Hi all,

Have any of you driven the P300? I’m curious as to your impressions. I’ve been impressed with some of the turbocharged 4-cyls I’ve driven the last couple of years (and also have heard some complaints about lag with the P400.)

Basically wondering if there’s a huge difference in normal driving between the P300 and P400.

thanks for any thoughts!

 

Yes, I flew to California to attend the 4Xfar festival in California, for this exact purpose -- decide on P400 vs. P300 -- to final specify which version I was to order. I went in with the following thoughts:

1) gosh, I really wish I could buy a diesel in North America (but I know they are dead here for personal vehicles), 2) why did JLR follow MB with the silly passive hybrid approach (every hybrid I have driven of any type transmits switch sensations to the driver -- which I find disconcerting, as there is a lag/torque curve challenge which JLR has not mastered -- according to blogs on the RR Sport, 3) is the purported flat torque curve of the P300 real?, 4) I have no need the the power of the P400 (I drove the MB version in a relatives C series and it is excessive -- torque and acceleration, 5) Is the P300 really going to tow 7500 Lbs? (I have to tow a small horse trailer) and 6) do we finally have real off-road tires available (vs. the 19 inch D4)??

I learned: 1) get over it. It ain't gonna happen. 2) I do not know, but I am not surprised the hybrid lags. I hope people do not buy it solely for the "hybrid" word, 3) YES! I am not sure how they did it, but the P300 has more torque for longer than I have previously seen on a petrol turbo motor -- it also has really effective low-speed 4x4 throttle response, 4) Took another ride in the AMG MB with the same engine and confirmed that it really is a rocket -- and is something I do not need, 5) I do NOT know if the P300 will tow with anything near the confidence of my current high-mileage , Ford V8 5.0 L LR4 (D4). I will keep the LR4 it until I have the P300 in hand and confirm this point, 6) they had the Goodyear guys on site -- yes, the off -road tire is named properly (finally!)

In the end, I ordered a P300 S with locking rear diff, off road tires, 18 in wheels and the towing package. I will report out how it works, in October. Only open concern now is towing.....

 

Thanks for the feedback. I debated on getting the P400 but felt more comfortable with the P300 engine. This is great to hear that I made the right decision. Mine will not arrive until October too.

 

I’ve got a Td6 on my ‘17 Range Rover Sport and as near as I can tell, you can still order a diesel on the Range Rover/Sport and the Discovery. I love the engine, and wish they would have had that engine as an option on the new Defender.

 

My understanding is JLR is coming to the end of their contract to buy the FORD Diesel and V8 used in the D5. A year or so left, maybe? That was almost enough to drive me to order one of those, instead of the Defender 110. But, the RR sport price premium was too much for me, and off road capability of the both the RR and D5 versus the Defender, plus the look of the D5 from behind (sorry -- it is just NOT a good look!), drove me to order a Defender, instead.

Candidly, I am not certain I made the right choice. I will know more in late September, when my P300 110 arrives. I am keeping my high mileage D4 (LR4) until I am certain the choice was correct. Always a challenge to change vehicles !

 

Elsewhere in this thread I note the question of how well the new Defender will tow. Attached is a video of the towing capability of the P400.

https://www.tfltruck.com/2020/08/i-m...t-towing-test/

Might be useful as a comparison when the P300 towing begins.

 

The thing that swayed me to the P400 was definitely the extra towing capacity. I am looking at RVs around the 6000-7500 pound GVWR range, and I would rather be well below the rated towing capacity (the P400 is good for over 8000 pounds). The P300 just didn't quite have the oomph I wanted for a 23-27 foot Airstream or Kimberly.

 

400 all day and anyday. No issues with hybrid switches or anything. Seamless and smooth power. And if you switch the auto on off start to the off position it disables hybrid. Again 400 all day long.

 

".......switch the auto on off start to the off position it disables hybrid. " Wow !! That is news to me (and maybe others). Thanks for sharing.

 

This has me super confused. Maybe I just don't completely understand how this engine works, but wouldn't that affect available power?