Hey all,

I'm currently in a service loaner and I got a brand-new 2025 Defender 110 P400 S. The changes for the 2025MY are a bit more than just color/trim changes, equipment changes, the center console and the removal of Land Rover badges. There are some changes under the skin that have really impressed me. Here's a quick list of what I like and what I don't like:

Like:
- P400 powertrain is even more refined than ever (which is shocking, because it was already incredibly smooth and refined). Throttle programming is even more improved than the 2023MY P400 I drove, which was significantly better than the 2020 P400 I initially test drove.
- Transmission tuning is amazing. As before, the shifts are imperceptible, and its never gear hunting - a hallmark of the ZF 8HP gearbox. with the gear selector in S or you floor it past the kickdown point, it upshifts incredibly quickly and downshifts are snappy. I can only imagine how much better it'd be with Dynamic Mode enabled.
- The new angled wireless charger is an improvement over the previous model years. It doesn't slide around anymore.
- Auto stop/start is nearly imperceptible, unlike my P300 and some earlier P400s, which I felt had a rather jerky stop/start system despite having the 48v starter/generator. This one is much improved and while I still turn it off, I feel it doesn't have to be turned off every single time.
- Suspension tuning is a little softer while still having a very compliant ride. This one is on air like mine, and I don't know if it is because I'm used to my LT 20" Falken Wildpeaks, or if it is actually the suspension, but this one is on the 19" Goodyear Wrangler Adventures, and it feels a little softer than my 2021 110 P300, even when I ran the exact same wheel/tire on my 110 before switching over to the Wildpeaks.
- The Resist interior is a lot nicer than I was expecting. It is not leather by any means, but it feels nice enough, and it is supposedly very durable, and also repelled the water from the water bottle that accidentally got spilled. I'd still spec the Windsor leather, but the Resist isn't bad.
- Walk-up lock/unlock is very convenient. Not that its an inconvenience to use the lock/unlock button on the door handle, but it is very nice to have.

Dislike:
- They removed all of the Land Rover badging from the C-pillars and rear tailgate.
- When I picked up the loaner, the lane keep assist was on. I hit the button to deactivate it and it didn't turn off. I then noticed a message on the gauge cluster that said "press and hold the button to deactivate lane keep assist." I don't like that. Much easier as a single one-touch press like it is in my car.
- I don't really care for the new center console. Now there's only one USB port, and its all the way at the bottom of the passenger side of the console. The 20-24MY vehicles have a much more convenient location for the two USB ports. There's a cigarette lighter on the driver's side. The drawer is nice, but I don't personally have a use for it, and the cupholders are smaller and they removed the central Red Bull can cupholder.
- The Resist upholstery, while nice on the seats, just feels a little cheap on the steering wheel and shifter. This car has only 1700 miles on it and the steering wheel is already starting to get shiny from the oils on your hands.
- The new speaker grilles look very generic compared to the industrial-looking grilles used until the 2024MY.
- Color & trim changes for the 25MY are big. You can't get the Acorn interior anymore - that's what I have and its a shame. The Light Cloud that they replaced it with is nice, but you get a black dash and black upper door panel armrests. IMO it should all be Light Cloud. You also can't get the wood trim anymore, which is also a shame. I have the Rough-Cut Walnut in mine and love it. They also got rid of Silicon Silver for the 2025.5MY, leaving no silver paint available.
- Trim level changes are annoying. You can't get the core models in an SE trim anymore, now if you want features like Meridian Surround, you are stuck with the X-Dynamic, which I personally don't care for because of the gloss black lower trim.
- Auto lock/unlock sounds the horn when the key is removed from the car. My 2021 110 doesn't do that. Annoying when I stop in the driveway to grab the mail before I pull in the garage.

Overall, there are lots of little improvements that make a noticeable difference that improves the Defender, even though it was already pretty damn excellent. There are some little annoyances, but overall they don't ruin the driving experience, but they are enough that I personally wouldn't want to replace my Defender with a new one.

 

Nice review and thanks for sharing your opinion. I also believe that the larger infoscreen is now standard across all 2025 Defenders regardless of the trim.

 

That is correct. All Defenders come with the 11.4" screen as standard. It is nice to have the big screen and the larger icons make it easier to use, but I prefer the look of the 10" screen, as it doesn't look tacked on - it is perfectly integrated into the dash.

 

Thank you for sharing your feedback. Can't believe engine and transmission work even better than what we have.

For the center console, now you gained the hidden storage you can push to hide which is why they moved USB port to lower side.
I personally love that hidden storage compartment so I can live with lower USB but removing the other 2, I disagree with LR. it's nice to have all 3 options on 20-24MY.

 

Correct. That is another reason why I don't like the drawer. I guess I didn't think that's the reason my they moved the USB ports. It's pretty useless; you can't really fit anything in it. Didn't like it when I first saw it in the OCTA pre-production prototype at Goodwood, and I dislike it even more now. But people have been asking for more hidden storage compartments and I guess this was the best they could come up with.

 

What do owners use the USB ports for? The only time I've ever used is in our Volvos that don't have wireless carplay. Archaic for a 2022.

 

I use the USB ports to play music through my phone. Bluetooth sound quality is awful, and I stream music through Tidal via the USB port for maximum sound quality. Plus, my phone gets charged at the same time.

 

I totally agree about the throttle programming being more linear on our 2025. Throttle response on our 2021 is still a little odd.
I like the center drawer, mine has gum, mints, quarters for parking meters in a nearby town, a charging cord for an older iPhone, pen and a notestix pad and spare Thule key for the roof box. But I prefer the old style cupholders in our 2021.
I also like the X-Dynamic shiny painted lower panels. Once ceramic coated, road salt and VT spring mud wash off easily. And the sun won't fade the black paint.
Funny you noticed the black fabric speaker covers. I replaced them with the old style gray ones, mostly because I transferred over the speaker cover panels with glued-in Focal tweeters from our 2023 Defender.

 

• My phone, since it does not have wireless charging
• Garmin nav system
• Winch controller (since it is always flat!)

 

Got it, thanks. Makes sense. Except for the last!

The Garmin nav has to be slick. We've got a full size and mini In Reach and the mapping capability of course great.