But you pay extra for white ‘steel’
When we discuss a model for the second time in this section, the car in question almost always turns out to be more expensive than before. This is not the case with the Defender 110, but is there enough car left for that significantly reduced amount?
(Land Rover) Defender 110 S P300e Electric Hybrid Petrol
To call a Defender cheaper than ever, you have to be willing to cheat a little bit. At the time of its introduction, the very attractive plug-in hybrid was not yet available in the Netherlands, so we hoisted the diesel version onto the stage. Now there is plug-in news again, because JLR is launching a P300e. It is 100 hp less powerful than the ‘old’ P400e, which means the starting price of the 110 drops back below €90,000. With such a P300e you can drive approximately 50 kilometers electrically, good news for the BPM amount while that lasts.
The medium 110 is also the only Defender version that you can get as a plug-in. Not only is the extra long 130 more expensive than the 110 in the Netherlands, but the short 90 also costs considerably more (from €129,647). Anyone who wants to drive a Defender in a somewhat responsible manner will therefore choose the 110 not only because of its practical, but not too large carriage.
The first thing you notice when comparing the photos of now and those of then is that the white steel wheels have made way for ‘boring’ silver-colored alloy. Secretly, those striking white wheels have been deleted before, but it remains a shame. The light metal makes the Defender somehow look not less, but stronger than a typical basic version. After all, you can still sell the steel as a conscious choice, a way to make it look tougher, while the current 19-inch wheels are typical of a simple version in this segment.
€6,699 for the wheels
That’s what they think at Defender – which is now a brand name – apparently too, because the look of the ‘old’ basic wheels is now imitated by 20-inch Style 9013 wheels. Together with a ditto spare wheel, this is an option costing almost €3,000, which also requires you to switch to a retro color scheme in blue with a white roof. Total costs: €6,699, after which there is a Defender that you can no longer call a basic version.
Anyone who orders the optional Style 9013 wheels will immediately receive a completely different car
In addition to wheels, you can also opt for special tires. Land Rover installs good all-seasons as standard, but for an additional charge of only €311 you can fit rugged off-road tires on your basic wheels. Also for the copy on the tailgate, of course. That wheel is not covered by default, but that looks fine in our opinion. Privacy glass is standard, so black windows are always included.
The entry-level version of the Defender, called ‘S’, is not only available as a plug-in, but also as a 200 and 250 hp diesel, with the 200 hp variant in particular not being fast. For six- and eight-cylinders you have to switch to higher trim levels: all engines here are four-cylinders. All-wheel drive is of course standard, as are high and low ranges and even air suspension and a Terrain Response system.
Six chairs
The bodywork is painted in ‘Fuji White’ at no extra charge, all other colors incur an additional charge. A surprise awaits in the interior in terms of color: artificial leather ‘resist’ is also available in Khaki-green or white-ish ‘Light Cloud’ at no extra cost. A third row of seats is not an option in the plug-in hybrid 110, but you can still travel with six people for an additional charge of €908. What’s that like? Probably bad, because the sixth seat is a folding thing between the front seats that replaces the armrest placed there. Still funny!
This light interior color can be selected for free.
No seat heating
If we look around at the basic interior, this will not lead to any major disappointments. Dual-zone automatic climate control, a Pivi Pro infotainment system with 3D surround camera, adaptive cruise control, partially electrically adjustable seats, keyless entry and start and even a wireless phone charger and interior heating are standard. Seat heating is the only serious ‘miss’ we can think of, and costs €427 extra. It’s kind of the standard fare in the premium segment nowadays: the basic version is fine, but for real delicacies you still have to pay a lot of money. Think of appearances, but also extra advanced LED lighting, panoramic roofs, nicer seats and a more extensive audio system. On the options list we also find less obvious items, such as ‘soft close’ for the rear door (with strap) for €256, and visible towing eyes in the rear bumper for €389. And what about a tow bar? This part, which is so important to Defender buyers, is included in a Tow Pack, which provides the necessary electronic support for €2,659.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl