Petrol Land Rover Defender: MOT pass rate
76% of petrol Land Rover Defenders pass the MOT first time, measured across 2,214 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 95,287.
Petrol against the other Land Rover Defender versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 73.4% | 102,585 |
| Petrol | 76% | 2,214 |
| All Land Rover Defender | 73.5% | 104,958 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.
On the Land Rover Defender specifically, petrol is the strongest at 76%, and this petrol version sits 2.5 points above the 73.5% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
The petrol Land Rover Defender is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average petrol Land Rover Defender had covered 95,287 miles at test, against 110,795 for the diesel. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Land Rover Defender page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Land Rover Defender fuel types
- Diesel Land Rover Defender - 73.4%