You are probably correct, but here are some thoughts. I've got a 5 mile commute, so the battery is more than enough for me to go full electric day to day. When off road, I'd like to think that Land Rover would design it in such a way that the battery would be well-protected (but who knows). And, if you don't drive full electric to your off-road destination (meaning, you drive it like a hybrid or as gas-only), the electric motor off road gives you instant full torque, which I feel would ameliorate or even fully offset the weight issue. My biggest fear with the PHEV would be that it would be impossible to use 18" wheels, even with the Lucky8 kit.

While I'd almost definitely prefer the diesel off road, for my day-to-day, the PHEV would be perfect for 90% or more of the driving I do. As much as I love owning an offroad vehicle, the last trip I took to Colorado saw me riding my mountain bike the whole time and not driving on any offroad trails at all. Nonetheless, I'd still like to have a vehicle that gives me the option.

 

This is fixed on my 2023 110.

 

Definitely would have been nice if they included a way to remove the seat bottom so the seats lay flat. Easily my biggest complaint. The D90 has all the storage I need for my family but it would be easier to store if I could get those seats flat. Haven't wanted to try just pulling them out as I don't want to damage them though I know people do this.

 

I will add my 2 cents: A way to open the tail door from the inside, i.e. a handle, I know one could use the Smart Key, but I am thinking of a situation such as sleeping and the need to get out through the back feet first and without having to fumble around for the key fob.

 

As a V8 owner, the sound should be way louder and the drive more aggressive specially on Dynamic mode. Big disappointed here.
Here’s other changes I would like to see.

* Black exhaust and possibly better looking one. The existing chrome one is truly embarrassing for a vehicle of this price.
* Dynamic mode that doesn’t have to be reselected every time your turn the car on/off.
* Ability to drive at faster speed on lower height mode.
* Some two tone leather options for the interior would also be great.

 

What height mode are you wanting to drive at? Access height?

 

Yes, access height

 

New Defender Mods sells an electronic device that allows you to lower/lift your suspension at will at any speed.

@umbertob has a post about it and the install.

LLAMS I think is the acronym for the product.

Edit: Here is the post link

 

You know access height is for, you know, accessing the car, not for driving about, right? The car would no doubt rub quite a bit if you drove around at speed and hit bumps and so on. It is a 5500 pound SUV, not a hot hatch.

 

All the customers of Vulkan and Urban seem to love all that sort of hot-hatch malarkey. Spoilers and shiny plastic everywhere. I think there's even a lift rod to lower the Defender for those who like that sort of thing.

Horses for courses I guess. Don't get it myself, but castrating an off-road beast into a chav-wagon seems to be a popular endeavor. Driving around lowered is a logical next step.