2023 Land Rover Defender 130 Overview: Lengthy and Loving It

The decision: Easy, sure-footed, snug and upscale, the longer Land Rover Defender 130’s further room makes an already fascinating luxurious SUV much more so.

Versus the competitors: Despite the fact that it’s unlikely to see greater than a grimy gravel highway, the Defender’s off-road skills are higher than bigger, comparably priced rivals together with the BMW X7, Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Mercedes-Benz GLS, but its passenger-carrying capability locations it a category decrease.

Land Rover has expanded its new Defender vary by one with the brand new 130 model. For this model, Land Rover prolonged the size of its iconic off-road SUV and added a real three-seat third row. The brand new 2023 Defender 130 rides on the identical wheelbase because the Defender 110, but it surely’s a full 13.5 inches longer than that four-door mannequin and greater than 30 inches longer than the two-door Defender 90.

The transfer is supposed to create a extra rounded set of choices for the Defender vary, and with the inclusion of three customary seats within the third row, the 130 certainly turns into the Land Rover that may transport the most individuals; fashions just like the Discovery, Discovery Sport and Vary Rover can seat seven at most. However does the stretched Defender’s further weight — in what was already a relatively portly off-roader — take away from its go-anywhere mission? Or was that mission not all that necessary to start with? We spent every week with a brand new Defender 130 First Version to seek out out.

Associated: 2023 Land Rover Defender 130: Off-Highway Occasion of Eight, No V-8

Y’know, That Appears to be like Higher

Appears to be like are subjective, positive, however the brand new Defender was a controversial car to start with. Land Rover hadn’t actually modified how this car regarded since its debut within the early Eighties, and this newest model represents solely the second main replace to the car since its cut up from the road of Land Rover Sequence automobiles that had been first offered within the late Forties (as the unique “Land Rover).

For my cash, this model could be the best-looking Land Rover product on the market; I actually like what the additional size does to the Defender’s form. It provides it higher proportions and balances out the look of the SUV’s overhangs. Certain, all that further size hanging aft of the rear axle reduces your departure angle relatively considerably, however given the Defender 130 will virtually definitely navigate posh London and Los Angeles purchasing districts way over the unkempt wilderness, I actually don’t suppose that issues within the slightest.

The clear strains Land Rover adopted for its fashions have executed an incredible job bringing this storied model into the twenty first century, and the Defender isn’t any exception. There are apparent styling homages to the unique mannequin, together with round-style headlights nestled behind aerodynamic clear lenses. The taillight remedy of a number of little lights is one other neat nostalgia-inspired contact.

A Posh Pantheon of Land Rovers

The unique Defender was infamous for being … let’s say simplistically rugged (or, alternatively, primitive and uncomfortable). Regardless of being a life-style car and household truckster because the Eighties, the Defender was by no means actually the luxury runabout that the dearer, extra luxurious Vary Rover was — it definitely couldn’t maintain a candle to automobiles just like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class or many different newer, extra trendy luxurious SUVs. That every one modified with the introduction of the newest, absolutely trendy Defender, which is now each bit the luxurious SUV each different Land Rover is — however with a barely greater splash of off-road readiness than most of these automobiles, that are extra on-road-oriented.

This turns into evident on the within. The inside may be optioned as much as the nines with superb leather-based, wooden and top-notch steel trim, all in various completely different shade mixtures. Nevertheless it additionally contains some rugged trim, tons of storage cubbies and non-obligatory rubberized flooring trim for simpler mud cleanup. The inside seems to be improbable, and it really works much better than earlier Defenders because of some sensible occupied with its controls. Some knobs do double responsibility, however they handle to take care of simple performance. The touchscreen is a superb instance of the way to do a luxurious multimedia system proper. It has loads of capabilities and plenty of options, but it surely’s simple to make use of, fast to work, and nothing is buried layers deep in menus. Fortunately, Land Rover has additionally stored onerous buttons, as properly, relatively than going fully touch-sensitive as another luxurious manufacturers have executed beneath the guise of favor. (It’s actually because of cost-cutting; they ain’t fooling anyone).

Restricted Energy Choices

Underneath the 130’s hood is one accessible engine — a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder — although there’s a alternative of two outputs: The usual mild-hybrid P300 model discovered within the entry-level S trim makes 296 horsepower and 347 pounds-feet of torque; each different trim is upgraded to 395 hp and 406 pounds-feet of torque. Energy is routed by way of a regular ZF eight-speed computerized transmission and two-speed switch case to the usual all-wheel-drive system. Each variations of the Defender 130’s engine can tow as much as 8,200 kilos, no small potatoes for an SUV this dimension.

In on a regular basis driving, the Defender 130 feels decently peppy. My take a look at car’s higher-output mild-hybrid engine simply launched the SUV in each state of affairs. Smoothness, nonetheless, isn’t its greatest trait; the powertrain felt prefer it was experiencing some arguments between the electrical hybrid elements and the transmission itself. There have been loads of instances when a press of the fuel pedal was met with a half-second delay, as if the system had been deciding simply how a lot of the acceleration ought to come from the engine and the way a lot ought to come from the mild-hybrid system. It led to some jerkiness and hesitation in some conditions, and it occurred sufficient that I finally received used to it and tailored my driving fashion, but it surely was by no means nice. The trick is you merely can’t pussyfoot with the accelerator pedal; simply give it the beans everytime you wish to transfer.

After all, this received’t assist the Defender’s already unlucky gasoline economic system. Its official EPA score is 17/21/19 mpg metropolis/freeway/mixed with both model of the engine. My week with the truck noticed it web 17 mpg mixed, however I did are likely to have a heavier foot than regular as I compensated for the Defender’s typically awkward acceleration conduct.

Additional Area to Go With That Tempo

The function that may lead folks to contemplate the Defender 130 is its customary third row. It has three seat belts, ostensibly to accommodate three passengers within the wayback house, however that could be formidable pondering — the Defender’s inside width is, frankly, slim for two folks within the first and second rows. Legroom can also be tight within the third row, however given the second row slides fore and aft, the primary two rows can theoretically be adjusted to provide everybody somewhat little bit of room. But when it’s true eight-person consolation you’re looking for, this isn’t going to chop it; you’ll want an even bigger boat.