In its new plug-in hybrid version, Her Majesty’s all-terrain vehicle is trying to get rid of its archaic and voracious vehicle label for good.
Climbing straight up the slope, the path stands like an impassable wall. The slightest trampled stone is fatally dragged away nonchalantly by gravity in a snap. Barely disturbed by the song of birds and the rustling of leaves in the wind, the surrounding tranquility contrasts with the violence of the effort required to climb every meter.
Although the supports are sure, a short break is in order. Not to catch his breath. But just straighten the back of the power seat by half a degree. Yes, hiking is good. But the adventure in Land Rover Defender is not bad either. Especially now that it is (a little) more respectful of the environment, at least that it knows how to evolve in silence by adopting for the first time a plug-in hybrid engine.
In this version P400e, only compatible with the long body 110, the British icon is inspired by its luxurious brothers Range Sport and Range Rover of the same name by associating a 2.0 turbo petrol and an electric machine integrated into the 8-speed automatic gearbox. Transmission which, in this case, abandons its traditional converter for a controlled clutch allowing to disconnect the traction chain from the thermal block when the latter ceases to activate. As in EV mode for example.
Although he then only had 105 kW (143 hp) and only 275 Nm at his disposal, this 2.6 tonne cube (!) still does not fear the slightest ascent once it is packed with its numerous off-road driving aids. Better, the constant force, characteristic of the electric motor at low speed, makes it possible to evolve in hostile environment with even more fluidity than having to tame simple horsepower.
In return, we should not hope to travel much more than thirty kilometers, against 43 announced, before making the gasoline engine snore or having to refill the 19.2 kWh of the battery.
That said, that of the Defender admits up to 50 kW of direct current to regain 80% of its capacity in 30 minutes. The smallest terminal is anyway preferable to Save mode, which allows you to recharge the batteries while driving, but which only whets the appetite of the 4-cylinder. In a more classic hybrid mode, consumption is already very difficult to contain below 10 l / 100 km. What this Land Rover tries to justify by vigorous acceleration in a sound far from unpleasant.
Energetic, its 404 hp and 640 Nm combined do not overwhelm the chassis, guarantor of well-controlled cash movements and therefore assured road behavior. Now as comfortable at good speed on the motorway as in the middle of a quagmire, the “Def” offers as a bonus the comfort of a good sedan in the presence of this engine with pneumatic controlled damping as standard.
Of a sobriety subject to conditions, this P400e conceals a final argument: it is the only Defender in the catalog to escape the penalty of € 30,000. Which, in France, gives it an advantage of € 20,000 over the equivalent D300 diesel. Because it’s not just the environment, there are also questions of money.
Our verdict
Able to move through nature in silence, this devastating all-terrain vehicle is above all of fiscal interest.
WE love
- Silence of the electric
- All-terrain capabilities intact
- Recharge power
We like less
- Empty battery consumption
- Modest electric autonomy
- Inordinate weight
Fiche technique Land Rover Defender 110 P400e S
TO BUY
- Tested version: € 80,200
- From 75,500 €
- Average manufacturer consumption / during the test (l / 100 km): 3.3-3.9 / 6.3
- CO2/malus : 75-89/0 €
- Fiscal power: 19 hp
- Country of Manufacture: United Kingdom
Proposed range
- Petrol from 400 to 525 hp, from € 66,500 to € 129,600
- Diesel from 200 to 300 hp, from € 54,100 to € 103,800
- Plug-in hybrid 404 hp, from € 75,500 to € 108,400
DRIVE
- Engine: front longitudinal, 4-cylinder turbo, direct injection, variable valve timing, 16 valves, stop & start, 1,997 cc3 + electric motor
- Transmission: all-wheel, 8-speed automatic
- Maximum cumulative power at rpm (hp): 404 to 5,500
- Maximum cumulative torque at rpm (Nm): 640 to 1,500
- Weight (kg): 2 600
- Long.xwid.xhigh. (m): 5.02 * x2.01 × 1.97 * spare wheel included
- Wheelbase (m): 3.02
- Tank (l): 90
- Max speed (km / h): 191 (limited)
- 0 to 100 km / h: 5 ”6
- Standard tires: 255/70 R20
- Tires in the test: Goodyear Wrangler A / T Adventure
LIVE
- Front / rear elbow width (cm): 162/159
- Rear leg length (cm): 77
- 5/2 chest (l): 670/1 759
RECOMMENDED OPTIONS
- Terrain Response 2 : 857 €
- Home charging cable: € 262
- Head-up display: € 1,396
MAIN COMPETITOR
- Jeep Wrangler 4Xe, from 68,200 €
Other tests on auto-moto.com:
Land Rover Defender 110 V8 test: the anar-chic
The Peugeot 508 PSE against the Audi S5 Sportback and BMW M340i Touring
Porsche 911 GT3 Touring test: it’s off again for a lap (ing)
