Anyone have a current-generation Land Rover Defender?

[RooflessVW]

I already have a feeling on how this thread will go, but...

Do any of you have experience with the current-generation Land Rover Defender?

 

[wings&wheels]

Does driving a few, talking to a number of owners then buying a Land Cruiser count?

 

[SatinSilver]

I like the write up from C&D below. It kinda helps narrow down what trim to get.

Ben Hardy on YT had one for a short time. I think he traded it in because of the recalls (nothing too serious) and the time it sat at the dealership. Because of that it made him nervous to keep long term if I remember correctly. Customer service was excellent with loaners.

https://www.caranddriver.com/land-rover/defender-2025

 

[wings&wheels]

In all seriousness, my secondhand experience is about 50/50, but that is mostly w/ folks who bought early. There is a gentleman at our marina who bought a very nice 110 early last year or the year before and has had no issues with it at all.

Having owned a number of recent Range Rovers, Sports and full size and having very good experiences with all of them, I would expect overall reliability to be on par or close to the other Euro's, not as painless as the main Japanese and w/ better fit and finish and material quality than most domestics.

The Defenders do drive very well for what they are though, especially the 110's and after having our Land Cruiser for ~40k miles in almost two years I do wish I had gone for the LR. If I had known how irritating towing is w/ the Toyota and that I would be driving the East coast following a women's college crew team (our Offspring), I would have bought the Defender 110 hands down.

 

[BHopkins]

Looking forward to hearing other real experiences, or close experiences like that of @wings&wheels. I've been curious about the latest generation of Defender also. I like to looks. Does it truly follow in the footsteps of the original Defender, in being a true off road capable SUV?

 

[GMBoy]

I can give you my shop experience with Range Rovers we service regularly in a summary:

Sport HSE - Stay away. We see 7 of them (2015, 2016 and 2017's 3.0 and 5.0 engines) - all the same issues (coolant leaks, oil leaks, air suspension etc).
Evoque - nice little small SUV but we service 6 and 4 have been very good and the other 2 had issues so average to me.
Defender - we service 3 (all 2018+) and they have been trouble free so I think you will be ok with the Defender. The highest mile one is a 2021 with 88k miles. The defender does have the equipment to be a solid off roader more so than the Sport and Evoque models.

 

[nobb]

Great feedback. What about the Discovery? Isn't it effectively the same as the Defender but perhaps more practical and luxurious? In the used market, the Discovery is also less popular and seems to depreciate more than the Defender so could be a better deal.

 

[RooflessVW]

Great feedback. What about the Discovery? Isn't it effectively the same as the Defender but perhaps more practical and luxurious? In the used market, the Discovery is also less popular and seems to depreciate more than the Defender so could be a better deal.

Unless I'm mistaken, the Disco does not have the option for captains chairs in the second row to ease third row access. I think the Disco and Defender 110 are similar, vs the longer Defender 130.

 

[02SE]

The sister and BIL had a recent model Defender. They had continual issues with the wipers. Ironic on a vehicle with British (Rainy) ancestry. They got tired of the wipers failing to work when it rained, with the subsequent trips to hopefully fix it at the Dealer, and got rid of it.

 

[Marcozi]

You have to buy two Land Rovers. Why? One to drive and one in the shop. Land rover/Jag has the lowest reliability of any car sold in the US.

 

[4wd]

You have to buy two Land Rovers. Why? One to drive and one in the shop. Land rover/Jag has the lowest reliability of any car sold in the US.

Primary & backup equipment - just like at work !

 

[andrew_j]

My daughter’s HS best friend(trust fund grand daughter) now 20 has the recent smaller Defender they picked up slightly used. It is very capable vehicle and quite reliable.

My daughter and friends woke up at oceanfront home to Defender in 1.5 feet of tidal water during storm event. They drove it on roads over 2 ft deep as it has a mode for it (on display showing depth) no issues to get their breakfast on high water roads. My daughter showed me their video of this.

She goes to school in Charleston and apparently this is a thing there too.

 

[GMBoy]

The sister and BIL had a recent model Defender. They had continual issues with the wipers. Ironic on a vehicle with British (Rainy) ancestry. They got tired of the wipers failing to work when it rained, with the subsequent trips to hopefully fix it at the Dealer, and got rid of it.

I actually blame the dealership for this. They should have fixed it right the 1st time.

 

[D60]

The sister and BIL had a recent model Defender. They had continual issues with the wipers. Ironic on a vehicle with British (Rainy) ancestry. They got tired of the wipers failing to work when it rained, with the subsequent trips to hopefully fix it at the Dealer, and got rid of it.

The joke in the Triumph community is that apparently Lucas' motto really was a "hard day's work and home by dark." Indeed, because your headlights and wipers won't work....

ANYWAY, I'm supposed to do rear brakes on a '21 Defender in the next couple weeks. The dealer -- either ABQ or Santa Fe, can't remember -- told her it needs them. I'm wondering about that. She's got around 55k freedom.

I don't know if they're still using the hydraulic sway bars, but on older models those always leak. One more solution looking for a problem.

 

[02SE]

I actually blame the dealership for this. They should have fixed it right the 1st time.

Maybe. My sister and BIL's experience reminded of the Youtubers TFL and their trials with new Defenders.

It's okay. They moved on to other vehicles as my BIL in particular has a vehicle fetish. I have a hard time keeping track of what vehicles they own at any given time.

 

[thewulff]

we have a defender 110 p400 that we picked up used and love it. No issues with it so far

 

[RooflessVW]

 

[grisby]

Here is my 2022 that I bought new. 58000 on it now and drove cross country a few times. Now sits at my other place in San Diego. Nothing ever replaced except for wipers and tires Forgot did have an IAC Valve replaced under warranty.

 

[RooflessVW]

 

[Chris142]

I just had a 23 in my bay . The led headlight ring stopped working. It's part of the $5400 headlight. Not a replaceable bulb.