The new Land Rover Defender (L663 MY: 2020-)

What everyone thinks about the new Defender?
I've just replaced my Discovery 4 with a Defender 3.0 D300 SE 110.
So far I'm happy with it but I have not taken it off road, yet.

I think it should never have been called a Defender, it is a replacement/new model Discovery.

miktdish said:

I think it should never have been called a Defender, it is a replacement/new model Discovery.

Click to expand...

Well, funny you should say that. That was my first thought, too.

Have a read of this thread. It’s got an honest appraisal…

lt's nothing like a Discovery to drive. My friend had a Discovery 4 that l nearly bought. My other friend had a Discovery Sport until it was stolen. Fabulous vehicles but l couldn't live with the possibility of the engine failure on the Disco 4.

All three are great but the Defender is a different beast to the Discovery 4/Sport and has more of a personality (although not like the old Defender of course)

Take a test drive in one and then report back with your thoughts. Not that l would expect many die hard Classic Defender owners to actually buy one, but it doesn't stop you taking a test drive.

lf you want any "essence" of the old Defender in your new Defender, the best one to buy is the cheapest D250 on coil springs and steel wheels, with the fabric seats.
Don't add any bling. The vehicle doesn't need it. The straight six D250 is a honey of an engine, little point paying £3,000 more for the D300.
And try to avoid the early D200/240 four cylinder lump.

Get the towbar factory fitted on your order as it's a hassle to do it afterwards (it's no Defender TD5, you can't just plug the towbar harness in) but don't waste your money on the deployable tow ball, just get the removable one at half the price. lt also has a higher towing weight limit.

Contrary to what you might read online, basic servicing is a piece of cake.

And the service indicator can be reset with a sequence of button pushes.

For goodness sake don't pay the monstrous £1,200 for factory side steps. The Britpart (and similar) ones at £200 are absolutely fine and look the same.

You can fit them yourself.

There's a three year warranty (l haven't needed it) and to extend it is around £1,000 per year.
l wouldn't bother. The vehicle seems well put together and reliable, but would you swap your Puma XS for one?

l think the values of the new one will eventually sink to the 20's about the same as a nice Puma Defender.

Not for a while though. But at least it's compliant with most LEZ's