Have you ever wanted a Land Rover Defender, but need to carry seven other passengers on a semi-regular basis?

Well, you’re in luck, because Land Rover now has an eight-seater version of their iconic Defender 4×4. For the most part, it looks like the standard 90 or 110 version of the Defender from most angles (except from the rear, for obvious reasons). It even shares the same 118 inch wheelbase as the regular 110.

That’s because all of the changes are strictly to the rear of the vehicle only. The additional interior space has been created by increasing the length of what was the cargo area. This has created sufficient space back there to allow for the fitment of three extra seats.

Unchanged Aesthetics

For the most part anyways. As mentioned above, most of the exterior of the Defender remains unchanged in the lengthening. You get the same front fascia and body proportions up till after the rear axle. Our test car came with some additional equipment, including chequered-textured plastic trim plating, and a 130-specific vinyl decal on the bonnet.

With the added “junk in the trunk”, the 130 isn’t what we’d call traditionally handsome from its rear ¾. All the design elements are stretched to fit, and it just doesn’t look as cohesive as its 90 and 110 siblings. Keep in mind though, that the 130 was built with function in mind, so perhaps some sacrifice had to be made to its form to facilitate that.

A True 8 Seater

There are many cars that claim to be seven or eight seaters. Not many, however, can actually comfortably and realistically carry the number of passengers stated in the marketing material. That isn’t the case with the Defender 130.

And it better not be, especially with all that extra real estate in the back. Head and knee room, as we’ve established in the 90, is more than sufficient. The nameplate’s boxy form factor also means passengers in the second and third row will not feel claustrophobic.

Where the 130 really excels, especially when compared to other three row SUVs, is the space it offers in the last row. Knee room is excellent, and the inclusion of a sunroof here also helps create a sense of airiness. In fact, we are confident you’d be comfortable even doing long journeys sat back there!

Surprisingly Easy to Place

The length may seem intimidating at first, but you’ll soon realise the 130 is actually a lot easier to place on the road than expected. With a similar wheelbase and width to more vanilla Defender models, the car was no more difficult to drive and manoeuvre than its shorter cousins. 

You don’t really even notice the additional overhang whilst on the move. The turning radius is surprisingly good for a vehicle of its length, and it is only when you are trying to squeeze it into a regular-sized parking space that you start to figure out just how enormous it actually is.

Fuel economy isn’t its strong suit. A 3.0 litre turbocharged straight six powers the 130, and provides excellent power and torque throughout the rev range. The engine is surprisingly smooth and refined, though you do pay a significant price for this when it comes time to fill up. Throughout the three day press loan, the car averaged 17.9l/100km, or about 5.6km/l. 

Then again, what were you expecting from a large and heavy eight-seater SUV?

The Jack of All Trades

The new Defenders have retained the sheer mechanical ability of their predecessors. But they have also gained road manners and refinement that the nameplate never had. 

They are now daily driveable vehicles with little compromise (save for their height), and can keep you chugging along even when the going gets tough. The 130 builds on those solid fundamentals. 

Additional length or not, this is still a ruthlessly capable machine off-road, and one that is very well-behaved on-road. The extra row and space opens up the car to a whole new audience.

And that’s a good thing, so more people can appreciate and enjoy the Defender experience!

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