Thursday, November 14, 2024
Homeautomobile2025 Land Rover Defender 130 assessment

2025 Land Rover Defender 130 assessment


Residing giant and in cost – that’s what driving the 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 seems like.

This long-bodied model of the luxurious off-roader first splashed onto the Australian market in late 2023, over a 12 months after its rear-heavy silhouette divided folks at its reveal in mid-2022, with some wags jokingly nicknaming the automotive ‘Hugh Jarse’.

The Defender 130 lastly provides potential Defender patrons a bigger cargo space and a extra spacious third row of seats, if relevant – extra on that later.

For the 2025 mannequin 12 months (MY25), JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) has given the Defender a extra highly effective diesel engine and different varied specification adjustments. Some Defender 130 variants have additionally obtained minor worth cuts.

On check right here is the penultimate variant within the Defender 130 lineup, the offroad-focussed Outbound, which is simply supplied with an inline-six mild-hybrid petrol engine designated P400.

How does this 5.4-metre behemoth maintain up within the hustle and bustle? Learn alongside to search out out.

How does the Land Rover Defender evaluate?

View an in depth breakdown of the Land Rover Defender towards equally sized automobiles.

Land Rover Defender cutout image

Land Rover

Defender

How a lot does the Land Rover Defender 130 value?

Pricing for the 2025 Defender 130 has obtained one more minor minimize. It’s value calling out our tester was an MY24 automobile.

MY24 Defender 130 pricing:

Mannequin Worth earlier than on-road prices
2024 Land Rover Defender 130 D300 X-Dynamic SE $126,670
2024 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 X-Dynamic SE $134,620
2024 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Outbound $136,870
2024 Land Rover Defender 130 P500 V8 $240,270

MY25 Defender 130 pricing:

Mannequin Worth earlier than on-road prices
2025 Land Rover Defender 130 D350 X-Dynamic SE $129,365
2025 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 X-Dynamic SE $133,471
2025 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Outbound $135,562
2025 Land Rover Defender 130 P500 V8 $216,197

Our MY24 tester was fitted with round $35,000 of optionally available extras and equipment, bringing the entire asking worth to $171,920 earlier than on-roads.

To see how the Defender strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What’s the Land Rover Defender 130 like on the within?

The Defender 130 P400 Unbound has a menacing presence. At virtually 5.4 metres lengthy and almost 2.0 metres broad, it fills and typically spills into the subsequent parking area.

As customary, this long-bodied variant will get digital air suspension that permits it to range its peak relying on the drive mode, or by urgent devoted buttons on the sprint. Fortunately, this implies you possibly can decrease the automotive all the way down to make it simpler to get out and in of.

On the flip aspect, when parked in its off-road suspension setting it’s an enormous climb into the cabin. There have been a couple of events once I principally needed to leap out as I couldn’t contact the bottom.

It took me some time to discover a correct seize deal with to assist me get in, however I ultimately discovered one built-in seamlessly into the dashboard, and never on the A-pillar. You positively want to make use of it on this automotive as there aren’t any aspect steps as customary.

Behind the wheel, you positively really feel such as you’re above everybody on the street, virtually such as you’re in a truck. This provides you the sensation of management, and makes for excellent visibility out the entrance. Flip round and face the opposite means, nonetheless, and also you’ll realise simply how giant the cabin is, plus what number of blind spots there are.

The Defender 130 P400 Outbound comes solely with inoffensive-looking black fake leather-based upholstery as customary. The entrance seats specifically are extraordinarily comfy and have virtually limitless quantities of electrical adjustment.

My favorite adjustable components of the entrance seats embody the aspect bolsters and thigh help. These enable taller folks to really feel comfy and effectively supported for longer drives.

Our tester got here with each heated and ventilated entrance seats – the previous was helpful on chilly Melbourne mornings. One thing I famous is the heated seats work by pumping sizzling air by way of the trim perforations, as an alternative of utilizing a heated coil like in lots of different automobiles.

When the heated entrance seats are activated they get actually heat, however as soon as they attain a sure temperature they begin blowing cooler air. It’s virtually like an overheat shield characteristic, which is good to have.

Forward of the motive force is a slightly giant steering wheel, which is befitting of a automobile this massive and additional reinforces the actual fact the Defender 130 is an enormous bus.

The leather-based wrapping on the steering wheel feels scrumptious in hand. Our tester’s wheel was additionally heated, which obtained the rim heat sufficient however there have been some sizzling patches.

All of the buttons on the steering wheel are giant and tactile, however I discovered some took a really exaggerated click on to work correctly. I like how the operate of those buttons can change relying on what you’re doing with the digital instrument cluster.

Talking of which, there’s a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster as customary, which seems to be crisp and clear. It additionally gives loads of configurability so you possibly can set it as much as show the precise data you really wish to see.

One among my favorite options is that the digital instrument cluster can show a navigation map and pull the knowledge from Apple Maps when related to Apple CarPlay. Sadly, it doesn’t work with Google Maps although.

Disappointingly, there’s no head-up show fitted as customary on the Defender 130 P400 Outbound. As a substitute, it’s out there as an optionally available additional, which is barely baffling given the circa-$150k drive-away asking worth of this automobile earlier than choices.

Beside the digital instrument cluster is a big curved 11.4-inch touchscreen infotainment system powered by JLR’s Pivi Professional software program. It’s a shocking unit that’s vibrant and has crisp decision.

I discovered the touchscreen to be very responsive to the touch inputs, so iPad customers will really feel proper at dwelling when interacting with it. As a beginner to the Pivi Professional system, nonetheless, I felt bamboozled till I obtained the prospect to correctly dive into all of the menus.

I initially had issues discovering the audio settings within the infotainment system. Turns on the market’s a separate tab for this, which in all equity is clearly marked, however I assumed it’d be simpler to search out. It additionally took me a bit to be taught the auto-hold operate is toggled on the touchscreen.

As anticipated, the Defender 130 gives each wired and wi-fi connectivity for each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. With my iPhone 15 Professional Max related wirelessly, the connection was usually okay however identified interference factors and toll cubicles precipitated dropouts.

When this occurred it will take a little bit of time to reconnect, which is irritating if you happen to’re navigating someplace, otherwise you’re halfway by way of belting out the refrain of your favorite music.

In the event you’re caught with out telephone sign and nonetheless must navigate, fortunately there’s in-built satellite tv for pc navigation, which is tremendous straightforward to make use of. There’s additionally an embedded SIM card within the automotive, which permits for dwell site visitors information.

Across the Defender’s cabin there are many tactile bodily buttons and dials beneath the touchscreen, which is smart in a automobile that’s meant to be taken off-road.

The local weather management dials specifically stand out as a result of they’re chunky sufficient that they may very well be used with gloves on. The dials even have a nifty characteristic that, when pressed, assist you to then change the seat heating/air flow.

One other piece of logical inside design contains the amount dial really being on the passenger aspect. Many automobiles have these nearer to the motive force, which doesn’t make sense as passengers want to achieve over the sprint to make use of it.

That is much more useful because the Defender has a big and expansive sprint. It’s a bit disappointing the Outbound variant solely comes with black-on-black finishes, so it’s arduous to make out a number of the cool inside particulars in low mild conditions. Fortunately, there’s a big panoramic glass sunroof that does make issues airier within the cabin.

Though the Defender’s cabin positively has rugged touches, together with the uncovered bolt heads and arduous accent panel with Defender script, all of the locations you contact are luxurious and premium-feeling.

Up entrance, you’re spoilt for selection in regard to storage areas. There are two cupholders with rubber tooth, a big uncovered part beneath the centre tunnel, an optionally available fridge the place the centre console field is, plus loads of charging ports, and a wi-fi charger that cooked my telephone slightly than really charging it.

Plenty of the storage areas are rubberised, that means objects received’t slide round when the going will get robust.

Hopping into the second row of the Defender 130 is simply as a lot of a leap as it’s up entrance. Fortunately, there are extra apparent seize handles that make this course of so much simpler.

It’s value noting all of the doorways on this automotive are actually heavy, particularly when parked on an incline. This implies smaller kidlets could wrestle to open and shut the doorways themselves.

When you’re within the second row it’s apparent how palatial this automotive is. At a leggy 182cm, I had oodles of leg room, head room, shoulder room and foot area behind my driving place. That is helped by the second row each sliding and reclining.

Three adults can simply match throughout the second-row bench with area to spare. It truly is the place to be for lengthy street journeys since you possibly can stretch out and calm down.

Just like the entrance two seats, all of the second-row seats are comfy, tender and squishy. Even the center seat isn’t awkwardly perched like in some vehicles, which is an enormous plus for folks wanting to hold passengers.

One draw back is our tester doesn’t come customary with heated rear seats, regardless of its circa-$135k listing worth. As a substitute, this characteristic can also be out there as an optionally available additional.

Regardless of this, there are nonetheless loads of facilities within the second row. These embody a 3rd zone of local weather management, centre console-mounted air vents, USB ports, and a fold-down armrest with cupholders.

Whereas the Defender 130 is greatest identified for providing eight seats, our Outbound tester solely comes with 5 seats. Sure, you learn that accurately: this 5.4-metre behemoth doesn’t have a 3rd row of seats.

What this implies is that cargo area is GINORMOUS. Land Rover claims the defender 130 P400 Outbound gives at least 1329 litres of baggage capability with all of the seats upright, although this determine is probably going measured to the roof.

With a view to entry this big boot, you must open the side-hinged tailgate that has a full-size spare wheel mounted to it. It feels heavy, which implies youngsters will wrestle to open it.

In contrast to different side-hinged tailgates, the Defender 130’s doesn’t have conventional stops. As a substitute, the tailgate will lock into place wherever you open it to. That is actually helpful if you happen to solely wish to open it a bit.

One other cool boot-related characteristic is the air suspension management unit that means that you can decrease the automotive down from the rear, making it simpler to load objects in.

Wanting on the boot area, you possibly can see the place the rearmost row of seats is positioned in different eight-seat Defender 130 variants. An instance is the C-pillar-mounted air vents that will sometimes be for third-row occupants. There’s additionally a slight incline within the boot ground the place the third row of seats can be.

Facilities within the boot features a truthful quantity of lighting, a 230V home energy level, tie-down factors, and cargo hooks.

Dimensions Defender 130 P400 Unbound
Size 5377mm
Width 1996mm
Peak 1970mm
Wheelbase 3022mm
Cargo capability 1329L (5-seat)
2615L (2-seat)

To see how the Defender strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

The Defender 130 Outbound is simply supplied with a inline-six mild-hybrid petrol engine designated ‘P400’.

Specs Defender 130 P400 Unbound
Engine 3.0L 6cyl turbo 48V MHEV
Energy 294kW @ 5500-6500rpm
Torque 550Nm @ 2000-5000rpm
Transmission 8-speed auto
Twin-speed switch field – excessive, low vary
Pushed wheels AWD
Weight 2620kg
Gasoline economic system (claimed) 9.6L/100km
Gasoline economic system (as examined) 11.9L/100km (540km combined driving)
Gasoline tank capability 90 litres
Gasoline requirement 95 RON
CO2 emissions 223g/km
Emissions customary Euro 6
Weight 2620kg
Braked tow capability 3000kg
Gross automobile mass (GVM) 3380kg
Gross mixture mass (GCM) 6380kg

To see how the Defender strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

How does the Land Rover Defender 130 drive?

Begin the engine and the inline petrol six roars to life with a excessive idle. It really sounds fairly good, although it doesn’t linger for lengthy earlier than it settles right into a decrease and quieter idle.

After setting off, I instantly observed the long-travel accelerator really feel. It took a good whereas to get used to and made the automotive really feel a bit lazy. You might want to press the accelerator fairly arduous if you would like brisk motion.

However this explicit petrol-powered Defender is greatest pushed with tender and docile throttle inputs, as a result of if you stamp it there’s a slight lag after which an enormous surge of acceleration.

The P400 engine in our tester drives so much like a diesel. Peak torque comes on faucet from 2000rpm, that means you possibly can lean on the meaty 550Nm fairly typically.

Even round city, the eight-speed automated torque-converter automated transmission retains the revs down to simply above idle. This makes low-speed cruising very comfy and quiet within the cabin.

Regardless of feeling a bit lurchy from a standstill when pushing the Defender 130, there’s loads of energy out there. Sport mode, which is activated by pushing the gear selector to the aspect, makes this extra pronounced.

While you ground it, the nostril tilts upwards and the speed of acceleration feels extremely fast for a automobile this massive. It’s very addictive, although you pay for it closely on the gas bowser.

Talking of gas economic system, the P400 inline-six petrol engine has a 48V mild-hybrid system that includes a belt-driven generator for the engine’s idle cease/begin system. The engine switches off seamlessly when you come to a cease, after which switches again on imperceptibly if you launch the brake.

It’s an excellent system that doesn’t closely influence the driving expertise like some others do. I didn’t really feel the urge to modify it off at any level throughout my week of testing.

At no level can the automotive function on electrical energy alone, not like another mild-hybrid powertrains; as an alternative it helps help acceleration because of a so-called electrical supercharger (E-SC).

Regardless of the nice idle cease/begin system, the Defender 130’s city gas consumption remains to be excessive. I often noticed averages hovering round 15L/100km throughout journeys to and from the workplace in peak-hour site visitors.

Throughout our time with it, or tester’s digital air suspension just about ironed out each single pimply city street in its common driving mode. In the event you purposely hit a bump on the passenger aspect you possible received’t even really feel it on the motive force’s aspect.

No, the Defender 130 doesn’t really feel like an excessively dynamic automobile. As a substitute, it feels very comfort-oriented. The physique leans round corners, even at decrease speeds, however by no means to a degree the place it feels prefer it’s falling over itself.

This does make sense given you’re asking over 2.6 tonnes of high-riding wagon to shift path at pace. Regardless of this, the sunshine but direct steering defies the automotive’s heft. It makes it a slightly manoeuvrable automotive to drive within the city slog.

There’s nonetheless no escaping how arduous this 5.4-metre-long automotive is to park, nonetheless. I embarrassed myself on various events once I needed to carry out quite a lot of what felt like 10-point turns to fit into a decent carpark.

As customary, there are entrance and rear parking sensors, plus a surround-view digicam that truly do assist with parking. One thing value preserving in thoughts, nonetheless, is that the reversing digicam is mounted beneath the bumper and never on the spare wheel, that means you must account for that when reverse parking.

One other factor you must account for right here is the side-hinging tailgate. The infotainment system really does a very good job of reminding you about this, nevertheless it’s nonetheless irritating when the automotive is already so lengthy.

On the transfer, there are some very giant blind spots. Due to the aforementioned tailgate-mounted spare wheel, you possibly can barely see something behind you. As a substitute, I used to be pressured to make use of the optionally available digital rear-view mirror.

That is the primary automobile through which I really had to make use of the digital rear-view mirror, although over the week of testing I grew used to it. I do want the digicam would level down a bit extra, as a result of in its lowest place I may barely see vehicles stopped behind me on the site visitors lights.

Issues don’t get any higher if you look over your shoulder. Each rear three-quarter views of the automobile are blanked out, which makes reversing out of parking areas a bit terrifying. You’re principally pressured to make use of the surround-view digicam system.

Similar goes for altering lanes out on the street. There have been a few events once I needed to depend on the blind-spot monitoring system, or simply stick in my lane to not threat chopping somebody off. This quantity of guesswork in a automobile that’s so massive and prices a lot is nerve-wracking.

Moreover, the puny rectangular mirrors barely present a automotive within the lane alongside. I needed I may flip them on their sides to see extra.

This can be a little irritating because the Defender feels most at dwelling out on the open street. On the authorized restrict on the freeway, the straight-six petrol engine is revving round 1500rpm and it’s barely noticeable within the cabin.

Naturally, gas consumption additionally drops significantly at freeway speeds. I often noticed round 7L/100km, which is nice for a automobile this dimension.

In the event you meet a hill or must do an overtake, the engine will fortunately drop down a gear, although it’s hardly ever wanted as there’s a lot energy and torque out there.

One thing that basically shocked me about this automotive is how quiet and serene the cabin is at excessive pace, given it’s about as aerodynamic and a brick and it’s fitted with all-terrain tyres. There’s slight wind noise from the aspect mirrors, however that is frequent.

The air suspension stays incredible at larger speeds because it irons out harsh bumps, although over undulations the automotive can really feel a bit floaty. This can be a frequent trait for automobiles with air suspension.

On the security entrance, the Defender 130’s adaptive cruise management system is okay, however nowhere close to standout for the phase. This can be a little bit of a let-down, particularly as a result of the automotive is so nice on the freeway.

This method has surges of acceleration when travelling alongside common roads, which feels a bit awkward. Plus at decrease speeds the system can typically overlook a automotive is in entrance of it. In these cases it begins accelerating after which as soon as it realises one thing is there it slams on the brakes.

That stated, the lane-keep help operate isn’t very hands-on, in a great way, and can solely intervene if you’re really leaving your lane.

Nevertheless it’s value calling on the market’s no lane centring operate on this automobile, and the Defender vary additionally has an annoying pace restrict help system that activates by default each time you begin the automotive. It chimes if you go over the posted pace restrict.

Fortunately, JLR has provide you with an important resolution that means that you can create a customized profile with solely the security options you need remaining lively. You possibly can activate this with the press of a steering wheel button, however you do must do it each time you drive the automotive.

Sadly, whereas the Defender 130 P400 Outbound is meant as an offroad-oriented variant, we didn’t really get an opportunity to check it out off the crushed path.

CarExpert founder Paul Maric was very complimentary after off-road testing of a shorter Defender 110 with the identical P400 engine. This mannequin additionally received CarExpert’s 4WD SUV of the 12 months in 2023.

One thing to notice, nonetheless, is that the Defender 130 has the identical wheelbase because the 110 however a for much longer rear overhang , which limits the departure angle and provides weight on the back-end, so it might not be as agile off-road.

Off-road dimensions Defender 130 P400 Outbound
Monitor entrance and rear 1706mm (entrance), 1701mm (rear)
Floor clearance 218.5mm (customary), 293mm (raised)
Method angle 30.1 levels (customary), 37.5 levels (raised)
Departure angle 24.5 levels (customary), 28.8 levels (raised)
Ramp breakover angle 22.0 levels (customary), 27.9 levels (raised)
Wading depth 900mm

To see how the Defender strains up towards the competitors, take a look at our comparability software.

What do you get?

The 130 Outbound is the offroad-oriented variant within the Defender lineup. It slots between the D350/P400 X-Dynamic SE and the P500 V8 within the long-bodied lineup.

Defender 130 P400 Outbound highlights:

Exterior

  • 20-inch gloss-black wheels
  • Full-size spare wheel
  • Digital air suspension
  • Adaptive Dynamics
  • Terrain Response
  • Shadow Atlas exterior highlights
  • Physique-coloured exterior panel
  • Black uncovered rear restoration eyes
  • LED headlights
  • Computerized high-beam
  • Entrance and rear fog lights
  • LED tail-lights
  • Rain-sensing window wipers
  • Heated windscreen
  • Heated, electrical, power-folding aspect mirrors
  • Auto-dimming driver aspect mirror
  • Puddle lights

Inside

  • 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
  • 11.4-inch Pivi Professional touchscreen infotainment system
  • Head-up show
  • Wi-fi Apple CarPlay
  • DAB radio
  • Meridian {surround} sound system
  • On-line Pack with information plan
  • Wi-fi charger
  • Three-zone local weather management
  • Cabin Air Purification Plus
  • Air High quality Sensor
  • Keyless entry
  • Push-button begin
  • Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
  • Satin black energy coated cross automotive beam
  • Illuminated metallic treadplates with Defender script
  • Inside ambient lighting
  • Energy-operated baby locks
  • Resist upholstery
  • 12-way electrical entrance seats with 2-way guide headrests
  • Robustec veneer
  • Rubber flooring
  • Carpet mats with loadspace rubber flooring
  • Loadspace rubber mat
  • 12V energy socket in loadspace

Choices

Our MY24 Defender 130 P400 Unbound tester was fitted with round $35,000 value of optionally available extras and equipment.

Fitted optionally available extras:

  • Carpathian Gray paint: $1040
  • Satin protecting movie: $7040
  • Privateness glass: $1000
  • Physique-coloured spare wheel cowl: $760
  • ClearSight inside rear-view mirror: $1446
  • Loadspace partition web: $364
  • Off-road Pack: $1017
    • Digital lively differential with torque vectoring by braking
    • Home plug socket
  • Towing Pack 2: $4085
    • Tow hitch receiver
    • Superior tow help
    • Terrain response 2
    • All terrain progress management (ATPC)
    • Configurable Terrain Response
  • Consolation and Comfort Pack: $1665
    • Twin entrance cupholders with cowl
    • Entrance centre console fridge compartment

Fitted equipment (put up registration):

  • Distant management electrical winch: $6189
  • Deployable roof ladder: $1497
  • Black exterior side-mounted gear provider: $1473
  • A-Body safety bar: $1421
  • Built-in air compressor: $1416
  • Raised air consumption: $1179
  • Wheel-arch safety: $1128
  • Cross bars: $537
  • Matte black bonnet decal: $214

Is the Land Rover Defender 130 secure?

The Defender 110 was awarded a five-star ANCAP security score (all variants bar these with the V8 engine). Defender 90 and 130 physique kinds stay unrated.

Class Defender 110
Grownup occupant safety 32.51 out of 38 (85 per cent)
Baby occupant safety 43.22 out of 49 (88 per cent)
Susceptible street consumer safety 38.39 out of 54 (71 per cent)
Security help 12.24 out of 16 (76 per cent)

Normal security gear contains:

  • Adaptive cruise management
  • Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
    • Pedestrian, Bicycle owner detection
    • Junction help
  • Blind-spot monitoring
  • Driver consideration monitoring
  • Lane hold help
  • Parking sensors – entrance, rear
  • Rear cross-traffic alert
  • Secure exit alert
  • Encompass-view cameras
  • Site visitors signal recognition

How a lot does the Land Rover Defender 130 value to run?

Land Rover covers its automobiles with a five-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee in Australia.

Aftersales Provisions Defender 130 P400 Outbound
Guarantee 5 years, limitless kilometres
Roadside help 5 years
Service interval 1 12 months or 26,000km
Service pricing $2450 – 5 12 months service plan

CarExpert’s Tackle the Land Rover Defender 130

The Defender 130 isn’t a automobile you ever really want, however one you really need. It has loads of kerbside attraction; the variety of heads you flip with the raised suspension is off the charts.

The long-bottomed physique model does fill a distinct segment completely for individuals who need extra cargo-carrying functionality, and added area for a 3rd row of seating. However that is the place issues get a bit complicated.

The Defender 130 P400 Outbound examined right here is simply out there with 5 seats. You possibly can’t even choice a 3rd row. This implies there’s a cavernous load area behind its rearmost seats, no matter how far again you slide or recline the second row.

However that additionally begs the query: what’s the level of the 130 physique model on this context? On the Defender web page of its web site, Land Rover Australia markets the 130 as a mannequin with “eight seats for shared exploration”.

Additional extending that theme, the Outbound is the off-road variant within the 130 lineup, which doesn’t make a lot sense when its added rear overhang and additional weight make it much less succesful off-road than the 90 and 110 physique kinds.

Including extra gas to the fireplace, our tester was fitted with roughly $35,000 value optionally available extras, bringing its asking worth to over $170,000 plus on-road prices. And there are nonetheless extra choices that may very well be added.

Absolutely, optionally available extras like heated outboard rear seats, matrix LED headlights, and a digital rear-view mirror, amongst others, must be customary in the sort of automobile.

In the end, the Defender 130 P400 Outbound looks like an enormous flex-mobile as a result of it isn’t the form of automobile that makes any rational sense.

There are many different off-road SUVs in the marketplace that value significantly much less however include at the very least seven seats. So in actuality, you purchase this automotive to make an announcement. The place do I join?

Desirous about shopping for a Defender? Get in contact with certainly one of CarExpert’s trusted sellers right here.

Click on the pictures for the complete gallery

MORE: Every thing Defender



RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

- Advertisment -
Google search engine

Most Popular

Recent Comments