Land Rover launches eight-seater Defender 130

At almost 5.4 metres long, 2 metres wide and nearly 2 metres tall, the 130 with its three rows of seats comes in at the very top of the Defender range. Prices start at £74,000 and reach to just over £100,000 – quite a stretch for what was traditionally the firm’s rudimentary workhorse.

“Work” for the 130 promises to be more all-encompassing than ever, as Land Rover seeks to turn its most rugged 4x4 into ultimate family adventure wagon – or, more likely given the price, a machine to cart VIPs across any sort of terrain. Despite this new feel of luxury, Land Rover insists the Defender 130 maintains that customary off-road prowess.

Its raison d’etre is its size. Do not be misled by the 130 badge – that’s just a throwback number – for its wheelbase is the same as the Defender 110’s at 3,022mm. The extra 340mm in overall length can all be found in the rear overhang. There’s now a metre and a half of body aft of the rear wheels, and it looks like it. On the aesthetics front, think more railway carriage than the Tonka toy chunkiness of other Defenders.

You can have a five-seat 130 (do you need 2,500 litres of boot space?) but really this is all about the reborn Defender’s new ability to carry eight people – and from the figures, we are talking eight proper-sized adults, too. Land Rover says there’s 800mm of legroom in the third row.

Most Land Rovers these days, including the new Range Rover, have the option of seven seats, but the Defender 130 is set apart by virtue of its eight-seat offering, all the while promising enough space for relatively easy access and some boot room, too. With all seats occupied you still get 389 litres for bags. This all makes the 130 a substantially different proposition to the previously most accommodating Defender, the 110 with the option of +2 kids’ seats in the back.

Unsurprisingly, there are no side benches as you would fine in Defenders of old. Instead, you get two three-across rows behind the pair of front seats, both rows featuring split fold-down backrests for when more luggage room is needed. Five of the seats have Isofix points, larger families will be pleased to hear.

Even those in the very back row can have their own heated seats, USB sockets, padded armrests and ventilation (four-zone climate control is on the options list). What they might not get is an unrestricted view out thanks to the new Defender’s controversial “floating pillar”. It has floated a bit further back in the 130 and we can’t imagine it does anything but obstruct the view out from the third row.

The cabin should be light enough however, with a standard glass sunroof at the rear complementing the (also standard) panoramic glass roof up front. All 130s also feature a larger new Pivi Pro touchscreen, cabin air purification system, keyless entry and an interior that majors on wood veneers, chrome trim, leather and full carpeting. The navigation includes the what-three-words system so you can find any three-square-metre patch of land on the planet.

Every Defender 130 also comes with electronic air suspension, not just for ride comfort but for easier cabin access and, most importantly, to retain the Defender’s off-road abilities.

Raise the body (it can lift 73mm at the rear) and even that big rear overhang won’t get stuck in the mud. Land Rover credits the 130 with the same approach and departure angles as the Defender 110, along with the same 900mm wading depth, 45-degree climbing ability and three-tonne towing ability.

The 130 is all about winning the space race rather than the 0-62mph sprint or the CO2 emissions challenge, as one look under the bonnet shows. Somewhat surprisingly, there is no V8 or plug-in hybrid variant available – not yet at least. That means the new flagship is not the most powerful, quickest or environmentally friendliest model in the range.

For the UK, engine choice is straight-forward: a 300PS (221kW) diesel, a 300PS petrol, or a 400PS (294kW) petrol. All are Ingenium 3.0-litre straight-sixes with 48v mild hybrid assist. The D300 diesel has the most torque with 650Nm, while the P400 is faster from 0-62mph, managing the sprint in 6.6 seconds.

You’d think a 525PS (386kW) V8 version should be possible – and expected, at £100,000 – but a P400e plug-in hybrid drivetrain with its extra packaging requirements may fall foul of the 130’s three-row seating.

You can expect to see the standard line Land Rover trim variants: SE, HSE, X Dynamic and the Defender 130 X at the top of the range. Of course, there are the familiar option packs and accessories available, along with new colours. There is also a new high-spec First Edition model that can be had in one of three different design themes centred on white, red or grey body colour.

The 130 is available to order now, but don’t expect to be first in the queue:  car number one is a Platinum Jubilee gift to Her Majesty the Queen for the British Red Cross to use.