Land Rover Defender - 2 Minute Review

Published May 25, 2023 by Elizabeth Jeneault

Did you know there was once a Defender that carried 12 people? This is the new iteration of the Defender, and although it can't carry 12, it's able to fit eight full sized adults across it's three full-size rows of seating.

 

The rear was extended by 13.38 inches, but the 130 is still recognizable as a Defender. There’s the iconic round LED headlamps and the muscular stance with large wheels and reductive surfaces. And with the push of a button in the cargo area, you can lower your Defender like this.

 

A second sunroof has been added above the third row for those in the back. There are large windows for visibility and the second and third rows also benefit from a slight stadium rise for even more visibility.

 

The two-door Defender 90 seats five and the Defender 110 has 5, 6, or 7-seat layouts, by comparison. The 110’s back row is obviously smaller than the 130’s. 

 

There are gorgeous leather materials, wooden veneer, and lots of chrome. And there’s the striking 11.4” touchscreen with navigation.

 

Two mild-hybrid 3.0-liter six-cylinder engines are available, the more potent being the P400 with 395 horsepower. It’s paired with an eight-speed automatic. There’s also intelligent all-wheel drive, an electronic air suspension system, and Land Rover’s advanced terrain response system.

 

Recap and rating time now of this Defender 130! Exterior is aggressive, modern, 9.5. Interior is spacious, easy to access the third row, 9. Performance with the two mild-hybrids and its off-road capability is solid but no V8, 8.5. Fuel economy is not that great, 6.5. And overall value I’ll rate an 8.5 as its $68,000 starting price is less than competitors like the Escalade. That gives us an SUVs.com deal score rating of 84/100. 

 

What do you think? Be sure to leave your comments below! 


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