Land Rover has completed its all-new Defender line-up with the introduction of an extra-long, 8-seat version of the luxurious British Sport Utility Vehicle.
Now on sale priced from £73,895, and available in ‘HSE’, ‘X-Dynamic SE’, ‘X-Dynamic HSE’, ‘X’ and ‘First Edition’ specifications, the ‘130’ joins the short wheelbase ‘90’ and mid-range ‘110’ versions of the Defender.
The additional length introduced by the 130 promises to allow customers to “effortlessly transport up to eight people across any terrain”. The 130’s body has been stretched by 340mm to create extra interior space across the three rows, with the extended rear overhang freeing up room for the load area and those seated in the very back.
Passengers in rows two and three also benefit from a subtle ‘stadium rise’ and large windows for superior visibility, with access to the final two seats achieved by sliding and folding the middle row of chairs forward.
Via buttons located inside the 389-litre cargo area, owners can lower the Defender’s electronic air suspension to make the loading and unloading process easier. And when the rearmost seats are not in use, they can be stowed away to create a larger 2,516-litre load area.
All models come with Jaguar Land Rover’s latest ‘Pivi Pro’ 11.4-inch curved touchscreen, an ‘Air Purification Plus’ system, and a standard-fit panoramic glass sunroof and a second sunroof above row three “to make the interior light and airy for everyone”.
Four Zone Climate Control, “generous headroom” in all three rows, heated seats, padded armrests, storage for odds-and-ends, and USB-C charge points also feature across the new 130 line-up.
All variants of the 130 also come equipped with adaptive air suspension that give up to 430mm of articulation and, in its highest setting, a wading depth of 900mm. Visually, black roof rails are fitted as standard, while the full range of exterior accessories – including the ‘Explorer’, ‘Adventure’, ‘Country’ and ‘Urban’ packs – are also available.
So far, Land Rover has confirmed a choice of three mild-hybridised powertrains. The P300 petrol straight six is the entry point and has 296bhp and 347lb ft, while the P400 gains an extra 99bhp and 59lb ft respectively to cut the 0-62mph dash by 1.4 seconds to 6.6 seconds.
Diesel-favouring customers get a 296bhp, 479lb ft D300 straight six that dispatches the 0-62mph sprint in 7.5 seconds. An 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox divvies power to all four corners.
Nick Collins – the Executive Director of Vehicle Programmes at Land Rover – said: “The new Defender 130 brings a new dimension of capability to our most durable and rugged family of vehicles.
“Its spacious interior welcomes and transports up to eight people in supreme comfort, enabling unparalleled sophisticated adventuring opportunities for families, with unique design signatures to create a distinct Defender experience.”
