Hi All,

A strange opportunity has come my way and I have (should I wish) the chance to purchase an L405 at a decent price and I was wondering what they are like compared to an L320? I appreciate they are different models.

I currently have a 2012 3L Autobiography L320 with 85k miles which has been pretty good to me over the past year apart from needing a wheel bearing to get through this years MOT.

The L405 is a 2014 3L Vogue SE with 105k miles which appears to have pretty good service history and hasn’t failed an MOT (yet). It’s last MOT was June so it’s fairly safe for a year.

What I was more interested in was whether improvements were or weren’t made between 2012 and 2014 and whether it would potentially make a nice ‘upgrade’. I would welcome thoughts from those who have a knowledge or have owned both but anyone can feel free to chip in and laugh at my madness considering an 11 year old, 100k mile LR product.

Thanks all!

They're very different beasts, frankly. One is a Range Rover, the other is really the original Discovery Sport.

The L405 will be softer in ride, more "leany and wallowy" than the L320 fitted with dynamic response, will be quieter moving along the road too.

Otherwise, the L405 will be a bit more luxury feeling (although the heating controls and screen interface are pretty similar to the 2012 L320), a bit more room in the back, a bit bigger boot (with the excellent folding lower lip) which can be awkward to reach to the back of (thanks to the fold down lip), a lot more ground clearance if that's something that concerns you (it doesn't worry most people, frankly). Engine's the same, I believe with 250bhp-ish, same 8 speed gearbox, updated Terrain Response with an "auto" mode.

If you want to waft down a road untroubled by the world around you and not in too much of a rush to get where you're going, the L405 is an excellent choice. Vogue SE brings a decent kit list, too. 2012 SDV6 - it's missing a couple of cylinders
2008 TDV8 - it was a labour of love and is much missed

Thanks RRSTDV8, this is great - exactly the sort of thing I was after.

In terms of potential reliability concerns, I am assuming if they share the same engine / gearbox then these will pretty much be the same - although I appreciate you do not really buy into a JLR product if you have reliability concerns. Things like potential rust / corrosion, are they improved in the new models?

I believe the tax may be cheaper as well although I havent got that far into my research yet.

Thanks again for the reply.

I had the Vogue SE a few years ago and I really liked it. It was a wonderful car that really worked well for what I wanted it for (charging around airfields, farm land and country tracks).

On tarmac, it was fantastic on motorways and gave unsurpassed comfort for passengers as well as the driver. However, it was horrible on windy country roads as it would roll around too much, you certainly couldn't be heavy-handed on the corners or you'd feel like you were going to roll over.

On one occasion my girlfriend was driving a few of us from Heathrow to Devizes in Wiltshire, when a rabbit ran across the road. She was doing about 55 and instead of braking, she swerved. The car went everywhere and I'm amazed we didn't end up on the roof in a ditch. Completely her fault for swerving (silly cow) - I never let her drive it again.

As much as I loved that car - I'd rather have the L320 I have now.

Interesting, thanks T.

Is it that experience alone that would make you stick with the L320? It does seem like you were quite smitten with the L405!

Also, I hope you have permission to be charging around airfields

LOL! Don't worry - it wasn't Heathrow. It was just a couple of privately rented ones I used before I retired (I was a flying instructor).

If it wasn't for the 'almost all' winding roads here on the island, I'd probably still have it. The Sport is absolutely perfect for them and a little better fuel wise.

Put me off? Nah, I'd have another in a heartbeat if I didn't live where I do.