My Defender MHEV review
Originally I posted this on a BMW forum, so a couple of references to that brand.
My Discovery was booked in for deployable steps to be fitted last Wednesday. Loaners are always Disco Sports, it appears, but the Sales Manager kindly agreed to lend a Defender to me from the sales fleet. Something of a bonus was that the workshop was busy and I ended up keeping the Defender for two full days. (There is a contrast here with the local BMW dealer, where I twice had M3 loaners booked that ended up being 118d and 218d respectively, and a 24 hour X5 test drive that morphed into a X3. Land Rover, at least my local, are in a completely different league that feels like a premium service).
Summary thoughts ... the Defender is an outstanding car. I'm certain that it will be one of the hottest sellers in the range. Every part of it feels like it works with the next one, a completely resolved design inside and out. And different to anthing else I have ever sat in.
The motor This was a MY21, complete with a MHEV diesel inline six. The installation of the engine is far better insulated and the mechanical refinement is excellent. And the power is perfectly adequate and well delivered. I suspect D200 or 250, not 300 as didn't feel as punchy as my V6
The drive Another revelation. I'd expected something slightly worse than a D5, as this would be even more tuned for off road. Not so. This steers with typical JLR sweetness and accuracy, they always know how to tune a steering 'rack'. The more I drove it, the more I realised it was better than the D5. Corners flatter, perhaps a lower CoG. Sits very solidly on the road. And the ride is sublime, again better than my D5. On a very similar platform, quite surprising. The four cylinder may play a part in a pointier nose versus a V6. Also at play were 20" wheels (my car has 21s, although 22s are possible). Bigger sidewalls for better ride and less unsprung weight. Got me thinking about 20s for mine....
Interior You've all seen pictures of the interior. Radically different to the normal large LR - where top of the range D5s, RRS and FFRR share very similar architectures, materials and style. This is not luxury, but it is a nice place to be, really solid and full of interesting detail. I'm guessing this was a lower/mid-spec model as no wood to be seen or any other highlight materials. One big drawback versus the D5/others, the doors are styled to be Defender items and thus have thin tops. I love the leather wrapped shelf that the D5 doortop is, a fantastic armrest. Would be a big miss on a long haul. Also no captains chairs, so no folding armrests on the front seats.
Tech Another flawed assumption on my part, that Pivi Pro was a worked over ICTP and would be alright but nothing special. Huge step forward, completely up there with iDrive for speed, responsivenes and features. As usual, the Meridian stereo, not the surround one, was excellent.
Space/practicality This and luxury are the two areas that put to bed the idea that the Discovery and Defender eat each other's breakfasts. The rear bench is fine and spacious, but not as cossetting as the electric D5 tilt/slide rear seat. This car didnt have 7 seats, but if it did they would be tiny. Far more X5 (or indeed RRS) for interior room than X7, the Disco being the other way around. The Defender is a much shorter car, so not surprising, and interior height feels markedly less. Defender boot seems smaller, but much lower to load, not having to accomodate a full size spare underneath with a good departure angle and overhang.
That's enough rambling. You can probably tell that I would happily have one. Easy to swap luxury for utiliatarian interest, refinement great in both cars. 7 seats, luxury and space the Disco wins. Drive, styling and interest the Defender wins.
Drives: 2020 MY20 HSE Luxury SDV6 in Eiger Grey/Glacier
Departed: 2019 MY20 HSE Luxury SDV6 in Carpathian Grey/Glacier, 440i, 320d, Toyotas, Mondeo, Citroen BX amongst others
