2025 Land Rover Defender 130 evaluation

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 yr 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 offers 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 yr (MY25), JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) has given the Defender a extra highly effective diesel engine and different varied specification modifications. Some Defender 130 variants have additionally obtained minor worth cuts.

On take a look at right here is the penultimate variant within the Defender 130 lineup, the offroad-focussed Outbound, which is simply provided 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 examine?

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

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How a lot does the Land Rover Defender 130 price?

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

MY24 Defender 130 pricing:

MY25 Defender 130 pricing:

Our MY24 tester was fitted with round $35,000 of non-compulsory 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 nearly 5.4 metres lengthy and almost 2.0 metres vast, it fills and typically spills into the following parking area.

As normal, this long-bodied variant will get digital air suspension that enables it to differ its top relying on the drive mode, or by urgent devoted buttons on the sprint. Fortunately, this implies you possibly can decrease the automotive right 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 number 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 normal.

Behind the wheel, you positively really feel such as you’re above everybody on the street, nearly such as you’re in a truck. This provides you the sensation of management, and makes for nice visibility out the entrance. Flip round and face the opposite method, nevertheless, 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 normal. The entrance seats particularly are extraordinarily snug and have nearly limitless quantities of electrical adjustment.

My favorite adjustable elements of the entrance seats embrace the aspect bolsters and thigh help. These enable taller folks to really feel comfortable 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 via the trim perforations, as a substitute 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 nearly like an overheat shield function, which is sweet to have.

Forward of the driving force is a fairly giant steering wheel, which is befitting of a car this massive and additional reinforces the actual fact the Defender 130 is a giant bus.

The leather-based wrapping on the steering wheel feels scrumptious in hand. Our tester’s wheel was additionally heated, which bought 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 perform 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 normal, which appears crisp and clear. It additionally affords loads of configurability so you possibly can set it as much as show the precise data you really need to see.

Certainly one of my favorite options is that the digital instrument cluster can show a navigation map and pull the data from Apple Maps when linked to Apple CarPlay. Sadly, it doesn’t work with Google Maps although.

Disappointingly, there’s no head-up show fitted as normal on the Defender 130 P400 Outbound. As an alternative, it’s accessible as an non-compulsory further, which is barely baffling given the circa-$150k drive-away asking worth of this car 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 house when interacting with it. As a beginner to the Pivi Professional system, nevertheless, I felt bamboozled till I bought the possibility 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 study the auto-hold perform is toggled on the touchscreen.

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

When this occurred it will take a little bit of time to reconnect, which is irritating in the event you’re navigating someplace, otherwise you’re halfway via belting out the refrain of your favorite track.

When you’re caught with out telephone sign and nonetheless have to 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 visitors knowledge.

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

The local weather management dials particularly stand out as a result of they’re chunky sufficient that they might be used with gloves on. The dials even have a nifty function that, when pressed, will let you 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 driving 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 slightly disappointing the Outbound variant solely comes with black-on-black finishes, so it’s exhausting to make out a few of the cool inside particulars in low gentle 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 exhausting accent panel with Defender script, all of the locations you contact are luxurious and premium-feeling.

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

A variety 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 loads 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 might battle 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 chill out.

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

One draw back is our tester doesn’t come normal with heated rear seats, regardless of its circa-$135k listing worth. As an alternative, this function can also be accessible as an non-compulsory further.

Regardless of this, there are nonetheless loads of facilities within the second row. These embrace 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 finest identified for providing eight seats, our Outbound tester solely comes with 5 seats. Sure, you learn that appropriately: 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 affords a minimum of 1329 litres of baggage capability with all of the seats upright, although this determine is probably going measured to the roof.

With the intention to entry this enormous boot, you should open the side-hinged tailgate that has a full-size spare wheel mounted to it. It feels heavy, which implies youngsters will battle to open it.

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

One other cool boot-related function is the air suspension management unit that permits you to 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 might sometimes be for third-row occupants. There’s additionally a slight incline within the boot ground the place the third row of seats could be.

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

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

What’s underneath the bonnet?

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

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 seen the long-travel accelerator really feel. It took a good whereas to get used to and made the automotive really feel a bit lazy. It’s worthwhile to press the accelerator fairly exhausting if you would like brisk motion.

However this explicit petrol-powered Defender is finest pushed with delicate and docile throttle inputs, as a result of while you stamp it there’s a slight lag after which a giant surge of acceleration.

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

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 snug and quiet within the cabin.

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

If you ground it, the nostril tilts upwards and the speed of acceleration feels extremely fast for a car 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 while you launch the brake.

It’s an excellent system that doesn’t closely impression 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 a substitute it helps help acceleration because of a so-called electrical supercharger (E-SC).

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

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

No, the Defender 130 doesn’t really feel like a very dynamic car. As an alternative, 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 course at pace. Regardless of this, the sunshine but direct steering defies the automotive’s heft. It makes it a fairly manoeuvrable automotive to drive within the city slog.

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

As normal, there are entrance and rear parking sensors, plus a surround-view digital camera that really do assist with parking. One thing value protecting in thoughts, nevertheless, is that the reversing digital camera is mounted underneath the bumper and never on the spare wheel, that means you should account for that when reverse parking.

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

On the transfer, there are some very giant blind spots. Because of the aforementioned tailgate-mounted spare wheel, you possibly can barely see something behind you. As an alternative, I used to be pressured to make use of the non-compulsory digital rear-view mirror.

That is the primary car by 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 digital camera would level down a bit extra, as a result of in its lowest place I might barely see vehicles stopped behind me on the visitors lights.

Issues don’t get any higher while you look over your shoulder. Each rear three-quarter views of the car are blanked out, which makes reversing out of parking areas slightly terrifying. You’re principally pressured to make use of the surround-view digital camera 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 danger chopping somebody off. This quantity of guesswork in a car that’s so large and prices a lot is nerve-wracking.

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

This can be a little irritating because the Defender feels most at house 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 incessantly noticed round 7L/100km, which is nice for a car this dimension.

When you meet a hill or have to do an overtake, the engine will fortunately drop down a gear, although it’s not often wanted as there’s a lot energy and torque accessible.

One thing that actually stunned 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 widespread.

The air suspension stays unbelievable at greater speeds because it irons out harsh bumps, although over undulations the automotive can really feel slightly floaty. This can be a widespread trait for automobiles with air suspension.

On the protection 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 technique has surges of acceleration when travelling alongside common roads, which feels slightly 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 mentioned, the lane-keep help perform isn’t very hands-on, in a great way, and can solely intervene while you’re really leaving your lane.

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

Fortunately, JLR has provide you with an incredible answer that permits you to create a customized profile with solely the protection options you need remaining lively. You’ll be able to activate this with the press of a steering wheel button, however you do have to 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 try it out off the overwhelmed 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 yr in 2023.

One thing to notice, nevertheless, 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.

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 knowledge 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 steel treadplates with Defender script
• Inside ambient lighting
• Energy-operated youngster 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 non-compulsory extras and equipment.

Fitted non-compulsory 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 internet: $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 (submit registration):

• Distant management electrical winch: $6189
• Deployable roof ladder: $1497
• Black exterior side-mounted gear service: $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 protected?

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

Customary security tools contains:

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

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

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

CarExpert’s Tackle the Land Rover Defender 130

The Defender 130 isn’t a car you ever actually need, however one you actually 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 type 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 slightly complicated.

The Defender 130 P400 Outbound examined right here is simply accessible with 5 seats. You’ll be able to’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 type 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 further weight make it much less succesful off-road than the 90 and 110 physique types.

Including extra gas to the hearth, our tester was fitted with roughly $35,000 value non-compulsory extras, bringing its asking worth to over $170,000 plus on-road prices. And there are nonetheless extra choices that might be added.

Absolutely, non-compulsory extras like heated outboard rear seats, matrix LED headlights, and a digital rear-view mirror, amongst others, needs to be normal in this kind of car.

Finally, the Defender 130 P400 Outbound looks like a giant flex-mobile as a result of it isn’t the form of car that makes any rational sense.

There are many different off-road SUVs available on the market that price significantly much less however include not less than seven seats. So in actuality, you purchase this automotive to make an announcement. The place do I join?

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

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