I currently own the P400 and I got a chance to rent the P400e in Iceland for a month and all I can say is I don't like my P400 anymore. LOL. Between the higher MPG and the much much smoother engine, ride and overall better driving dynamics, I just can't wait for the P400e to make it to the States (if that ever happens).
Matt, excellent review as always. Clearly You are a fan of the Defender. [Who isn't?] What a piece of kit! Brilliant! It is a Defender in every sense.And it makes sense too. Pity Land Rover not [yet?] producing a hybrid in 90 design. Thank you, as always. Appreciated.
Great review. I am in the US and eagerly awaiting the arrival of the PHEV version. I also intend to do quite a bit of car camping. So the question I have...I saw a video of someone who purchased an earlier model of this (I believe it was a 2020 or 2021) and what he didn't know ahead of time was that the battery pack in the back caused a large hump in the back floor/storage area. So with the seats down, the floor is not flat/level. Is that still the case with the 2022 or 2023 if you happen to know?
In case you didn’t figure this out. Yes it is. The battery eats up a bit at the bottom, and the cooling eats up a chunk at the left hand side too. Furthermore, there’s now nowhere to put the jack or charging cables so they’re strapped to the floor in the trunk. Pretty awful solution.
Do you always have 400hp available for crazy acceleration for overtaking and a bit of fun :) Or there is situations where battery is totally depleted so you get Defender struggling with 2L engine? Is it true or a myth: 2L engine is too small for Defender and it will cause a lot of problem because of that On longer journey you cant do better than 15-20mpg?
The thing I dislike about it is, for a rugged 4WD, you have to use a stuck on tablet on the dash!! Will be great with grubby hands etc. Having said that , I do like it and if I were to change my L322 Range Rover would consider this, but not with a screaming 4 pot banger of an engine, no replacement for displacement!!
A few years ago I test drove the RR P400e. Biggest issue (and why I didn't buy one) was that when you run out of EV charge, you're relying on a 2.0l engine to lug round a 2.5 tonne car. Doesn't this just have the same issue?
Even if/when the battery is completely discharged, it’s left with a 221kW/296bhp petrol engine, which is no slouch. That said, it’s typically working in tandem with electric and petrol motors, with that combined 297kW/398bhp, and recharging the battery to prevent discharge.
I had a test drive in one, and we went out with a battery live of 3% and about a gallon of fuel, 30 minutes later we came back and it was at 17% battery and the fuel had hardly changed! I ordered mine on Jan! Still waiting for it!
I am thinking about P400e too but I have same question. Isn’t Defender too Heavy for 2.0L engine. When I was talking to the guy at LR Dealership he told me to avoid 2.0L engines🤯 Unfortunately we didn’t talk about hybrid version :(
One of the good things about the hybrid is that those who do their research (researchists) say that on average the electric range of this Defender will get most people to work and back on electric power. For those longer journeys, the petrol engine will take the strain, but it can be charged up, possibly at work if your commute is as long as the electric only range. It has its benefits and downsides like all cars. It just has to make sense to the buyer.
