Land Rover is adding to its go-anywhere Defender lineup with a new ultra-long version named the 130. Built to serve those who want to carry more passengers, this bigger three-row Defender is quite simply an extended body version of the already popular 90 and 110 variants. The wheelbase itself is unchanged at 3,022 mm but this is still a noteworthy addition to the family of the tough SUV. The new Defender 130 has 340 mm or 13.3 inches of additional body placed squarely at the rear of the vehicle with the overall length now stretching to 5,358 mm. In fact, it’s the squarish nature of the Defender that helps this addition avoid looking out of place. That extra space provides room for a third row and a small storage area behind those seats.
The two-row Defender 110 has 34 cubic feet
behind its back seat and most of that has been sacrificed in the name of this
new third row. The Defender 130 with three rows has just 13.7 cubic feet of
cargo space in the back but the passengers will likely feel it was a worthy
tradeoff. Not only do those third-row passengers get to enjoy heated seats but
they’ll also enjoy their own sunroof too. Buyers can even add optional 130-only
quad-zone climate control. Just as in past Land Rover products, the second and
third rows have slightly raised stadium seating. Those who simply want more
cargo space can buy the Defender 130 in a five-seat configuration. In that
case, cargo space expands to a positively cavernous 46.9 cubic feet. Fold the
second row down and you’ll find 88.8 cubic feet worth of cargo space. It’s not
just the big back end that’s unique to the 130 though.
Land Rover has added a new color called
Sedona Red that can only be had on the 130. A large 11.4-inch infotainment
system is standard across the lineup as is an air suspension system for
improved comfort and off-road capability. At launch, three different
mild-hybrid engines are available in Europe. Off-road enthusiasts will be happy
to know that the Ingenium D300 diesel engine is on offer with 295-hp and 650 Nm of torque. In addition, two gas engines will also be on
offer. The P300 is a 300-hp inline-six gas-burner with 470
Nm of torque and a 0-96 km/h time of just 7.5 seconds. Buyers who
want more power can opt for the P400 which also uses an inline-six as its base
but makes 400-hp and 550 Nm of torque. We’re still hoping
for a V8 down the line. In North America, the Defender 130 will be offered in a
P300 guise with a 296-hp 3.0-liter mild-hybrid inline six, and a more powerful
version of the same unit named P400 delivering 395-hp.
One thing that’s unchanged is the
Defender’s ability to go way off-road. Approach and break-over angles are identical
when compared to the smaller Defender 90 and 110. Only the departure angle has
suffered but still rests at a respectable 28.5 degrees. Wading depth is also
unaffected by the extra size.
Land Rover will offer a First Edition
version of the 130 in three high-specification configurations. These include
Fuji White with the brand’s Extended Bright Pack along with Oyster Full Windsor
leather and natural light oak trim. A Sedona Red First edition is complemented
by ebony leather upholstery and smoked oak veneer. Finally, a Carpathian Gray
painted First Edition gets tan leather upholstery and rough-cut walnut trim.
Customers can also choose HSE, X-Dynamic SE, X-Dynamic HSE, and X
specifications. One trim they can’t have is the special Defender 130 that Land Rover
is building to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. While the design details
have yet to be unveiled, it’ll go into service with the Red Cross later this
year.
Pricing in America starts from US$ 68,000
before handling and delivery for the base P300 with Land Rover accepting orders
now. As for other markets, in the UK, the Defender 130 kicks off from £ 73,895,
which is equal to around US$ 93,600 at current exchange rates, rising to £ 100,645 for the P400 X, while in Australia,
diesel-powered D300 starts from AU$ 124,150 and the gasoline-fueled P400, from
AU$ 131,650.
