Making a case for the D5

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iconoclast

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the the interior in the D5 doesn't feel like it's from any real european luxury sedan... perhaps something out of the volvo line-up or along the lines of lexus or acura but definitely not the same fit or finish of some of the euro luxury marques.
 

Hayseed_LR4

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I think people are too harsh on the D5. If you review the D5 for what it is and costs - it is a phenomenal vehicle and actually has great value. The problem is that people - like me - who had an LR4 compare what we loved about the LR4 and find the D5 is missing some of that.

For example the tailgate. It drove me nuts that it was not a power tailgate but the size and split were perfect. The D5 gate is actually really good and functional once you get over the it not being like the LR4. I do not like how long it is for opening in tight spaces.

JLR bought back my LR4 (which I loved) and put me in the FPace. I grew to love the FPace even though I misses the size and big dumb elephant drive of the LR4. I am now in the D5. The D5 is like the LR4 and Fpace had a love child.

The D5 looks will never replace the LR4 - but that is sad but ok. You will always find reasons to justify a purchase (or not justify). The D5 is more capable and more the vehicle the LR4 is - flame away.
 

nhskibm

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I also see that they found clever ways to store items. There is a cubby behind the center console, a slot for a cellphone by the center cup holders and the door handle has been closed up so you can put a phone or something there... It also has an ambient light over it which is pretty neat. They also maintained the two panel glovebox but the top one is now twice as large

View attachment 7841 View attachment 7842
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If you like the cubby behind the hvac you should try the one under the cup holders...

For those interested in a comprehensive write up I’ve had my hse lux td6 since december (6k mi on it already) and was waiting until I towed my AS to render final judgment - which i did this past weekend. Should have it up in the D5 section sometime this week.

Update: Review Up http://www.landroverworld.org/threads/d5-comprehensive-review.29991/
 
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PaulLR3

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I think people are too harsh on the D5. If you review the D5 for what it is and costs - it is a phenomenal vehicle and actually has great value. The problem is that people - like me - who had an LR4 compare what we loved about the LR4 and find the D5 is missing some of that.

The D5 looks will never replace the LR4 - but that is sad but ok. You will always find reasons to justify a purchase (or not justify). The D5 is more capable and more the vehicle the LR4 is - flame away.

Totally agree, once you accept that the D5 is not an LR4 replacement you can appreciate it on it's own merits. I'll keep my LR4 another year or two then get a D5.
 

iconoclast

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Totally agree, once you accept that the D5 is not an LR4 replacement you can appreciate it on it's own merits. I'll keep my LR4 another year or two then get a D5.

This is how I see it as well. This is not a new LR3/LR4 it's a completely new vehicle and while it replaces the Discovery of yesteryear it does not replace it. It essentially is a more affordable and practical Range Rover Sport (IMO).

For example the tailgate. It drove me nuts that it was not a power tailgate but the size and split were perfect.

They kept the split and powered it on the Range Rover. Shame they did not do so for the Discovery.
 

nhskibm

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This is how I see it as well. This is not a new LR3/LR4 it's a completely new vehicle and while it replaces the Discovery of yesteryear it does not replace it. It essentially is a more affordable and practical Range Rover Sport (IMO).

Having a Disco 2 I'd also argue the LR3/LR4 should be viewed the same way, the LR3/LR4 feel like a completely different vehicle as well (not that it's a bad thing). Similar things happen with other companies as well. E21/E30 to E36/E46 to E90/F30 in the BMW world is also a fair comparison to D1/D2 to LR3/LR4 to D5.

Though I do agree it is similar to RRS in styling and interior the pricing isn't too far off (comparable specs actually don't make it that much cheaper - at least not materially - if you can afford $80k you can likely afford the $85k the similar RRS costs) but I do believe the drive characteristics is still very similar to the LR4 (note I traded in both an LR4 and RRS at the same time for D5). It really is like if they had a child - though I'll admit it's more like a 60/40 RRS/LR4 split in terms of DNA transferred.
 

Hayseed_LR4

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This is how I see it as well. This is not a new LR3/LR4 it's a completely new vehicle and while it replaces the Discovery of yesteryear it does not replace it. It essentially is a more affordable and practical Range Rover Sport (IMO).
.

The RRS and D5 are very different in function and size. The D5 looks more like the RRS but drives more like the LR4 (which coincidentally the LR4 likeness was my target). They seem two different vehicles where as the D-sport is a more affordable version of the D5.
 

bbyer

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I regard the D5 has an expensive Explorer, but more optimistically, perhaps the D5 evolution was just to provide a break so that when the new Defender is introduced and it looks almost like a 3/4, that LR will have something to save both their image and the company.

Right now, the only body on frame offerings out there are the 4Runner variants and the G Wagon.

LR could also market an Autobiography version of the Defender and hence cover from the Euro police market right up to the armored Limousine market per the jpg below.

In Italy, the Cabrini used to drive the Defender; now they purchase a 4 door Nissan pickup made by Renault; pretty much the same in the UK as well now.

Most of the Police cars in North America are Explorers but at least here, the four door F-150 appears to be the "car" of choice for our highway police with the Explorers restricted to the cities.

In summary, Land Rover could maintain a presence in the world market if they just reintroduced the 4 as the New Defender.
Kate and William driving LR4 1246195-le-prince-william-et-catherine-kate-950x0-2.jpg
 

bbyer

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Explorer and D5 is comparing a coconut and and an orange.
You are of course correct, but when they look the same, the market sees otherwise.

I had the privilege of participating in a Land Rover trials day. An Explorer could never balance on two wheels at the top of an inverted V type obstacle where to go down the other side, the driver just shifts her body against the door and the 5 dips down and continues down the side.

The bending moments would have popped the sunroof out of an Explorer had it even got to the top.

I hope the market agrees with you and sees it as more than an upscale Explorer.

If LR messes up the Defender as I anticipate, well Tata will be looking for a new buyer.

Well actually, the new Defender will I suppose be an expensive variation of the Ford Ranger Raptor out of Australia. They have the Raptor right now and it will soon be introduced into North America so ...

http://www.jamesbradenford.ca/blog/2019-ford-ranger-raptor-north-american-release-date/
 

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