Decently substantial facelift for 26MY
Mudding
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 181
Likes: 150
From: New Jersey
Also they have decided FINALLY to put the MAX button in white above the A/C button -- to match the Defrost above, which I always thought was odd to be “hidden” on my 2020. You had to know the “secret long push” to see it go “MAX” to see MAX appear in yellow... Maybe they changed that sometime before 2026 though, I’m unsure.
press and hold down the A/C button for a few seconds and that’ll activate maximum A/C, and the “MAX” above the “A/C” on the button will also illuminate.
Three Wheeling
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 79
Likes: 12
As a new owner who wondered about it this, thank you!
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 6
Likes: 1
thanks for the update...i'm pretty happy with my 2023.5 Defender 110.. but wouldn't mind having option of better parking assist...is the new park assist version potentially going to be available as a software upgrade? Also, agree with missed opportunity to improve actual lighting..i've added boot space additional lighting and it helps....the loss of chequer plate trim is unfortunate.. i've added the door guard and side mirror guard with chequer looks and it all seems to go nicely..also just wondering if JLR had offered rear gate soft close option..thanks..
Mudding
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 134
Likes: 48
From: Illinois
My thoughts.
1) I love the new colors, especially that green. If I were buying today I think I'd choose that no contest.
2) I hate the new 22's, at least here in pictures they look really cheap. Perhaps in all gloss black, and in person / real live pic (not rendered) they'll look better. But either way a downgrade from the current 22" 5 spoke wheels IMO.
3) The flush tail lights are a downgrade IMO. A ton easier to clean but it is loosing some of the details of the defender I loved. It looks more generic now. Not bad, just not as unique.
4) I've studied the picture of the center console with the 'repositioned gear selector' and the 'updated headlight design' and for the life of me I can't see a difference in either.
5) The 13.1" screen is a welcome addition, not enough to want to trade in for it, but nice to have when that time does come.
6) The loss of the holes around the fog lights isn't a deal breaker, but again smoothes things out so much its making me feel like its losing some of the 'details' that made the truck unique. Its not bad, but one of those things that didn't need to be messed with for the sake of saying 'its new'.
7) I do not like the new hood things. It looks decidedly cheap compared to the 'diamond texture' of the exsting one. Perhaps in all gloss black it'll look better.
8) Thank god the V8 remains. I dont have one, but my next defender I'd really like to option with one. So glad to see its not gone (yet).
9) I hate the driver monitoring 'stick on' sensors. If it came with enhanced autonomy, or at least significantly better lane keeping assist, I'd make my peace with it. But otherwise just more crap to break.
10) That blue on the Octa with the satin gold accents just looks amazing. Sadly as its Octa only its outta my budget. I do wish there were at least one more 'funkier' color added to the pallet though, like a burnt orange or a more golden yellow. Doesn't matter because I'd choose that new green in a heart beat either way.
Overall nothing to make me want to run and trade mine in. But I do like most of the additions and the ones I dont care for are certainly not deal breakers.
Dream spec for me.130 with captains, v8, the new green, and the same saddle tan/black interior combo I have now. And I'd have to budget for a decent looking set of aftermarket wheels/tires immediately to get rid of the new 7 spoke 22" design. Anyone got a spare $130k or so? (sheesh).
1) I love the new colors, especially that green. If I were buying today I think I'd choose that no contest.
2) I hate the new 22's, at least here in pictures they look really cheap. Perhaps in all gloss black, and in person / real live pic (not rendered) they'll look better. But either way a downgrade from the current 22" 5 spoke wheels IMO.
3) The flush tail lights are a downgrade IMO. A ton easier to clean but it is loosing some of the details of the defender I loved. It looks more generic now. Not bad, just not as unique.
4) I've studied the picture of the center console with the 'repositioned gear selector' and the 'updated headlight design' and for the life of me I can't see a difference in either.
5) The 13.1" screen is a welcome addition, not enough to want to trade in for it, but nice to have when that time does come.
6) The loss of the holes around the fog lights isn't a deal breaker, but again smoothes things out so much its making me feel like its losing some of the 'details' that made the truck unique. Its not bad, but one of those things that didn't need to be messed with for the sake of saying 'its new'.
7) I do not like the new hood things. It looks decidedly cheap compared to the 'diamond texture' of the exsting one. Perhaps in all gloss black it'll look better.
8) Thank god the V8 remains. I dont have one, but my next defender I'd really like to option with one. So glad to see its not gone (yet).
9) I hate the driver monitoring 'stick on' sensors. If it came with enhanced autonomy, or at least significantly better lane keeping assist, I'd make my peace with it. But otherwise just more crap to break.
10) That blue on the Octa with the satin gold accents just looks amazing. Sadly as its Octa only its outta my budget. I do wish there were at least one more 'funkier' color added to the pallet though, like a burnt orange or a more golden yellow. Doesn't matter because I'd choose that new green in a heart beat either way.
Overall nothing to make me want to run and trade mine in. But I do like most of the additions and the ones I dont care for are certainly not deal breakers.
Dream spec for me.130 with captains, v8, the new green, and the same saddle tan/black interior combo I have now. And I'd have to budget for a decent looking set of aftermarket wheels/tires immediately to get rid of the new 7 spoke 22" design. Anyone got a spare $130k or so? (sheesh).
I just got a 2025 V8 so I am set for a while.
Mudding
Joined: May 2022
Posts: 208
Likes: 226
From: Colorado
Thanks! That's a tidbit I never found on my 2023.5 MY 110. Having read the operators manual once when it was new I'm going to now do another deep dive to see what other nuances I may have missed.
TReK
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 2,086
Likes: 1,401
From: Hill Country, Tx
Late to the thread, but some random thoughts reading thru it.
1. My fav current color is Tasman Blue but I was a rube with my order and couldn't get it in the trim I wanted. I now know better re: ordering options and would have had it. I wasn't in on the Easter Egg green (ymmv) so I stupidly went with the Habachi Silver. That new green would have been hands down my choice. Not perfect, but a lot better than the other lifesaver colors the design team went with.
2. Not having a checker plate trim on the hood... I can see Simon @ PowerfulUK, Plumb, Lucky8, NewDefenderMods and every other aftermarket company cheering with glee re: the opportunities to retro that mistake.
3. I'm a meh on the front end, but a head shaker to the rear lights. I liked the recessed retro look. Not a show stopper but again a likely aftermarket opportunity.
4. It ain't a Tesla! Not a fan of the ginormous infotainment screen. It's not like they can play movies (unless jail broken). And the design nimrods seem to have kept the same 3 widget layout. Like with that much space, can't you put more on it? Oh, I'll just make everything bigger. Ok, works with my aging eyes but just looks like everything went up to 94 Font.
5. NOT trying to be political here, but I heard the US Pres is going to write another executive order banning the Auto Start/Stop feature on vehicles. Personally, something I could stand behind. If true, someone convince him to add a line about the distracted driving. I had it on a rental for a week and I was dead arsed sober, not texting, not sleepy and at random points that thing would whine at me. I would LEAP at someone (Mark? Sarek? Future opportunity...) to reprogram that off.
6. On the pic of the ginormous Pivi, I am interested in what they did to the "storage" on the right. Cool that there's a USB-C charger, but not sure why the recess seems to slope down to the right. Going to be interested to see what happens there. I kinda like the shelves. If they redesigned that, wonder what happens to the area in front of the arm rest. That whole storage area is a love/hate with me. With all the after market cubbies and storage, I think it's now dialed in. Maybe they piddled around with it too.
1. My fav current color is Tasman Blue but I was a rube with my order and couldn't get it in the trim I wanted. I now know better re: ordering options and would have had it. I wasn't in on the Easter Egg green (ymmv) so I stupidly went with the Habachi Silver. That new green would have been hands down my choice. Not perfect, but a lot better than the other lifesaver colors the design team went with.
2. Not having a checker plate trim on the hood... I can see Simon @ PowerfulUK, Plumb, Lucky8, NewDefenderMods and every other aftermarket company cheering with glee re: the opportunities to retro that mistake.
3. I'm a meh on the front end, but a head shaker to the rear lights. I liked the recessed retro look. Not a show stopper but again a likely aftermarket opportunity.
4. It ain't a Tesla! Not a fan of the ginormous infotainment screen. It's not like they can play movies (unless jail broken). And the design nimrods seem to have kept the same 3 widget layout. Like with that much space, can't you put more on it? Oh, I'll just make everything bigger. Ok, works with my aging eyes but just looks like everything went up to 94 Font.
5. NOT trying to be political here, but I heard the US Pres is going to write another executive order banning the Auto Start/Stop feature on vehicles. Personally, something I could stand behind. If true, someone convince him to add a line about the distracted driving. I had it on a rental for a week and I was dead arsed sober, not texting, not sleepy and at random points that thing would whine at me. I would LEAP at someone (Mark? Sarek? Future opportunity...) to reprogram that off.
6. On the pic of the ginormous Pivi, I am interested in what they did to the "storage" on the right. Cool that there's a USB-C charger, but not sure why the recess seems to slope down to the right. Going to be interested to see what happens there. I kinda like the shelves. If they redesigned that, wonder what happens to the area in front of the arm rest. That whole storage area is a love/hate with me. With all the after market cubbies and storage, I think it's now dialed in. Maybe they piddled around with it too.
Rock Crawling
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 310
Likes: 115
Just over 2 years of ownership and I never knew this. But as summer seems to be in full swing here in Orlando FL, I've used this 2x this weekend alone now. Thanks!
Mudding
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 238
Likes: 112
Not related but another simple thing that I struggled before. pressing both left and right mirror buttons same time will fold mirrors manually. Just want to share.
