V8 Vs PHEV: New Land Rover Defender P525 and P400e full review

This is a full versus review of the V8 (P525) and PHEV (P400e) versions of the new Land Rover Defender. The Defender was the new car that Covid robbed Jonny of several opportunities of driving - firstly in Namibia, then in several other locations - so he decided to compare the two highest performing versions against one another. The surprise here is that the £65k PHEV is almost as quick 0-62 as the 110 V8, and yet significantly cheaper.

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Tech Specs:

P400e PHEV (plug in hybrid)
Price: From £63,000
Engine: 2-litre turbo Ingenium engine (296bhp)
EV hybrid: 105kW motor with 19.2 KwH battery
Gearbox: ZF 8-speed automatic
Power: 398bhp / 472 lbft
Top speed: 119mph
0-62mph: 5.6 secs
EV range: 27 miles (WLTP)
Economy: 85.3mpg (claimed), 74g/km
Boot space: 853L (seats up)
Towing capacity: 3000kg
PHEV only available as 110, 5 or 6 seats (not 7) and not as commercial

Charging times
50kW CCS rapid charge = 30 mins (0-80%)
7kW wall box = 2 hours
3 pin plug = 7 hours

P525 (V8)
Price: From £98,585
Engine: 5.0-litre supercharged V8
Gearbox: ZF 8-speed automatic
Power: 518bhp / 461 lbft
Top speed: 149mph
0-62mph: 5.4 secs (110), 5.2 secs (90)
Economy: 19.5mpg (claimed), 327g/km
Boot space: 1075L (seats up)
Towing capacity: 3500kg
V8 available as 90 or 110, with 5, 6 or 7 seats). No commercial version available.

Defender 110
Length: 4758mm
Width: 1996mm
Wheelbase: 1967mm
Wading depth: 900mm

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Jonny Smith
Creative content maker, car presenter & car pervert for hire since '98

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:18 E-only off-road capability
1:36 PHEV features
2:20 PHEV from £63k
2:33 PHEV driving modes
3:40 WLTP and E-only top speed
5:17 Eco data
6:00 Town driving EV only
7:06 Discovery 6?
8:00 Boot space
9:27 PHEV rival ranges
9:44 Charging stats
10:20 6 year warranty
11:00 Offroad capabilities
12:30 Steering feel
13:33 0-62 in the PHEV
14:20 In the V8
15:02 Paddle shift V8
15:28 Most powerful Defender yet
16:18 V8 brakes and wheels
18:24 Ride and handling
19:32 0-62 calculations
20:07 Under the V8 bonnet
21:32 V8 exhausts
22:25 Is V8 well engineered?
23:03 V8 cornering
23:43 V8 too quiet?
24:04 V8 0-62 launch
25:02 90 boot space
25:54 V8 cabin
27:03 Should V8 dash be more special?
27:22 Climbing into the back of a 90
28:26 Verdict

#newdefenderv8 #defenderp525 #defenderphev #defenderp400e

[paulsansome]

I have the Range Rover with the p400e powerplant and I think it is excellent. It suits my usage pattern well. Most journeys are sub 20 miles return so I can go weeks without using any fuel. Economy on a long run is woeful though - low 20's mpg. I do have to do quite a few 400-500 mile round trips in it with no charging (or perhaps an overnight 20miles at the destination). Again, I like the ability to make those journeys without the need to recharge (usually I have dogs and guns in the car).
Over 12, 000 miles, I have averaged about 45mpg (obviously excluding the electricity) and about 1/3rd of the mileage is on electric.

[AutoTopnl]

Great video! As a Defender V8 P525 owner I really enjoyed driving the P400e. Its suspension is a lot nicer actually and the power really surprised me!

[paulsansome]

They were pheasants in the road, not grouse (bird identification skills are important in a Defender, especially if wearing a flat cap).

[Deepthought-]

Great review
5.28 Interesting How much your eyes are off the road using the touch screens.
Nothing personal- just a reflection on touch screens in general.

[Crickstardeluxe]

Jonny, what can I say. Yet another great review. Love the variation on your channel - and presenting style too, on that side of things.

[stevecotterill]

Hi Jonny, whilst you were checking out ECO mode on the central touchscreen it’s amazing how far you travelled with your eyes off the road. We’re all so distracted now with our over complicated cars… maybe it’s time to get back to basic’s? Great content as always. 👍

[glenncraft]

Jonny YouTube is made for you. You have knocked it out of the park again.
It’s quite extraordinary what content you are producing. It’s bonkers and totally staggering.
Thank you and your team for great great viewing.

[FastAsFunk]

Great stuff...! Absolutely agree with everything you say here Jonny. Had my 'fender a couple of months now and love it to bits. Does absolutely everything I need it to do. Toured the East coast with it, it pulls my trailer with cars in it, takes the dogs in the back with ease, hacks up the rutted muddy track round the back of the farm without breaking sweat, delivers 38mpg all while being super comfy. Great bit of kit.

[michaelkenny]

Great vid Jonny! Came by just to have a quick look at one of my dream cars and your great presenting had me there for whole thing.

[ash]

Impressive how through all the noise on YouTube you guys are still cutting through with unique and engaging content! I love it. PHEV for the daily, V8 for that charger 🤤

[sammoxford]

Jonny "it's idiot proof"
Me remembering the Niva... Yeah, but it is Jonny proof? 🤣🤣

[malcolmlane-ley]

Fabulously balanced and entertaining review as always Jonny. As a staunch RR driver and fan I completely empathise with your 'ego massaging' phrasiology, however I think the Defender has another dynamic, it's design and form just oozes gorgeousness and even though it lacks the RR luxury I just want one. Good move not to doing any testing in a lake this time!

[jimwintersgill]

Worth the wait! Hat game was strong in this one Jonny. Superb review with an interesting comparison of the PHEV and V8. Production values now seriously good in these, my #1 YouTube channel by far, on that side of things.

[timm]

So excited to see a new video from you Jonny. At a time when lockdown and work is a bit tough - this is truely something to look forward to. Thanks from New Zealand!

[andreasdidik]

I was watching this on my big screen TV. Suddenly, my eyes grew bigger and my heart beat more....to watch you drive in city (almost paying no attention to road ahead) playing around with touchscreen or whatever buttons are there....

[neiljoseph]

Cracking review, Johnny - great production quality too! Well done and thank you

[paulcoles]

Thirty minutes of automotive loveliness Jonny…Consummate review with all the key information plus little nuggets others haven’t shared. My key takeouts are buy the PHEV (once they upgrade the battery) and with the money I save buy a Jimny and shoehorn in a V8. You don’t get that kind of insight from Fifth Gear (anymore)…

[johnrobbo]

Superb production of the video Jonny. The PHEV could indeed become the new go to for both the very well off and those who just like a better car. You didn't mention the "economy" on the V8. Deliberate error or just a lapse. I think both have their place and as you quoted "bellendery" will play a part.

I was so relieved to realise that the speedo on the V8 was clearly reading in kmh rather than mph on a couple of your more spirited moments. ;-).

Again, congratulations on an excellently produced, informative and entertaining video.

[xutsider]

so in short.. is the phev version good for long journeys?

[mattlaggs]

Bloody hell your vids are so well filmed.

I’d definitely take the PHEV in this day and age.
I mean I have 0 need for a Defender, gorgeous though.
Money no object, I’d have the 110 PHEV. Would just make sense in 2021.

And it may have been a day later than planned but it was definitely worth it :).