This could be what Land Rover’s diminutive Defender looks like

Land Rover is jumping onto the EV SUV bandwagon and reportedly plans to leverage the revered Defender nameplate to make it as much of a hit as it could hope for.

Car Magazine

April 26, 2025

These latest renders (derived from spy shots) paint a picture of what the Land Rover Defender could look like. Image: Kolesa.ru

Land Rover looks set to leverage the Defender moniker with its foray into the world of electrification. A reported diminutive Defender is in the works as a new electric SUV which has now been spotted under heavy camouflage during recent testing. This all-new model—possibly dubbed the Defender Sport—is shaping up to be the most compact off-roader in the Land Rover stable, and perhaps the most city-friendly Defender ever built too.

This is how the electric Defender might look

Though official details remain under wraps, spy shots and clever renderings have helped us piece together a rough idea of what this baby brute might look like. Styled by Nikita Chuyko for Kolesa, the speculative render shows a familiar boxy silhouette, reminiscent of the full-fat Defender, albeit scaled down and smoothed out.

In the renders supplied by Kolesa.ru, the Defender Sport retains the hallmark round headlights but there is no traditional grille to speak of—just a set of narrow slits in place of air intakes, echoing its combustion-powered sibling. Chunky bumpers, squared-off wheel arches and flared fenders add to the rugged visual DNA, while blacked-out pillars (save for a colour-coded C-pillar) introduce a more youthful, urban tone.

The rear is more interesting and draws some inspiration from models like the Hyundai Santa Fe. This prototype has surprisingly low taillights which may not be replicated into the final production model. Beneath all of this boxy bodywork, the upcoming EV will reportedly ride on Jaguar Land Rover’s new Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) platform, which is designed to accommodate 800-volt tech and ultra-rapid 350 kW charging. As expected, the mini Defender should come standard with all-wheel drive with the potential for dual-motor setups to help it maintain its off-road credibility.

Other competitors in the electric SUV market

This will likely go up against Mercedes-Benz’s forthcoming “Little G” electric G-Class, which is also due to arrive later this decade. Both models aim to bring iconic off-road names into a more compact, electric future. Pricing for the baby Defender is still TBC, but expect it to sit well below the standard Defender 90 (from approximately R1.5 million locally). Since this is all under wraps, there is no confirmation that it will be coming to the local market – time will tell…

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