Hi, I'm looking at the base P300 Defender here in Australia, and it comes with the "standard steering wheel" (non-leather).

Does anyone have any experience with this wheel? I'm worried it might feel cheap and sweaty.

Upgrading to a leather wheel is expensive, as the configurator forces other changes including getting the full 'cold climate pack' for $1,400 Australian.

 

I have a very basic 110s and didn't even know non leather rim was an option...the leather rim is very nice and I like the magnesium center.

Hope someone can chime in with an opinion the plastic rim; I've never even seen one.

 

​​​​Thanks for your input. I was thinking it might be the case that the plastic steering wheel is only offered in limited markets.

The Australian Defender build website has various steering wheels:

​​​​​​* Standard non-leather* Standard leather
* Premium non-leather* Premium leather

The base Defender can only be optioned with the standard non-leather or standard leather.

Unfortunately the dealership doesn't have examples of the non-leather.

 

(duplicate post deleted)

 

I have a 2022 base model 90 w/ P300 and mine came with leather wheel standard (not a heated wheel.) Maybe something is different down under? Or changed due to supply issues?

 

Is that in the US?

I noticed the P300 comes with a leather wheel in the UK too.

​Perhaps hardly anyone worldwide actually has experience with the plastic wheel.

I think I'd regret spending this much on a vehicle if the main physical point of contact with the vehicle feels cheap.

 

Is it possible "non leather" is synthetic leather? Is it possible I have a synthetic leather wheel and can't tell the difference?

My mind is blown now.

 

The non-leather wheel doesn't have any stitching at all on the photos I've seen, whereas the leather ones appear to have stitching on the inner face of the wheel.

All the reviews I've seen have steering wheels with stitching.

I reckon 99% of people have a leather one..

Edit: Actually, the 'standard non-leather steering wheel' doesn't have stitching, whereas the 'premium non-leather steering wheel' does.

You'd think they could just make all the steering wheels leather, given the price point of the vehicle.

 

Coming from a Range Rover to the Defender, I can assure you that even the leather steering wheel feels cheap by comparison. I wouldn’t go with the plastic one as the leather is barely good enough.

 

I have the base 110 (2021) which came with the standard steering wheel. It is plastic, with a slightly soft touch to it. It is OK, but it can get sweaty, and I would much rather have a leather one. Didn't think to tick that box when I ordered, unfortunately.