Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) – introduction
The complexity and cost are issues for me. The Defender I6 MHEV cost adder is in the range of $7500 when backing out the other stuff that gets thrown in on "premium". It shouldn't be that high to move from 4cyl to 6 cyl. That to me is an early indication of higher long term maintenance cost, especially when considering all the new subsystems.
Yep - that’s my thinking as well. I’m trying to figure out where the ”better” compromise will be.
1) P400 - good on fuel, gobs of power, and probably a really nice driving experience, and all the reviews are saying that this is the engine to get for performance. However, as you’ve identified, complexity, cost, and long-term viability (Batteries don’t last forever) make it less ideal for remote international touring.
2) P300 - comparable HP, Torque, and 0-60 times of our old Jeep JK Rubicon. Great vehicle and perfectly serviceable, and I like how simple the non-MHEV engine is (relatively speaking). But, at highway speeds the Jeep was a bit of a dog, and it didn’t pass much of anything — other cars nor gas stations If there was a headwind. One of the things we like most about our current rig is that it does not have this disadvantage.
Both options are a compromise in my view. As a daily driver, P400 is the obvious choice for me. As an adventure vehicle, the math switches to the P300 being the obvious one. Thankfully I’m not in a rush - maybe the aftermarket will come to my rescue with MHEV deletes or similar innovations. Thankfully I’m not in a rush to make a decision, and maybe by the time I am at that stage, there will be other engine options available. I’ve put in a request to test out the P300 if one comes in, but I suspect most of the early orders will be P400s so I might be waiting a while.
