Land Rover Defender P400e PHEV revealed: 4×4 icon’s most powerful model yet

A new plug-in hybrid Defender has been revealed in the UK, with the electrified Land Rover capable of travelling more than 40km in pure electric mode. 

The off-road icon doesn’t want for grunt, either, with Land Rover promising the Defender P400e is both the most powerful and most fuel-efficient model in the line-up, delivering a total 300kW and 650Nm, and a sprint to 60mph (around 98km/h) of just 5.4 seconds. That’s hot-hatch pace, though the plug-in hybrid does it while sipping a claimed 3.3L/100km, and emitting 74g/km of CO2.

Borrowing the powertrain from the Range Rover Sport P400e, the Defender pairs the brand’s 2.0-litre petrol four-cylinder turbo engine with a new 105kW electric motor and a 19.2kWh lithium-ion battery.

The Defender PHEV can be run in Eco Mode, Save Mode (preserving battery power for later use) or Parallel Hybrid Mode. 

Land Rover says, using a 7kW wallbox, an 80 percent charge takes around two hours, dropping to 30 minutes when using a DC fast charger, with charging stats displayed in the car and on the Defender app. 

“The advanced new P400e Plug-In Hybrid perfectly balances performance with fuel economy and all-electric off-road capability,” says JLR’s senior manager of powertrain engineering, Iain Gray.

Available only in the longer 110 five-door body style, Land Rover says its PHEV Defender will be more capable off road than its conventional counterparts, pointing to the linear torque delivery and the fact high and low range setups are offered in full electric mode.  The electrified Defender will also tow up to 3000kg.

Standard kit includes 20-inch alloy wheels, air suspension, three-zone climate, and the prerequisite charging port, along with the choice of five or seven seats.

The P400e is yet to be confirmed for Australia, though the brand here is known to be interested in introducing it when it becomes available in right-hand drive. That said, it’s unlikely to arrive for the 2021 model year.