Defender 130: Land Rover’s Off-Road Machine Gets a Third Row

The Land Rover Defender L663 is still new enough, and iconic enough, to turn heads wherever it goes.  Besides the 90 and 110 models, the brand will now bring a three-row eight-passenger Defender 130 model to a new market.

North America initially got the classic Defender 90 and 110 models, but the 130 model never officially made its way to our shores. That is all about to change. The latest Land Rover Defender will come in all three configurations in North America soon.

The Defender 130 shares the same 119-inch wheelbase with the Defender 110, but has a 13.8-inch extension in the rear, offering a third row of seating and more cargo room. At just over 17.5 feet long (211 inches) this isn’t a small SUV, but it also isn’t all that large by modern standards — a GMC Yukon Denali XL is 225.2 inches long for comparison.

Of course, the departure angle is compromised with this extended rear overhang, going from 28.5 degrees on the D110 to 40 degrees on the D130. A subtle boattail design helps the Defender 130 have the best departure angle it can, while also tying the new vehicle into the design language of the new Range Rover.

Land Rover Defender 130 Standard Features

AWD, electronic air suspension with Adaptive Dynamics, Terrain Response, and an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission are all standard on the new Defender 130. Also standard are black roof rails, a panoramic sunroof, and a second sunroof above the third row.

No matter the air quality outside the vehicle, you’re sure to breathe easy in this latest Land Rover Defender. It has advanced Cabin Air Purification Plus and Cabin Air Purification Plus as standard features.

D130 Towing & Payload

The Land Rover Defender 130 can tow up to 8,200 pounds and carry up to 1,760 pounds of payload. While towing is about the same as with D110 models, payload capacity drops a few hundred pounds.

That’s a shame, though, as the D130 has even more room to carry friends and gear. With all three rows of seats in place, there are 13.7 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear seats. The maximum cargo volume with the second and third rows folded down, though, is a massive 88.9 cubic feet.

D130 Models

There are two powertrain options in the Defender 130 at launch, the P300 and the P400.

The P300 3.0L Ingenium six-cylinder powertrain puts out 296 horsepower and 347 pound-feet of torque. It is said to be able to motivate the D130 from a standstill to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds.

The P400 option drops that 0-60 mph time to 6.3 seconds and bumps power to 406 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The extra oomph comes from a mild-hybrid system being added to the 3.0L turbocharged inline-six.

In addition to engine options, the new Defender 130 will also be offered in similar trim levels to the other Land Rover Defender models; S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, X specifications, and a First Edition.

Defender 130 First Edition

The First Edition models of the Defender 130 will, of course, come with all the bells and whistles on offer. Standard features include the P400 mild-hybrid powertrain, 20-inch alloy wheels, heated second- and third-row seating, four-zone climate control, upgraded Meridian Sound System, the Driver Assist Pack, and Privacy Glass.

Three curated color and design theme combinations are on offer with the Defender 130 First Edition:

• Fuji White with Extended Bright Pack with Light Oyster Full Windsor Leather interior and Natural Light Oak Veneer
• Sedona Red with Ebony Full Windsor Leather seats and Smoked Oak Veneer
• Carpathian Grey with Vintage Tan Full Windsor Leather and Rough-Cut Walnut Veneer

D130 Availability and Pricing

The Land Rover Defender 130 is available to order now. Configure your vehicle now and get your orders in fast, as we have no doubt these will be hard to get, as all new Defenders are, for some time to come.

Pricing for the new big dog in the Defender lineup starts at $68,000.