I previously owned the L322 Range Rover....loved the modernized, boxier Range Rover look and completely turned off by the softer angles of where LR is headed with their current design philosophy. I then bought my current 2013 LR4 as a HSE LUX Heavy Duty Package new off the lot and really like it although it eats through brakes and tires like mad. To me, it's the last of the naturally aspirated 8 cylinder engine and is a beast.

As time passed, the new Discovery showed up and there's absolutely no way I would buy it based on looks alone... the front and rear design seem to make the entire vehicle disproportionate-looking. LR ruined the Discovery and from what I read, Discovery sales are way down (shocker).

Now comes along the 2020 Defender. Arguments aside from purists comparing the outgoing Defender with the new modern take on what a regulations-driven design should be, I think this is the best looking LR model in the current fleet....which is not a compliment. It is no secret that this new Defender will probably cannibalize LR sales of the Discovery. I'm not one to buy a first model year and, without seeing it in person, already have some thoughts and wish list of items I would keep a lookout for in future model year updates:

1. Remove the weird square stylized body color motif on rear windows. Aesthetically, it seems to disrupt the fluidity of the design.
2. Finally! The Defender is a newer LR model where all rearward seats fold completely flat to the load floor, just like the LR4. Really helpful utilitarian design.
3. Wait for steering wheel paddle shifters. If you wanted to throw it into manual/sport mode, then that dash **** gear shifter does not look convenient .
4. Wait for Satin Protective Film for Black paint scheme. However, I'm thinking LR already tried it out and it looks displeasing, hence the omission as an option.
5. It looks like the roof rails are already integrated as Standard which is nice to see.
6. Wait for more interior schemes such as their contrasting Arabica (coffee brown) with black interior leather. In my LR4, that combo gets compliments all the time. Current options seem pretty limiting for the price you're paying.
7. Wait for LR to start building with a BMW-sourced engine. Not the first time LR has done this and I had plenty of interchangeable parts/tools from my BMW 540i that worked on my old L322.
8. It will take at least a year or so for third party outfitters to fabricate accessories so waiting beyond the first model year seems to make sense to get the kinks out.

Hopefully this is the new start to a more utilitarian design philosophy and waiting to see how the Defender model year incremental changes happen for the first two years will be just in time for the new Range Rover 2022 model to be introduced. If the future RR is a boxier, edgier design then I will be most likely purchase that type of vehicle.
Admittedly, the Defender makes a compelling argument.

 

I agree a lot with your sentiment as the owner of a 2010 LR4 HSE. There's too much hate on the design, its modern but yet still instantly recognizable as a defender. Its way better than Toyota with the FJ Cruiser which was basically the headlights and nothing else. I will be considering it in about 3 years and in addition to several of your points, I am hoping they put in the SD6 for the US, or some other non-hybrid diesel. I'm saddened overall by Land Rover's move away from V8s, though this is a condition of nearly every company. I also can't seem to understand why the seating is either 5, 6, or the 5+2 but not 6+2. Is there some sort of structure that prevents this?

Overall, I'm happy with the design, and more importantly I think it will sell. Its definitely going to cannibalize Discovery sales, but this may be what forces an early redesign with the funding to make it happen. JLR has taken a downward swing in the last few years, and we all need to root for its survival. Otherwise we will all turn into the types of people driving beige cars with beige interiors in which even the salesman doesn't know HP figures.

Wilybyrd
'10 LR4 HSE

 

I hope against all hope they never put anything BMW anywhere near their vehicles ever again. Shocking unreliability in their own vehicles and when they put stuff in other people’s vehicles. BMW sourced bits would be the kiss of death for my custom. BMW fell off a reliability cliff in the very early 90s and have never recovered.

I’d like to see Ford diesels in there, good power and cheap to fix.

As for the body colored motif, I don’t like how that looks either. Does it have a purpose like magnetic mounting of saddlebags or something? If so I don’t mind.

 

Keep in mind the L322 was created by BMW when BMW owned LR so having almost all BMW-sourced parts, other than a completely new frame, was inherent to that model's early production years (for better or worse). The L322 could be considered the test mule for BMW's foray into making SUVs (i.e., it was the incubator for the X5). To me, I was owner of a 2003 540i E39 8-cylinder which to this day is touted as the best 5 series ever built so it actually was nice to see the L322 had the same exact power-plant..but I digress. I just hope LR makes a turnaround here because I'm seriously bummed there has been no other option up to this point for an overland-worthy, modern day Rover.

 

I also scratched my head on this one and need to see it in person to inspect the layout.

 

I really don’t care about emissions or gas mileage. Give me a big reliable v8 that is underworked for reliability.

This climate change politic crap is making car companies go crazy.

 

Looks to be to small of vehicle for a 6+2. It would literally take all the fun out of it to cram 6 or more people into one of these. People in this category should just buy a Yukon or Excursion and be done with it.