Land Rover Defender 90 MPG by year — every rating on record

The Land Rover Defender 90 has a combined EPA fuel economy rating for 10 model years, from 1994 to 2026. Across those years its best rated version returned 19 mpg (2020) and its thirstiest returned 13 mpg (1994). The EPA record holds 15 configurations for this nameplate, most recently a Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD.

Year-by-year EPA ratings

Where it has stood in its class

Ranked against every other nameplate the EPA filed under the same class that year. The Land Rover Defender 90 placed highest in 1995 at #38 of 44, and lowest in 2026 at #142 of 191. It spent 1 of its 10 ranked years in the top half of its class.

Every configuration on record

All 15 configurations EPA lists for this nameplate, newest first.

How the rating has moved between model years

Comparing the best-rated configuration of each year. 1 of 1 year-over-year steps improved the top rating.

What Defender 90 fuel costs over a year

At the EPA's 11,500 miles a year, the 2026 Land Rover Defender 90 burns 605 to 719 gallons depending on configuration. Below is what that costs at three pump prices, and how much more the thirstiest configuration costs than the most efficient one.

EPA’s own estimate for the 2026 model year is $4,100 to $4,850 a year in fuel, or $9,250 more than the average new vehicle over five years.

How it compares with other Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

Across the 317 nameplates EPA classifies as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, the median best combined rating is 22 mpg. At 19 mpg the Land Rover Defender 90 is 3 mpg below the median, which is worth about $289 a year at $3.50 a gallon.

• All Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD rankings — every nameplate in the class, best to worst.

Other Land Rover nameplates

Every Land Rover model compared → — all nameplates ranked by best combined rating, with what each one costs a year.