We were on a nightmare trip up to VT to go skiing. Started out as 32 degrees with heavy, slushy snow that was really slippery. Then the temp quickly dropped but the snow changed over to rain that would immediately freeze on impact. Thankfully the heated windshield worked well, just wished it did not time-out every 5 minutes. At least I didn't have to pull onto the shoulder and get out and scrape my windshield like other drivers. Snow mode worked well and thank you Michelin for the X-Ice winter tires too. Saw about 50 other vehicles that hit guard rails, hit other vehicles or went off the road into a ditch. Here is the windshield ice buildup...notice the temperature too:

 

Heated windshields are great. I always get them on all my Land Rovers.

 

I'm surprised more manufacturers don't offer them.

 

One of my absolute favorite features, and incredibly effective. Shame it’s mainly a JLR thing, at least here in the US. There are some Mercedes models that offer it, as well as Mercedes EVs and VW EVs, and you can get it on the Porsche Cayenne and Macan.

I specced it on my Macan and it’s great. Plus, the Porsche heated windshield doesn’t have the wires imbedded in the windshield. It has a layer of electrically conductive silver in the windshield that heats up when a current is run through it. It doesn’t heat as quickly as the JLR wired system, but still better than using an ice scraper.

 

I’ve been a huge fan of these wavy-lined LR windshields since my first 2003 Land Rover Discovery 2 which had the option. It’s huge in the winter. Huge.

One of the neat things about a Disco 2 btw is that they were all pre-wired for the heated windscreen, so even if you didn't have it from factory, when you broke your windshield, could just put the heated one in, and hook up the two wires which were sitting on either side of the cowl, install the button in lieu of the blanking plate in the dash, and ... wala. No such luck on modern JLR products though.

 

Another good thing about the heated windshield is that it comes with a bonus gift... The heated steering wheel 😀

 

We haven't had a LR in the garage for 8 years now. This was most missed feature from our BMWs and Volvos (outside of recreation off road, of course). I'll gladly trade heated armrests and consoles for a heated windshield. Game changer in frequent nightly storms driving over 15 miles to house. Just hoping the headlights aren't too much of a downgrade over bmw lazers (our Volvo sucks). Oh, and miss the rear fog lights. Also essential in whiteouts. Nothing with BMW, just a left light with our XC90. Defender won't arrive until mid-late April, so likely catch a storm or two.

 

I’m sure you know this as well, but they were also pre-wired for heated seats, too. All you needed was to get a new panel with the heated seat button and connect the wires and now you have heated seats!

 

Do we think the heated windshield is stronger than the regular windshields?

Over three years, nearly 60k miles and my windshield has never cracked. Near mile 45k or 50k I did get a chip, but Thor that sealed immediately and it’s been no issue.

seeing so many replaced windshields I just wonder if the heated ones are stronger? I only wish I got to use it more. LA doesn’t allow me to use it that much; but to the other comments; love the heated steering wheel and seats it comes with !!

 

I don’t think so. You see a ton of broken windshields, and most Defenders do have heated windshields. There isn’t anything different other than it has the heater coils in it.