Proper 4x4 off-road EV, what options

[The Surveyor]

The company has tasked me with the replacement of 6 Land Rover Discovery SE's on a new 2 year, 10k pa lease. The existing Disco's are used for a mixture of uses, ranging from site inspections across fields and construction sites to VIP transport. They need to have proper 4x4 off-road ability whilst being presentable and spacious. Mainly short trips around the sites, with occasional longer trip so thinking a plug-in hybrid would be ideal.

The Discovery is perfect, leather seats classy, presentable without being ostentatious, and will go anywhere across the fields and sites.

For company sustainability purposes, we are looking at something better performing than a V6 oil-burner. The new Defender in P400e format looks the ideal option or maybe the Volvo XC90 Recharge, but is there anything else out there to consider?

[The Surveyor]

modeller said:

I-Pace would be the only option.

Is that more of an SUV, rather than full 4x4?

What's the the ground clearance like on those?

[The Surveyor]

Europa Jon said:

There's nothing coming to the UK for a couple of years that has good ground clearance. Then, the Rivian will be the vehicle for you.

Cheers, needs to be lined up for next summer though

[The Surveyor]

Thanks for the further suggestions all, very helpful

[The Surveyor]

dmsims said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwStZpTvr5E

Would certainly be worth looking at as an alternative to the Defender if they had any concrete plans to make it, at the moment it's just a concept and the EQC is very much an SUV rather than a full 4x4. Looks cool though

[The Surveyor]

oop north said:

The Surveyor said:

dmsims said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwStZpTvr5E

Would certainly be worth looking at as an alternative to the Defender if they had any concrete plans to make it, at the moment it's just a concept and the EQC is very much an SUV rather than a full 4x4. Looks cool though

I know wading depth isn’t going to be the be all and end all, but the standard eqc wading depth is 30cm, this version is 40cm. My iPace is 50cm. The discovery 5 and new defender are 70cm (I think). So the eqc left me a little underwhelmed

The new Defender has a whopping 90cm wading depth which is very impressive although I'm not sure if that's compromised with the hybrid drivetrain. Regardless I'd really not like to think of any of the drivers barrelling into a 3 foot flood but it does highlight the difference between a real off-roader and an SUV.

[The Surveyor]

SydneyBridge said:

Do you have to buy british? Or at least built in Britain?

No, not at all. Hence the suggestion of the Volvo XC90 Recharge.

One consideration is 'image' though. It's the usual company car balance where it needs to look and present well to support the quality and ethical values (why we're looking at a change to EV/Hybrid), whilst not looking too flash. A big spanking BMW X5 in full Chelsea Tractor spec covered in toys with bling alloys wouldn't work, the current Discovery however works on every level. Its a difficult and largely subjective metric, but one we can't afford to get wrong.

[The Surveyor]

dmsims said:

Surprising given that they attract a certain "type"

[The Surveyor]

Beefmeister said:

I'd say the Defender 110 P400e is the best option for you. Classy, comfy, exceptional off road and on road ability, combined with great PHEV drivetrain.

I think you're right, certainly the front runner for initial investigations although I will do a comparison against the XC90 Recharge. Cheers