Baby Defender is the Discovery Sport/Freelander replacement 

At roughly 4.6m in length, this will take on the incoming Mercedes-Benz ‘Mini G’ and may be called Defender Sport.

A smaller entry-level Defender is a vital new model in LR’s electric car portfolio. Evidently this rugged, compact 4×4 has been under development for some time. However, it has never officially appeared in JLR’s future product presentations. 

A disguised prototype was spotted out testing in the UK, confirming development is progressing well. It should be on sale by 2027. 

The mule has the same chunky, straight-edged styling features as larger Defenders. But it will be smaller, lower riding, and more oriented to tarmac than turf. Hence, the ‘Sport’ suffix.

It may also take the 80 numeral, postioning it below the 90, 110 and 130 bodystyles.

Given it is around 4.6m in length, this may replace the Discovery Sport whose future has been up in the air. It has been on sale since 2014 and was refreshed in 2019. A second generation has not yet been confirmed.

Evidently, the Discovery range is undergoing a rethink as sales have fallen thanks to the Defender line-up.

The Defender Junior may also be the new Freelander (which was replaced by Discovery Sport).

Defender has been a big hit for JLR, with more than 114,000 sold in 2024 alone. Using the name on its new entry-level model would broaden the line’s appeal.  

And for this reason it has the potential to become a big mover for JLR globally. 

It will also sell alongside the next-generation Range Rover Evoque and Range Rover Velar, all three using JLR’s new EMA platform. 

Production will be out of JLR’s Halewood plant on Merseyside. iI is undergoing a £500m upgrade to prepare it to produce electrified vehicles.

Electric power is the primary focus of the 800V platform, with motors to be built in-house. Batteries will come from the forthcoming Somerset plant of JLR parent Tata. 

It is likely that a plug-in hybrid will be offered, along with ICE powered variants because of slowing EV demand. The platform can accept any of these powerplants. 

An electric variant of the Defender is promised some time in 2026. It will use the MLA platform that underpins upcoming electric versions of the Range Rover. 

The baby Defender will be similar in size to Skoda Kodiaq at 4.6m long, 2.0m wide and less than 1.8m tall.