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Land Rover Defender 130 Unveiled


Land Rover is joining the three-row party in Australia with the launch of the new Defender 130 eight-seat SUV. The new model joins an Australian lineup that includes the two-door Defender 90 and four-door Defender 110. Chassis underpinnings stay mostly the same, however, the interior and exterior have been treated to a host of new options and trimmings, including a new larger 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen, standard Electronic Air Suspension and Cabin Air Purification Plus. Let’s check out the new model.

Defender 130 on dunes
Image: Land Rover

Land Rover Defender 130 Exterior Changes

The biggest visual change to the Defender 130 is the rather obvious extension to the rear end. While the 110 version has a rather dramatic and flat rear end that helps the vehicle’s departure angle, the 130 extends that silhouette by 340mm to allow comfortable third-row seating. The departure angle on the Defender 130 is 28.5 degrees which compares well to the LandCruiser 300’s 25-degree departure angle across all models.

The sharp crease synonymous with the Defender lineup remains and extends all the way to the tailgate along the upper body. An intentional boat tail rear end reminds us of the new Range Rover and Range Rover Sport. Once your eyes adjust to the extended rear end you start to appreciate the shape a little more than on first glance, but we still think the two-door Defender 90 is the best looking in the range.

Accessories that we’ve come to love from the Defender lineup remain as options, including; Explorer, Adventure, Country and Urban packs. Narvik Black roof rails are fitted as standard and a body-colour matched hard shell wheel colour is available. A new Extended Bright Pack finishes all lower body panels in Ceres Silver Satin that match perfectly with the 20-inch Luna alloy wheels in Bright Silver.

Related: 2023 Range Rover Sport Adds New V8 and Plug-In Hybrid.

Defender 130 interior

Land Rover Defender 130 Interior Changes

We’ve long said that the interior on the new Defender is class-leading, finding that perfect balance between the rugged and the modern (yes, you can still hose it out). The brand is positioning the Defender 130 as the leading model in the range, as such, the interior receives a few visual and hardware improvements over the Defender 110 that go along with the third-row seating.

Before we get into the finishes and infotainment, we’ll start at the rear of the vehicle in the third row. Here, we find comfortable seating for three adults and a host of optional kit, including; heated seats, padded armrests, storage and USB-C provision for charging.

The glasshouse effect we found in our time with the Defender 90 remains with large windows complementing the standard panoramic sunroof that now includes a second sunroof for the third row. Four Zone Climate Control makes its way all the way into the third row.

Those familiar with the interior of the new Defender will notice the subtle interior trim changes to match the exterior Extended Bright Package, including; Noble Chrome around the air vent controls and electric seat switches, bright Ceres Silver finishing on the speakers, and Atlas coloured armrest hinges. As you would expect from any Land Rover or Range Rover product, wood finishes are available, and our favourite of the bunch has to be the new – Natural Light Oak engineered wood veneer – that gives a driftwood impression, perfect for the outdoor spirit of the Defender.

Related: 2022 Range Rover Officially Unveiled, Still a Luxury Yacht for the Road.

Defender 130 interior switch gear

Infotainment Improvements

Most notable on the new Defender 130 is the large Pivi Pro infotainment display that now measures at 11.4-inches. We loved the system in our time with the Jaguar F-Pace SVR where it was flawless and one of the best systems in the category with its curved glass display. Of course, Apple Carplay and Android Auto are included in the full-screen application.

Related: Regrets Rectified with 1991 Land Rover Range Rover Classic.

Defender 130 power
Image: Land Rover

Land Rover Defender 130 Engine Options

The new Land Rover Defender 130 will come with two engine options (no V8 option) a petrol and diesel 6-cylinder. Both feature Mild-Hybrid Electric Vehicle (MHEV) technology that underpins Land Rover’s six-cylinder Ingenium powertrains. If you’re wondering when Land Rover’s EVs are coming, check out our article on their future and current lineup right here.

Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Engine Specifications
Engine3.0-litre six-cylinder, Petrol, MHEV
Power294kW
Torque550Nm torque at 2,000-5,000 rpm
Acceleration0-100km/h in 6.6-seconds
Land Rover Defender 130 P300 Engine Specifications
Engine3.0-litre six-cylinder, Diesel, MHEV
Power221kW
Torque650Nm torque at 1,500-2,500 rpm
Acceleration0-100km/h in 7.5-seconds
Defender 130 lifestyle 2
Image: Land Rover

Price and Availability

The new Land Rover Defender 130 will be available to order in Australia from the 1st of August, 2022.

Pricing will start at $124,150 (plus on-road costs) in Australia for the D300 variety with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel. The more powerful petrol P400 model will start from $131,650 AUD before on-road costs.

Competitors in the market include the Landcruiser 300 ZX which starts from a whopping $138,790 AUD before on-road costs and the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve which tops out at $115,450 before on-road costs. In our testing of the Defender 90, we much prefer the interior of the Defender over the LandCruiser 300 which already seems 5-years behind the competition in technology. Of course, neither the Jeep nor the Land Rover will give you the rock-solid reliability of the LandCruiser, but a 5 yr/unlimited-kilometre warranty with 5 years of roadside assistance across all-new Land Rovers will likely put some buyers at ease. Will the new Defender 130 become the go-to wagon for school drop-offs? We think so.

Check it out

Defender 130 front end
Image: Land Rover

Defender 130 Specifications by the Numbers

Land Rover Defender 130 Numbers
Length5358mm
Width2008mm (mirrors folded)
Height1970mm
Wheelbase3022mm
Approach angle37.5 degrees
Departure angle28.5 degrees
Breakover angle27.8 degrees
Ground clearance290mm
Articulation430mm
Maximum wading depth900mm
Maximum roof loadStatic: 300kg, Dynamic: 168kg
Maximum towing3000kg

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