I have had my new Defender since January and my wife is now driving our 8 year old LR4 with 132,000 miles. Just dumped another $1500 in brake calipers, pads & rotors into it last month. Decided that we are done "investing" in the LR4. I will attempt to order an X5 once the 2022 order entry system opens up. But if any of the options I want are still unavailable such as an upgraded sound system, plan B is to order another Defender.

 

^^ I hear you. The X5 40i that I spec’d for my wife has many options that are either not available, or that require upgrading to the much more expensive M50i, like Harman Kardon stereo (which you referenced), noise insulating glass, leather dashboard, and the extended Merino leather interior.

 

We considered the M50i after test driving one for an hour. Lots of fun but we also have teen drivers in the family that share a Honda Passport. Sometimes they need to use my car or my wife's car and that M50i is far too powerful for a teen driver. Also, you can't turn off the X5's auto stop/start system and it's really annoying with the V8.

 

The M50 is nice, but to be honest I truly believe that the engine in the 40i is better all around. The 45e has been great. My wife loves it and really its a joy to drive. In 2875 miles of driving, over 2300 have been fully electric.

The Defender is fun and still a novelty on the road most of the time. During our last trip to Colorado just two weeks ago, I saw 5 Defenders in a week. 3 were in Aspen and the other two were on I70. Every time I came out of a brewery, restaurant or gas station, there were people either taking pictures or looking at my Defender. It could be that mine with the lift and big tires, makes it stand out more for people to notice. Nobody looks twice at my wife's BMW 45e.

Rob

 

We're going with a 40i or 45e. Glad to hear you like the 45e, my wife has a short commute and it would also be a good option for us. Just hoping the supply chain issues improve, nobody wants a $75K X5 with a 100 watt sound system that sounds like an old clock radio.

I agree, the Defender gets noticed since it looks so different from other Land Rovers. Germans have gone the other way...can barely tell an oncoming X3-X5-X7 or Q3-Q5-Q7 apart until it goes past you and you see the overall length.

 

I don't suspect supply issues are going to be better any time soon. My BMW dealer normally has 130 new cars on the ground, they have 28. Same dealer is a JLR dealer and they have 18 cars and normally have 90+

Rob

 

Always a fun read. I will be going with a X5 45E
If the Defender Phew would have been somewhere close to the X5 ( i mean the range and engine spec) I would have chosen the Defender.
Also I get the X5 for around 30% less money than the Def.
The Def would have been a perfect car for me as I am in construction and often go into the rough terrain on a job site.

 

All this to-and-fro about tech, capability, handling, power, specs, emotion, design, and style ends in capitulation based... on price.


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I will be waiting for a better PHEV platform for the defender though

 

The current iteration is certainly pitiful and I'm too lazy to look it up but I thought they were going to dump the PHEV altogether? Am I dreaming?