Hi everyone!

I just bought a 2020 P400 Defender SE without a locking rear differential but with 275/70/R18 BFG T/A KO2 tires and all the other features (advanced offroad, etc...) I'm super excited because I always wanted a Defender, and well, here I am! It is primarily an offroading, overlanding vehicle - not a daily driver.

I'm coming from a 2011 V8 LR4 HSE with a rear locking differential and 265/65/R18 BFG T/A KO2 tires.

This is NOT a question of "should I or shouldn't I? " Or a question of "do I need a rear locking differential?" I'm curious to know everyone's thoughts, especially those with experience with the LR4, about the differences in offroad capabilities between the two. FYI snow conditions are very low down on my list.

Thanks in advance! ​​​​​

 

I had a 2011 LR4 that we had ten years. Bought it new, and I loved that thing. I sold it and ordered a 2021 Defender 110 to replace it. I used my LR4 off-road many times and I can tell you that the Defender is noticeably better off-road. The main reason is that it has much better approach, departure and breakover angles, more ground clearance, but the electronics are what makes the biggest difference.

The Defender is on JLR’s latest electrical architecture and it is so much more advanced than what was in the LR4. It is so much faster to respond to inputs; allowing the ABS, traction control and differentials to react faster. The brake-by-wire also helps the ABS activate quickly and seamlessly. All of this allows the Terrain Response settings to be noticeably better than before and it can find traction in nearly all situations I’ve thrown at it. Another bonus is the ride is smoother off-road thanks to the adaptive dampers.

Because the electronic architecture is so quick to respond, the rear locker is borderline obsolete. In the LR4 it made a substantial difference to have the HD pack. I didn’t have that on my LR4, so I made sure to get the rear locker on my Defender. In all honesty, it’s not needed. I’ve off-roaded with Defenders without the rear locker, and they have had no issues whatsoever. It’ll spin the tires a little more over tougher obstacles, but it will still clear the obstacles. It isn’t as effortless as the rear locker, but it is pretty damn good and I wouldn’t be feeling left out if I didn’t have it.

 

Defender better offroad out of the box than either LR4 or LR3, I'd agree.

I feel like my Defender, with the tire upgrade I've given it, simply walks over anything and everything.

Also agree with the above rear locker comment. Although I have it on mine and really like it (and use it), I've wheeled with friends with L663 Defender without rear locker. Their trucks get the same places mine do. Mine just has less wheelspin in certain spots. We've compared video on obstacles taking the same line wondering what if any advantage a rear locking truck has over non locking rear truck.

My only complaint with the Defender offroad, if I have one, is that it's about 6" too wide. I wish it were a narrower bodied vehicle.

 

As other people have said, the Defender is miles better than the LR4 off-roading (in build quality too!). We went through some pretty serious sand conditions on Fraser Island where lots of people get stuck, and we literally didn't notice anything. It just went. Standard all-terrain tyres too.

 

^Exactly. LR4 felt heavy in sand and I was always careful not to lose momentum or it would sink and get bogged down. Defender seems to float on sand and the electronic traction control programming is far better. Best feature is low traction launch after being parked in sand. I don't even bother to air down the Defender tires.

 

For context: I don't do any super hard core rock crawling type 4x4 activities, mainly easy to moderate dirt tracks/fire roads, some desert roads, lots of snow driving in the Sierras in the winter.

I haven't had any time on a LR4, but I did run a 2022 P400 D110 w/ Off Road Pack that had the factory locking rear differential one ski season in the Eastern Sierras and then a 2023.5 P400 D110 that had the factory off road tires (same as the 2022) but no locking rear diff the next season also in the Eastern Sierras in the snow.

To be honest, I really didn't notice that the 2023.5 w/o locking rear diff was any less capable than the 2022 that had it. I didn't get to take the 2023.5 in the dirt as much as the 2022 so can't make a fair/detailed comparison there, but I suspect it would've done just fine in the conditions/fire roads/dirt tracks that we have here in California.