Land Rover Defender 130 V8 review: the only off-roader for adventurous families

Introduction

It’s one of the more interesting additions to Land Rover’s Defender range in recent years, but the new Defender 130 V8 doesn’t make much sense on paper. While most cars are moving towards hybrid or electric powertrains, this massive eight-seater SUV is powered by an equally gigantic 5.0-litre supercharged V8.

Here it produces 493bhp and 449lb-ft of torque, powering this modern take on an off-road icon from 0 to 60mph in 5.4 seconds. That eclipses the six-cylinder Ingenium P400 and D300 you’ll find elsewhere in the line-up. Equally huge is money needed to get one on you driveway; this top-of-the-range model carries a top-of-the-range price tag of $116,600 / £116,845, putting it firmly in Range Rover territory.

The Defender 130 V8 is clearly a car of extremes then, so it begs the question: who is it for? I spent the day driving the new Defender off-road and through flooded Somerset to find out…

The styling

The Defender 130 has the same three-metre wheelbase as the Defender 110, but is 34cm longer (in total, measuring over 5.3m long and more than 2m tall). Despite growing in proportions, it is still very recognisable as a Defender. It’s a big, imposing vehicle, with the modern, utilitarian design that I find very desirable.

This jumbo-sized SUV is available exclusively in Carpathian Grey or Santorini Black, and features quad outboard-mounted exhausts (which are exclusive to the V8 model), a sliding panoramic roof, V8 badging, Matrix LED headlights, darkened tail lights, privacy glass and 22in Satin Dark Grey alloy wheels. Everything combined gives the 130 a stealthy, urban look.

This theme is carried on inside. The Defender gets seats finished in ebony Windsor leather, Dinamica suede cloth and Robustec fabric, as well as a suede cloth steering wheel, ebony Morzine headlining and satin black cross-car beam. It feels like a very nice place to be (if a little dark) and a big departure from the Defenders of old. It feels particularly well suited to long journeys – I had the pleasure of driving a Defender 110 to Scotland and back last year, and found it perfect for a big road trip.

As you can imagine, when it comes to a vehicle of this size, the Defender 130 is massively practical. It has eight seats – two up front, three in the middle, and three in the rear. The three rear seats are a little tricky to climb into, but once you do manage to get in, even adults will find it comfortable back there. With all seats up, the Defender has 389 litres of boot space, and a massive 2291 litres when rows two and three are folded down.

The drive

Even with 493bhp on tap, the V8 engine doesn’t miraculously transform the Defender 130 into a sports car. Handling is no match for an Aston Martin DBX, and it’s not as raucous as the Mercedes G-Class. It does, however, give the Defender a bit more character, enhanced performance, cruising refinement and overall capability. It shouldn’t work, but it’s a very endearing combination.

On road, the Defender 130 drives like most other big, modern SUVs. Which is to say, it’s incredibly comfortable. The visibility is good, and despite being so large, feels very easy to drive – even down the narrowest of country lanes. Although at 5.3m I wouldn’t enjoy parking it in a supermarket car park, especially as the Defender doesn’t have all-wheel steering.

Unsurprisingly, the Defender truly excels once you leave the Tarmac. During my drive, I had a chance to experience this on a very muddy off-road course.

Every Defender 130 is fitted with Land Rover’s Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, which automatically manages the powertrain and power distribution between the front and rear axles. You also get electronic air suspension with adaptive dynamics and Land Rover’s advanced Terrain Response system. 

The combination makes driving over difficult terrain effortless. I was constantly amazed at how easy it was to drive over slippery mud and up steep inclines. You feel like you should be doing something but the car handles it all for you without batting an eyelid.

The technology

The Defender has come a long way from its origins as a no-nonsense agricultural vehicle. This modern SUV is packed with enough tech to make the Range Rover worry, and being the top-spec model, the 130 V8 comes with pretty much every option ticked.

The long spec list includes Four-Zone Climate Control, heated row-three seats (and climate-controlled ones for the second row), a Meridian sound system, a head-up display, digital instrument cluster and cabin air purification.

At the heart it all is the Pivi Pro infotainment system, with its 11.4in curved glass touchscreen. I’ve always really liked the Pivi Pro system and find it very intuitive to use. The large screen is particularly easy to navigate. 

Thankfully, Land Rover has kept some of the more frequently used controls as physical dials and buttons.

Land Rover Defender 130 V8 verdict

The more time I spend with the Land Rover Defender, the more I like it. I think the 130 V8 might be the most endearing iteration yet, with a characterful engine and enough space for the whole family (plus next door’s family too, if you so wish).

It’s a great-looking SUV with unmatched off-roading capability. Funnily enough, its biggest competition probably comes from within Land Rover itself, in the form of the inimitable Range Rover.

But if you prefer the this car’s more rugged, practical nature and have a sense of adventure, then the Defender will no doubt be the only choice.

Land Rover Defender 130 V8 technical specifications

Powertrain	5.0-litre Supercharged V8
Power	493bhp
Torque	479lb ft
0-60mph	5.4 secs
Top speed	149 mph
Fuel economy	19.6mpg
Off-road ability	290mm off-road ride height, 900mm wading depth
Cargo volume	2291 litres (rows two and three folded) / 1200 litres (row three folded) / 398 litres (all seats unfolded)
Kerb weight	3380 kg
Dimensions	5358x2105x1970mm (with spare wheel/mirrors out)