New vs. Certified Pre-Owned Defender 110: Which Should You Buy?
New Vehicles
The reasons to buy a new Defender 110 are pretty straightforward. For one thing, you’ll enjoy complete control over the development of your vehicle, from the colors of the exterior and roof, to the wheel size and style, to important functional capabilities like the optional third seating row and towing equipment. That means that when you drive off in your vehicle, it will look and feel exactly how you want, and do exactly what you need it to do. It’s impossible to quantify how that feels, and it’s not something that can be replicated by purchasing from a fixed selection of previously-owned vehicles. Along the way, you can also rest assured that your Defender 110 is equipped with the latest technology and upgrades that Land Rover makes to its models each year, making a new vehicle the best of the best when it comes to luxury SUVs.
Another benefit to buying new is the factory warranty offered with all new Land Rovers. It covers your Defender 110 from bumper to bumper for four years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first, including drivetrain components. You’ll also receive an additional corrosion perforation warranty that lasts for six years. So not only will you receive your perfect vehicle in pristine condition, you’ll be able to keep it that way.
Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Vehicles
While anxiety is a natural and understandable part of buying any pre-owned vehicle, the Land Rover certified pre-owned program ensures that you’re purchasing something that’s a used car in name only. Right off the top, only Defender 110s less than five years old and with fewer than 60,000 miles on them are eligible for the program, and there are several other requirements, including a complete service history and the absence of unapproved aftermarket parts. All of that guarantees that any CPO vehicle is still in near-new condition. Furthermore, those requirements often mean that a CPO Land Rover will often have at least some of its four-year factory warranty remaining on it.
Not that it should be a huge concern either way. Before it reaches the lot, a certified pre-owned Defender 110 must pass a 165-point inspection that includes every component and system imaginable, from the presence of an owner’s manual to the suspension, then a road test. All of that work is then guaranteed by a Land Rover certified pre-owned warranty, which adds one or two years on top of whatever may remain of the original factory warranty. That additional warranty covers any sudden or unexpected mechanical or electrical failures, and the warranty also comes with roadside assistance and even expense reimbursement.
New Vehicle Advantages
A Defender Just for You
Woolstone Green? Gondwana Stone? Namib Orange? When you buy a new Defender 110, you get to choose its paint color, as well as just about everything else about it, including trim options, packages, and accessories. From the first time you get behind the wheel, you’ll be surrounded by a vehicle that is uniquely you.
Advanced Features
Buying new also means that you’re sure to have the latest features and technology in your Defender 110. Land Rover prides itself on being well known for premium luxury vehicles, but in order to retain that status, it needs to constantly innovate and evolve. That means that every single year, there are notable advancements, and only the owners of a new Land Rover will have them.
New Vehicle Disadvantages
Higher Prices
Obviously, the numerous benefits of buying a new Land Rover come at an increased price, a reflection of the Defender 110 being a top-end luxury SUV. If there’s a silver lining, it’s that your new Land Rover will still hold more value, on average, than a used vehicle, commanding a higher resale price, should you decide to sell it in the future.
Extra Expenses
Rather infamously, new vehicles depreciate significantly the moment that they’re driven off of the lot, and that’s just one of the hidden costs associated with buying new. Often, insurance premiums and registration fees will reflect the vehicle’s value as well, so simply comparing sticker prices often doesn’t provide a complete picture.
Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Advantages
Attainable Price Point
This, of course, is the primary reason most consider the certified pre-owned route when purchasing a Defender 110, as a vehicle that’s been in service for a couple years will generally be discounted from its original factory price. Not only that, but CPO Land Rovers will typically receive very competitive financing rates, since lenders trust their future value more than other pre-owned vehicles.
Uncommon Reliability
Between the strict age and mileage requirements and the 165-point inspection, there’s no reason for concern when purchasing a Defender 110 through the CPO program, as it can be considered as good as new in most ways. That sentiment is supported, of course, by additional warranty coverage, roadside assistance, and expense reimbursement.
Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Disadvantages
Shorter Warranty Period
Land Rover does everything it can to ensure that any certified pre-owned vehicle is well protected by warranty coverage, which extends beyond what can typically be found in other CPO programs. However, with all warranties included, you will probably enjoy somewhat less protection than you would enjoy with the original factory warranty on a new vehicle.
Fewer Vehicles Available
It may sound obvious, but when shopping for a CPO Defender 110, you’re limited to the vehicles that someone else has chosen to trade or sell. That simple fact, combined with the rigorous Land Rover CPO process, places limits on what will be available at any given moment. Certainly, you won’t be able to customize everything to your specifications, the way you might with a new Defender.