Land Rover debuts their largest Defender yet, the 130, an eight seater with the usual off-road prowess expected from the brand.
At 13.38 inches larger than the standard 4 seater, the new Defender 130 is the longest in the series history. It will be sold in 5 versions, S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, and X trim levels, as well as a First Edition model. The extra length provides more room inside the cabin for the third row of seats in a 2+3+3 configuration. The cargo space also benefits from the extended dimensions and now offers up to 80.9 cubic feet (2,291 liters) of storage with the second and third rows of seats folded. While in a five-seat configuration, the Defender 130 has 43.5 cubic feet (1,232 liters) of load area. For easy loading, there’s a button in the trunk load area which controls the SUV’s air suspension.
According to Land Rover, the third row of seats can comfortably accommodate up to three adults with generous headroom available on all eight seats. The second row of seats is foldable and movable to allow easy entry into the third row. In addition, each row gets its own ventilation system and there’s an optional four-zone climate control exclusive to the Defender 130.
Inside the cabin, the Defender 130 has a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and an 11.4-inch instrument cluster display (standard on the X specification). A new feature in the Defender is the Cabin Air Purification Plus system, it uses a patented technology for reduction and pathogen removal of nanoparticles eliminating odours and viruses.
Powering the rugged SUV will be two engine options. The base version is the P300 which will pack a 3.0-liter mild-hybrid turbocharged engine with 296 horsepower (218 kilowatts) and 347 pound-feet (470 Newton-meters) of torque between 1,500 and 4,250 rpm. Going up the tier, your will get the P400, it is powered by a six-cylinder engine, generating 395 hp (290 kW) and 406 lb-ft (550 Nm) between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm.
Standard in all Defender 130 units will be Land Rover’s all-wheel-drive system, an eight-speed automatic transmission developed by ZF, air suspension and the Terrain Response system.
Towing on the new Defender will allow up to 8,200 pounds (3,720 kilograms) and has a maximum payload capacity of 1,760 lbs (798 kg). However, its maximum roof load is 662 lbs (300 kg) when the vehicle is static and 360 lbs (163 kg) when in motion.
Land Rover Defender 130 can already be ordered in the United States with a starting price of $68,000 without destination and delivery taxes.