New Land Rover Defender Sport spotted and it’s an electric baby SUV

• Small SUV to sit below the Defender
• Fully electric
• Expected to launch in 2026

The reborn Land Rover Defender has proven to be a huge hit with buyers across the globe, and it’s now set to get a smaller, electric twin. Expected to be called the Defender Sport – in a similar fashion to the Discovery Sport and Range Rover Sport – the new SUV will take the popular, chunky looks of the regular Defender and apply them to a more city-friendly package.

Size won’t be the only difference to separate the Defender Sport from the full-fat Defender. Under the bodywork will lie a new electric powertrain, bolstering the small SUV’s urban appeal. While Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has yet to officially confirm its production, new spy shots of the Defender Sport in testing suggest that it could make its debut as soon as next year.

What do we know so far about the Land Rover Defender Sport?

It’s long been rumoured that Land Rover would release a smaller model of the Defender, and it looks like these rumours are inching closer to becoming reality. These fresh spy shots show a camouflaged prototype of the new Land Rover undergoing testing and development, and we have a clear view of its overall design.

There are a few giveaways that tell us this is the baby Defender. The boxy proportions, short front and rear overhangs and upright rear window are all hallmarks of the Defender, although here everything appears to have been shrunk somewhat. Details are hard to make out from these images, but we can see a pair of slim headlights under the dazzling camo – different to the regular Defender’s square units.

Other differences include the flush-fitting door handles, which is a feature typically found across the Range Rover lineup. The Defender Sport also looks to sit closer to the ground than the regular Defender, which could be beneficial for electric range, but less so for off-roading. That would tie into suspicions that the new SUV has been developed with urban drivers in mind, rather than those looking for a go-anywhere adventure machine.

Will the new Defender Sport be electric?

JLR announced that an electric version of the Defender was in the works several years ago, using a new platform dubbed the Electrified Modular Architecture or EMA. While this model is yet to appear, the smaller Defender Sport is expected to arrive first, using the same underlying EV platform.

When we spoke to JLR CEO Adrian Mardell in an exclusive interview in 2023, he said “we are looking at creating other vehicles within the Defender family.” Alongside a new Defender model, all-new versions of the Range Rover Evoque and Velar are due soon, also using the electric EMA platform. 

The Defender Sport will be more road-focused than the Defender, though it’s yet to be confirmed whether the new car will stay true to its all-wheel drive pedigree or offer two-wheel drive versions. Jeep is another brand known for its history of rugged off-roaders, but it made the switch to front-wheel drive when it released the electric Avenger.

It’s very early days, and nothing is confirmed at this point, including powertrains, performance details and pricing, but naturally we’d expect the Defender Sport to start at a much lower price point than the larger Defender EV.

What does it mean for buyers?

JLR has been moving more and more upmarket through its history, with the most recent Defender moving in a much more premium direction than its utilitarian predecessor, and Jaguar betting the house on a new luxurious EV. JLR may be eager to tap into a new wave of buyers looking for a more affordable entry into Defender ownership that offers the lower running costs associated with electric vehicles.

How affordable the Defender Sport will be against other EV rivals is yet to be seen, and it will be interesting to see what the car’s USP will be if it’s set to be less off-road capable than the regular Defender.

Land Rover Defender Sport spy pictures

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Read our in-depth review of the Land Rover Defender, or check out our round-up of the best 4x4s on sale