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Land Rover Defender 110 Safety Ratings & Awards

The Defender 110 holds a five-star Euro NCAP rating from 2020 and was named MotorTrend's 2021 SUV of the Year. NHTSA and IIHS have not crash-tested it. Here is every rating and award we could verify.

Is the Land Rover Defender 110 a safe SUV?

The Defender 110's independent crash-test result is a five-star Euro NCAP rating from 2020, with 85% scores for both adult and child occupant protection and maximum points in the side-impact tests. Every 2026 Defender 110 includes standard Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Assist, and Lane Keep Assist. However, NHTSA and IIHS have not crash-tested the Defender, so there is no U.S. crash-test rating to compare with other SUVs.

Defender 110 Safety Ratings at a Glance

Every independent safety rating we could verify for the current-generation Defender 110, as of September 2026.

Rating organizationDefender 110 resultWhat it means
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (U.S.)Not testedNHTSA has not crash-tested the Defender, per U.S. News as of its 2026 review.
IIHS crash tests and awards (U.S.)Not testedIIHS has not published crash-test ratings for the Defender.
Euro NCAP5 stars (December 2020)Adult occupant 85%, child occupant 85%, vulnerable road users 71%, safety assist 79%. Tested: European-market Defender 110 2.0 diesel.
Cars.com Car Seat CheckA grade for LATCHEasy-to-use second-row LATCH anchors, per certified car seat technicians (2020 model).

Sources: U.S. News, IIHS.org, Consumer Reports, Euro NCAP (euroncap.com), and Cars.com. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings and iihs.org/ratings for the latest results.

What the Euro NCAP Test Found

A balanced summary of Euro NCAP's 2020 Defender 110 assessment. Results use European test procedures and are not directly comparable with U.S. ratings.

Strengths

  • Stable passenger compartment in the frontal offset test.
  • Maximum points in both the side barrier and side pole impact tests.
  • Maximum points for child dummy protection in the frontal and side crash tests.
  • Good whiplash protection for front and rear seats.

Areas Euro NCAP flagged

  • Stiff dashboard structures reduced the score for femur protection.
  • The Defender's high mass and front structure make it an aggressive partner to another vehicle in a crash.
  • Poor pelvis protection for pedestrians along the front edge of the hood.
  • A rear-facing child seat could not be fitted in the optional third row.

Verified Defender Awards

Awards we confirmed with the awarding organization or Land Rover's official announcements.

AwardAwarding organizationYear
SUV of the YearMotorTrend2021
World Car Design of the YearWorld Car Awards2021
Car of the YearTop Gear2020
Best SUVAutocar2020
Best SUV of 2026 (Defender OCTA)The Drive2026

The Defender won World Car Design of the Year in 2021, not the overall World Car of the Year. The Drive's 2026 award went specifically to the high-performance Defender OCTA, which is built on the 110 body. By April 2021, Land Rover reported that the Defender had won more than 50 international awards since launch.

Standard Driver Assistance on the 2026 Defender 110

Land Rover USA lists these driver-assistance features as standard on the 2026 Defender 110.

Collision avoidance

  • Emergency Braking
  • Blind Spot Assist
  • Rear Traffic Monitor
  • Lane Keep Assist

Driving and parking

  • Adaptive Cruise Control
  • Traffic Sign Recognition and Adaptive Speed Limiter
  • 3D Surround Camera
  • 360° Parking Aid and Brake Hold

Family and off-road

Driver Condition Monitor alerts a drowsy driver, and Wade Sensing is available on select trims. Compare seating across the lineup in our Defender 90 vs 110 vs 130 buyer’s guide.

Equipment varies by trim and model year. Confirm features on the window sticker of the vehicle you are considering.

How to Check Defender Safety Yourself

  1. 1
    Look up NHTSA ratingsSearch the exact model year on NHTSA’s ratings site. New results can appear during a model year.
  2. 2
    Check IIHSSearch the IIHS vehicle ratings database for crash-test and headlight results.
  3. 3
    Run a recall checkEnter the VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup before you buy.
  4. 4
    Test the safety features in personExperience Emergency Braking alerts, Blind Spot Assist, and the 3D Surround Camera on a test drive.

See the Defender 110's Safety Features in Person

Our North Haven team can walk you through every driver-assistance feature and help you set them up before you leave the lot.

Schedule a Defender 110 Walkaround
  • Ask for a feature demo We will show you how the 3D Surround Camera, Blind Spot Assist, and Lane Keep Assist work and how to adjust them.
  • Compare family SUVs See how the Defender 110 compares with the Discovery in our Defender 110 vs Discovery guide.
  • Plan for weekend adventures Explore what the Defender can do off pavement in our Defender off-road capabilities in CT guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Land Rover Defender 110 a safe SUV?
The Defender 110 earned a five-star Euro NCAP rating in 2020, with 85% for adult occupant and 85% for child occupant protection, and it comes with standard Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, and Blind Spot Assist. NHTSA and IIHS have not crash-tested the Defender, so there is no U.S. crash-test rating.
What is the Defender's NHTSA safety rating?
There is none. NHTSA has not crash-tested the Defender, according to U.S. News as of its 2026 review. Check nhtsa.gov for the latest results on the model year you are considering.
Has the IIHS tested the Land Rover Defender?
No. IIHS has not published crash-test ratings for the Defender. This is not unusual for relatively low-volume luxury vehicles.
What did the Defender score in Euro NCAP testing?
Euro NCAP awarded the Defender 110 five stars in December 2020: 85% adult occupant, 85% child occupant, 71% vulnerable road users, and 79% safety assist. The tested vehicle was a European-market Defender 110 2.0-liter diesel.
Did the Defender win World Car of the Year?
No. The Defender won 2021 World Car Design of the Year at the World Car Awards, a separate category. The overall 2021 World Car of the Year went to a different vehicle.
What awards has the Land Rover Defender won?
Verified awards include MotorTrend's 2021 SUV of the Year, 2021 World Car Design of the Year, Top Gear's 2020 Car of the Year, and Autocar's Best SUV 2020. The high-performance Defender OCTA was also named The Drive's Best SUV of 2026.

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