2027 Land Rover Defender Vertex Photo by JLR

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Land Rover is expanding the number of trims available on its rugged Defender, introducing an option called Vertex.

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Powered by the mild-hybrid 3.0L six-cylinder powertrain which is good for just shy of 400 horses, the Vertex adds a dose of body-matching details to the square brute. Matching lower body cladding and wheel arches gives it a different presence compared to other trims, as do the contrasting bright yellow brake calipers and massive 22-inch seven-spoke wheels. Since most of the hues on tap are from the greyscale slider – Fuji White, Santorini Black, et al – one might as well be interesting and pop for Woolstone Green.

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Inside, upholstery can be spec’d as Windsor leather and forged textile or the brand’s Ultrafabrics material, with the former now available in new darker accents for the Vertex. All hands get tri-zone climate control, even the 90, while the 130 ups its game to four-zone. There is also a sliding panoramic roof, Meridian sound system, and 14-way heated/cooled front seats. Speaking of, the 110 can be configured for five, six, or seven passengers. All in the family.

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Pricing is right in line with the X trim, a model with plenty of blacked-out details and bright orange rear recovery eyes, suggesting something of a city-versus-country pricing strategy. Cadillac did something similar with its Luxury and Sport trims, to similar effect: those Caddys featured the same powertrains, had the same capabilities, but hove off different vibes. With the 2027 Land Rover Defender Vertex, one can even add a $6,000+ Patagonia White matte wrap (shown here) or a protective film for gloss paint selections for nearly the same sum.