2023 Land Rover Defender 130 Extends An Icon

The latest Defender model will be the brand’s third three-row offering.

Land Rover on Tuesday revealed the third member of the Defender family, the Defender 130. Continuing the tradition-inspired naming convention of the existing 90 (two-door) and 110 (regular-length four-door), the 130 slots in at the top of the lineup, as the longest and most spacious Defender.

The Defender 130 looks pretty much as you’d expect: like the 110, but with a longer tail. The British brand has added over a foot back there (13.4 inches / 335 millimeters), with a subtle reprofiling along the bottom of the body to account for the visual heft. The changes allow for a departure angle of 28.5 degrees, an impressive figure for three-row SUVs. The 130 model gains its own Sedona Red paint option as well, while buyers will also be able to spec an Extended Bright Pack, which increases the exterior brightwork quotient.

Of course, the stretch makes for big changes inside, with a third row turning the Defender 130 into an eight-seater. Land Rover says the way-back will fit three adults across, and it includes heated seats, padded armrests, and USB-C charging to ensure they’re comfy back there. Also part of the package is a standard second sunroof above the third row, in addition to the panoramic sunroof up front. Exclusive to the eight-seater is the availability of four-zone climate control. As a nod to the 130’s likely primary role, carpeted flooring is standard, too. No hosing down this interior.

Storage space now ranges from 13.7 cubic feet with every seat up, to 80.9 cubes with the back two rows folded flat. Fold just the third row and there’s 43.5 cubic feet to play with. Sliding and folding second-row seats open up access to the third row, which features 40/20/40 folding.

A 10.25-inch touchscreen acts as command central as standard, with an 11.4-inch unit optional (and standard on the X trim). It runs Jaguar Land Rover’s latest Pivi Pro system, which provides sharp graphics and quick responses, not to mention over-the-air (OTA) updates. Defender 130 also supports what3words, a British-developed navigation platform that divides the entire globe into 57 trillion 3m x 3m squares. Each square has its own three-letter name, which Defender 130 drivers can enter directly into the navigation system.

JLR has expanded the interior trim options, with a new natural light oak wood finish. Buyers have a choice of numerous Windsor leather hues, as well as the brand’s Robustec fabric on the X-Dynamic model.

Also debuting in the Defender 130 is JLR’s Cabin Air Purification Plus system. Using nanoe X technology, CAPP reduces virus, bacteria, and odors within the cabin. Owners can also prep the system ahead of time with the Purge function via their smartphone.

The Defender 130 sticks to a one-engine lineup, in two states of tune. The smooth Ingenium 3.0-liter inline six is available in P300 (296 horsepower, 347 pound-feet) and P400 (395 hp and 406 lb-ft) guises. Both utilize a mild-hybrid system and a ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic, plus standard intelligent all-wheel drive. Adaptive air suspension is standard, allowing for nearly 17 inches of articulation, and 35.4 inches of water fording depth. Ground clearance stands at 11.4 inches. Should buyers want to tow, both trims are capable of up to 8,200 pounds when properly equipped. Buttons inside the cargo hold allow owners to lower the Defender for easier tailgate access.

When it arrives, the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 will be available multiple trims, including S, SE, X-Dynamic SE, and X. A First Edition will commemorate the launch too, available in either Fuji White, Sedona Red, or Carpathian Grey. The Explorer, Adventure, Country, and Urban option packages are all available as well, just as they are on the 110. Pricing will kick off at $69,350.

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