The Land Rover Defender line-up has been shuffled, with the addition of an opulent new seven-seater, a stronger diesel engine – and a plug-in hybrid that makes use of a three-cylinder engine. 

The revamp comes 4 years after the launch of the L663-generation Defender and, whereas not as substantial as a full-blown facelift, ushers in a spread of vital mechanical and beauty tweaks, together with a reorganisation of the trim construction. 

The headline change for the up to date Defender comes beneath the bonnet, the place the D300 diesel engine has been swapped for the stronger D350 from the Range Rover, boosting outputs by 49bhp and 37lb ft – to 345bhp and 516lb ft – with the end result that “everything from overtaking to towing is even more effortless”, says JLR. 

JLR has not revealed any efficiency figures for the brand new engine, however little doubt it can enhance barely on the D300’s 7.0sec 0-62mph time. 

So too has the P400 Ingenium straight-six petrol been changed by a 419bhp model of JLR’s supercharged 5.0-litre V8, and the plug-in hybrid Defender swaps its two-litre four-cylinder engine for the P300e association used within the Evoque and Discovery Sport PHEVs – based mostly round a 1.5-litre triple and producing 305bhp all up.

The modifications have been made so as to make the Defender compliant with Euro 6e emissions laws, so little doubt the petrol straight six will quickly even be retired from the Discovery, Range Rover and Range Rover Sport line-ups. 

Chief among the many cabin upgrades is the introduction of a brand new Captain Chairs pack for the three-row Defender 130, which swaps the center bench for a pair of particular person armchairs – with entry in between for the rearmost three seats. 

Heated and ventilated as normal, and with easy accessibility to a pair of cupholders within the center, the captain chairs are mentioned to convey “front-row comfort to those travelling in row two”, and can be found on Defender X and V8 fashions.