights approximately 327 kg more than 2011 Toyota Highlander.
Because 2008 Land Rover Defender is four wheel drive (4WD), it will have significant more traction and grip than 2011 Toyota Highlander. In wet, icy, snow, or gravel driving conditions, 2008 Land Rover Defender will offer significantly more control. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2008 Land Rover Defender (301 Nm @ 1950 RPM) has 49 more torque (in Nm) than 2011 Toyota Highlander. (252 Nm @ 4100 RPM). This means 2008 Land Rover Defender will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2011 Toyota Highlander. 2011 Toyota Highlander has automatic transmission and 2008 Land Rover Defender has manual transmission. 2008 Land Rover Defender will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2011 Toyota Highlander will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2008 Land Rover Defender | 2011 Toyota Highlander | |
| Make | Land Rover | Toyota |
| Model | Defender | Highlander |
| Year Released | 2008 | 2011 |
| Body Type | SUV | SUV |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2495 cc | 2700 cc |
| Valves per Cylinder | 2 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 0 HP | 187 HP |
| Torque | 301 Nm | 252 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 1950 RPM | 4100 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | 4WD | Front |
| Transmission Type | Manual | Automatic |
| Number of Seats | 5 seats | 7 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2117 kg | 1790 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 5070 mm | 4785 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 1800 mm | 1910 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 2040 mm | 1730 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 3230 mm | 2789 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 93 L | 73 L |
