The three-row Land Rover Defender was originally spotted in August of last year, when a camouflaged prototype was spotted testing on public roads. It hinted to the modifications coming to the British company’s most powerful off-roader as it transitions to a more family-friendly machine. In the United States, the Defender 130 launches today with seating for up to eight people, a long list of standard features, and two electric engines.
The longest Defender in history has been expanded by 13.38 inches at the back, which is largely noticeable in the extended rear overhang. It is available in S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, and X trim levels, as well as a First Edition vehicle. It makes room for the third row of seats inside the cabin, giving the tough SUV a seating layout of 2+3+3. The cargo area has been expanded as well, and now offers up to 80.9 cubic feet (2,291 litres) of storage space when the second and third rows of seats are folded. The Defender 130 has a load area of 43.5 cu ft (1,232 litres) in a five-seat configuration.
According to Land Rover, the third row of seats can comfortably seat up to three adults, and all eight seats have ample headroom. Each row has its own air system, and the Defender 130 offers an optional four-zone climate control system. The company claims that getting into the third row is simple thanks to the foldable and moveable second row of seats. It’s also easy to carry things into the trunk thanks to a button in the cargo compartment that regulates the SUV’s air suspension.
The Defender 130 comes standard with a 10.25-inch infotainment screen and a 11.4-inch instrument cluster display (standard on the X specification). The Cabin Air Purification Plus system, which uses a proprietary method to reduce and remove pathogens from nanoparticles, eliminates odours and viruses, makes its premiere on a Defender. Exclusively on the three-row Defender, new colour choices and trim finishes are available.
In the United States, the Defender 130 is powered by a choice of two electrified gas engines; no V8 is currently offered. The base model is the P300, which has a 3.0-liter mild-hybrid turbocharged engine that produces 296 horsepower (218 kilowatts) and 347 pound-feet (470 Newton-meters) of torque between 1,500 and 4,250 rpm. Above it is the P400, which has a more powerful six-cylinder engine that produces 395 horsepower (290 kW) and 406 pound-feet (550 Nm) between 2,000 and 5,000 rpm. Every Defender 130 is equipped with Land Rover’s all-wheel-drive technology as well as a ZF-developed eight-speed automatic transmission. Air suspension and the Terrain Response system are also standard on every Defender 130.
The Defender 130 is unquestionably capable on and off the road. It has a maximum cargo capacity of 1,760 pounds and can tow up to 8,200 pounds (3,720 kilos) (798 kg). If the eight-seat Defender appeals to you as an overlanding vehicle, you should be aware that the vehicle’s maximum roof load is 662 lbs (300 kg) when stationary and 360 lbs (163 kg) when moving.
The new Defender 130 is already available for order in the United States, starting at $68,000 plus destination and delivery taxes.
Source: Land Rover
