New Defender News

[DieselRanger]

Respectfully, I disagree. This isn't a Bowler Wildcat. It's some Sandglow paint (they use a new name now) on a Works V8 with some Safety Devices accessories. Hell, the front end sag on this thing with the 5.0 is pretty obvious - doesn't look as if they compensated for the extra weight. It's a rich man's plaything, and nothing more. Don't get me wrong: I still want one very badly, but this is far from a quarter million dollar competition rig IMO. It is however the only way to get a V8 in an Old Defender with OEM quality (whether you think OEM JLR quality is a good thing is a completely different question).

Edit: "Eastnor Yellow" is the new name. Curious if it maintains the old Sandglow code.

They're also adding an 8-speed ZF trans, and other modern-vehicle accoutrements. "Rich man's plaything" indeed - isn't that what low-volume factory spec racers are anyway?

I believe LR is planning a series of owner invite-only "events" recalling the Camel Trophy for these vehicles, but likely with full factory vehicle and driver support on site and far more controlled conditions that allow owners to use the vehicles in a very risk-managed atmosphere similar to (but not at the level of) what Aston Martin does with the Vulcan. The first is at Eastnor Castle on delivery and is advertised as a "competition". Depending on the success of this limited series they may launch a revived Land Rover Trophy series...they've occasionally polled members of their customer relations board over the last two to three years in increasing detail about this idea.

 

[T-Willy]

Land Rover again crushes the competition--dependable undependability.

Notably, Land Rover's dependability worsened from 2020 to 2021.



The majority, 11 of 17 consumer reviews of new Defender here report at least one problem: https://www.edmunds.com/land-rover/defender/2020/consumer-reviews/
One of five consumer reviews of new Defender here reports at least one problem: https://www.cars.com/research/land_rover-defender-2020/consumer-reviews/

 

[ChasingOurTrunks]

@T-Willy great post. Many people are looking at these reliability ratings all wrong. What we have here is a good news story -- JLR has consistently held their place year over year in the reliability standings. Look at all those other car companies, moving around in the standings all over the place. How stressful! JLR has been as consistent as Old Faithful, on the other hand - that's nice and relaxing.

Granted, they have to switch which end of the list but let's not get bogged down on details. Consistency matters.

 

[T-Willy]

@T-Willy great post. Many people are looking at these reliability ratings all wrong. What we have here is a good news story -- JLR has consistently held their place year over year in the reliability standings. Look at all those other car companies, moving around in the standings all over the place. How stressful! JLR has been as consistent as Old Faithful, on the other hand - that's nice and relaxing.

Granted, they have to switch which end of the list but let's not get bogged down on details. Consistency matters.

JLR really, really needs to improve this. I recall reading some renewed commitment by JLR to address it with launch of the new Defender. To the contrary, they seem to be widening the industry bell curve. I'm still of the, "give three to five years to see how it shakes out" mind with Defender's reliability, but still.

 

[ChasingOurTrunks]

JLR really, really needs to improve this. I recall reading some renewed commitment by JLR to address it with launch of the new Defender. To the contrary, they seem to be widening the industry bell curve. I'm still of the, "give three to five years to see how it shakes out" mind with Defender's reliability, but still.

100% agreed with you. It’s actually quite disheartening—- I mean, someone has to come last in these things but it would be great if it was an automaker who pumped out stuff I didn’t like

I think your 3-5 year timeline is pretty spot on, too.

 

[mpinco]

I'm not surprised that the new Blackberry based technology is seeing some teething issues. Recall that the latest embedded processing systems had 85 CPUs for all the various management functions. JLR also now has OTA update capability. Also recall that mechanical design areas were downsized while IT areas were expanded.

The trajectory of complex technology will only increase over the next decade as electrification increases.

 

[T-Willy]

100% agreed with you. It’s actually quite disheartening—- I mean, someone has to come last in these things but it would be great if it was an automaker who pumped out stuff I didn’t like

I think your 3-5 year timeline is pretty spot on, too.

Totally - it has to be the only company selling a one-ton offroad touring wagon in the U.S.

 

[roving1]

Land Rover again crushes the competition--dependable undependability.

Notably, Land Rover's dependability worsened from 2020 to 2021.

Pretty sure this only tracks vehicles that are at least 3 years old. So the Defender is not a factor either way... Yet.

 

[DieselRanger]

The majority, 11 of 17 consumer reviews of new Defender here report at least one problem: https://www.edmunds.com/land-rover/defender/2020/consumer-reviews/
One of five consumer reviews of new Defender here reports at least one problem: https://www.cars.com/research/land_rover-defender-2020/consumer-reviews/

Keep in mind hardly anyone posts public reviews of things on review aggregator sites unless something is wrong, or they're asked to post their positive experiences, because if something is working well, why bother? Tesla zealots are perhaps an exception.

Furthermore, the problem reports by a very wide margin across the board in all brands are about infotainment - says right in the articles from JD Power. Land Rover's In Control Touch Pro is pretty ******tty - having Android Auto on it makes it marginally better, but it's still frustratingly slow.

Unfortunately beyond these top-level reports, there is no detail on the most common problems being reported by any brand unless you get over the paywall. Anyone have a paid subscription to JD Power's dependability report? How about Consumer Reports?

 

[krick3tt]

I know there is a lot of conversation about the new Defender and some only talk about things they don't like. I had the occasion to park next to one and chatted with the owner for a bit. We were, of course, comparing each to the other.
Their comments were based on owning a new one and their older LR3. Interior space was considered as well as exterior size. Lots of positives for the new one but the interior space of the older LR3 won out in their opinion. Mine is fitted out for more trail riding and theirs for a DD.

 

[A.J.M]

Maybe I’m in a minority but regardless of a reliability survey.

I’ll still keep buying land rovers.
The 4 wheeled version of crystal meth I guess.

rather ironically, the only times mine left me at the side of the road were after Land Rover specialists failed to do their job properly leaving more faults that caused the breakdowns.

I will buy a new 110 in a few years.
regardless of a survey.

 

[T-Willy]

Here's a short comparison video of Defender showing off its impressive departure angle.

 

[Carson G]

 

[T-Willy]

Keep in mind hardly anyone posts public reviews of things on review aggregator sites unless something is wrong, or they're asked to post their positive experiences, because if something is working well, why bother? Tesla zealots are perhaps an exception.

Furthermore, the problem reports by a very wide margin across the board in all brands are about infotainment - says right in the articles from JD Power. Land Rover's In Control Touch Pro is pretty ******tty - having Android Auto on it makes it marginally better, but it's still frustratingly slow.

Unfortunately beyond these top-level reports, there is no detail on the most common problems being reported by any brand unless you get over the paywall. Anyone have a paid subscription to JD Power's dependability report? How about Consumer Reports?

It is unfortunate that there's not more detailed data publicly available. I will pay for subscription data in a few years if Defender is still on my short list. As the only one-ton offroad touring wagon in the U.S. market, it likely will be.

 

[TexasTJ]

The 90 is up in the builder. All trims not just first edition. My build is 56k.