I've driven the older 2.0 P400e L494 and will say performance wise it's as good as the old 4.4 SDV8, but electric only range was way lower than quoted in winter, don't think it'd even manage the average daily school runs without a plug-in inbetween. Boot space compromised by battery, no spare wheel or theird row seat option (important for some), and the noise of a 2.0 4cylinder engine takes some getting used to (sounds like it belongs in a Golf GTi). But without looking specifically at the fuel economy it is otherwise a good alternative as the big diesels as they had comparable purchase prices at the time....so why so few sold? Had to be either the real world mpg or not enough tax perks! (I know some that have on-site diesel tanks for vehicle fleet, so obviously beneficial if the Director's car is also diesel ).

Coincidentally have a 2020 -SDV8 in for a huge list (cost wise ) of age/wear related repairs, it's a company car.. of course. Usually owner replaces it every 4 years. But has now decided to keep this one going for longer as the cost of a new replacement RRS with Reeve's added penalties (directly and indirectly) have made him to stash his money elsewhere. Not sure if this is a political motivated move out of spite because I don't think he's short of a few bob.

 

Oh and how there isn't a major mandatory recall on the p400e for fixing what happens to the brakes (or lack of) when the 12v auxiliary battery fails is to put it politely a disgrace for a car of that retail value.

 

nothing to do with the blatant profiteering of the car companies then..................

 

The P400e didn't have enough electric only range and low enough Co2 figures to be a 'no brainer' for BIK

The majority of customers also didn't like the idea of a 2.0 4 cylinder dragging around a Range Rover !

 

Well same Rangey is back in for problems, after already spending thousands on brakes, suspension, airbags and fixings those gimmicky deployable side steps (a grand on its own). Now the turbo(s) are putting oil in the exhaust if left idling which I think is due to the heath-robinson scavenge pump system that's supposed to suck oil out the oil returns. And the the bumper/tail pipes are plastered in soot = DPF cracked/melted. That's going to be a few more grand LOL. Who'd buy a Land Rover? Let alone try and keep it longer then 5 years?

As an aside, it's not just JLR:

I'm now getting a lot, and I mean ALOT of post dieselgate EU6C cars (2017 onwards) with expensive emissions problems that cost £1000s to fix and no guarantee the fault/failure won't repeat after repair. To the point I'm now saying if you want to buy a car for long-term ownership, do not buy a diesel newer than 2017. They are all doomed to fail with an emissions-related fault. Basically, there's more sensors in the exhaust that ensure the car is complying with EU6, if it detects that it doesn't comply, especially the particulate matter sensor, you're going to be spending thousands to legitimately fix it. I've got Fords cracking DPFs at mileages as low as 30,000miles, Hyundai/Kia doing the same at 80K, VAGs blocking EGR coolers with white Amonium powder (they used to block with soot, now it's Ammonia compounds) and anything Stellantis with persistent Adblue issues that just won't go away.

Mercedes counting down with engine start-prevention due to it detecting too much NOx at some point during a journey, and not resetting after repairs. As well as requiring internet access and compatible equipment/software/subscription to authorise system resets or even fault clearing; Mercedes actually wants a Photo of every individual that works on their vehicles and to use iDNow authentication (ai face verification) - the same company involved with electronic covid vaccination passports, which means many independent garages do not have the equipment with the ability do this (or only partly). And finally stuff like BMWs needing "reset drives", mandating a specific driving pattern to ensure NOx control is operational which is practically impossible on UK roads due to the traffic!

Pre dieselgate cars are still chugging along relatively OK (so long as they aren't VAGs that have NOT had the dieselgate recall work)., whilst they have issues, they are at least fixable and nowhere near as sensitive to long term wear and tear.

Petrols don't get off the hook either*; Also Seeing 2 year old Mercedes PHEVs jumping their timing chains (and MB dealers trying to duck out of warranty claims for replacement engines). Take a think in this: Mercedes; A car manufacturer that used to have engines capable of 300,000+miles without rebuilding, now making engine that jump chains at less than 30,000!

Not saying electric is the answer, but with what's being churned out in recent years make think manufacturers are focusing way too much on touch screens on blingy 20" wheels instead of focusing on ensuring the actual powertrains remain reliable.

Edit: Unless it's Toyota, and you ignore the sketchy satnav (use carplay android auto instead).

 

Well that is Absolutely no surprise to me , covid and the protocol introduced ( now nothing to do with disease control ) was only ever there to squeeze the small guy and benefit the elite