2023 Land Rover Defender 130 is a go-anywhere eight-seater

2023 Land Rover Defender 130 is a go-anywhere eight-seater

The elongated Defender 130 is set to join the range for Land Rover’s popular SUV, adding further practicality and coming with eight seats as standard. Buyers will need plenty of space to store and drive the 130, because it measures 5,358mm from end to end, making it significantly longer than a Range Rover. Prices start from £78,555, and it’s available to order now.


Sitting above the Defender 90 and 110, the 130’s extra size means it can accommodate two rows of three seats behind the driver and front passenger. Land Rover will also sell the 130 as a five-seater as a no-cost option for those who prefer a giant boot. An extra 340mm of bodywork has been grafted onto the rear of the Defender, without compromising its ‘unparalleled allterrain capabilities’. A boat tail-style rear design provides a departure angle of 28.5 degrees.


2023 Land Rover Defender 130 is a go-anywhere eight-seater

At the rear, the LED lights have been reworked to accommodate a subtly different side profile, and a body-colour hard cover is available for the spare wheel to reflect the 130’s position at the top of the Defender line-up. Bonnet louvres and side fenders are finished in ‘Ceres Silver’ and 20-inch alloy wheels are fitted as standard.

Unsurprisingly, practicality is impressive, with a 389-litre boot even with all eight seats in use. This extends to 2,291-litres with the rear seating stowed, or an even more gargantuan 2,516-litres for the five-seat version. Even without folding any seats down, the latter has a 1,329-litres boot. The rear 40:20:40 seats are arranged stadium-style for improved visibility, and row two seats that slide and fold forwards to provide passenger access to row three. A button inside the boot can lower the air suspension to make loading and connecting a trailer easier.

Inside, the 130’s position near the top of the range is reinforced with its 11.4-inch Pivi Pro infotainment setup, standard panoramic sunroof (with a second sunroof above the third row), optional four-zone climate control and new interior trims, including a new natural light oak veneer that is inspired by driftwood. Land Rover’s air purification plus system makes its debut in the 130, and is fitted as standard, providing PM2.5 cabin filtration and monitoring to improve air quality. It even features a ‘purge’ setting which can be activated remotely to improve air quality ahead of a journey. The 130 will be available in SE, HSE, X-Dynamic and X trims, along with a First Edition available in three curated themes.


2023 Land Rover Defender 130 is a go-anywhere eight-seater

The sole diesel option at launch is the D300 3.0-litre six-cylinder Ingenium engine, with 296bhp and 479lb ft of torque, getting the 130 from 0-62mph in 7.5 seconds. It comes as standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission, air suspension and Land Rover’s Terrain Response technology, which can automatically adapt to suit the conditions. It can tow a maximum of 3,000kg, which is 500kg down on some versions of the Defender 90 and 110.

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