In a Land Rover Defender 130 the world follows your pace
The rugged yet sophisticated execution of the cabin remains as appealing as it did when we first saw the Defender in 2019. Elements such as the exposed rivets and rubberised floors evince a sense of proper durability. That shone through on our tester with its higher mileage.
The Defender had received minor upgrades along the way, including the adoption of the enhanced Pivi Pro infotainment system, which is among the best in the business. Aside from that, there are no glaring changes. An old ergonomic gripe resurfaced: when unfastening the driver's sun visor, one smacks their knuckles against the central rearview mirror.
In 130 guise, the Defender is truly vast, with a length of 5,358mm, width of 2,105mm and towering height of 1,970mm. The 360° camera system comes in handy, even if the audible warnings of the park distance control are more alarming than they need to be.
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IOL News
8 hours ago
- IOL News
Land Rover Defender 130 D350 review: where off-road muscle meets modern luxury
The Defender recently received an engine transplant with the introduction of the D350 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin turbo diesel plant. Image: Supplied For those of us old enough to remember, the original Land Rover Defender 130 was an extra-long wheelbase double cab bakkie, much loved by outdoor enthusiasts and was considered by many as one of the best overlanding vehicles ever made. Built on a 130-inch ladder chassis (hence the name 130), it was the ideal vehicle to set up and kit for extended expeditions, with the large load bay providing the ideal platform to make a home away from home. 130 nomenclature The original 130 bakkie has been shelved in the annals of history with the introduction of the 'new' Defender, but the 130 nomenclature remains with a monocoque chassis in a luxury-wrapped package. Make no mistake, it's still extremely capable with its modern comforts and high-end technology, as I experienced over a couple of days last year with Kingsley and Ross Holgate in Botswana and Namibia. Upgraded engine The legendary explorers use them through some of the harshest territory in Africa and have managed to bring them back every time without any major catastrophes or breakdowns. It recently received an engine transplant with the introduction of the D350 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin turbo diesel plant with 257kW (36kW more than the D300 it replaced) and 700Nm (50Nm more). It still uses the same eight-speed automatic transmission, driving all four wheels. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ The 130 Defender has the option of a second row of Captain Chairs with armrests. Image: Supplied Exterior and interior Like its predecessor, the 'new' Defender is unmistakable in its shape, and it's impressive to see how many are on our roads, while it's also Jaguar Land Rover's biggest seller globally. I still maintain that the Defender's interior is very close to being one of the best and most comfortable layouts in the segment, while still paying homage to the original Defender with the dashboard rack and hex socket cap bolts in the doors. As with its 110 and 90 siblings, the 130 is completely digital with a customisable 12.3-inch digital cluster and an 11.4-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen. Depending on which mode you're operating in, the crisp graphics change accordingly. It's easy to use and intuitive without having to go into various menus and submenus. The 130 Defender we had on test was fitted with the optional second row of Captain Chairs with armrests, dispensing with the standard three-seater bench seats while making access to the three-seater third row a lot easier. They are equipped with heating and cooling technology, making them as comfortable as the front seats. The range update also includes a Signature Interior Pack, available across all body designs and standard on Defender X and V8 specifications. It provides material upgrades throughout the cabin, 14-way electronically adjustable front seats with heating and cooling functions, winged headrests and heating functions for the third row of seats. The Defender 130 interior is neat and well laid out. Image: Supplied Driving While it's the largest Defender of the family, it's remarkably easy to pilot. The comfortable and commanding seating position, combined with feather-light steering, makes rush hour driving and even mall parking lots easy to negotiate. In fact, after driving it, my partner commented that it was almost easier than a hatchback I recently had on test. The engine and gearbox combination is sublime, as is the exhaust note. It's no racing SUV by any means, they have the Defender Octa for that, but the extra power the engine provides makes it brisk when asked, and you never have to concern yourself with slower traffic. For the record, Defender claims a 0-100km/h time of 6.8 seconds, which is not too shabby considering it weighs just over a smidgen of 2.5 tons. The ride the air suspension provides is equally impressive; it wafts as if it's floating, making short and uninterrupted work of corrugated gravel roads, badly maintained and pot-holed tar and those ubiquitous speedbumps popping up everywhere. Consumption Fuel consumption evened out at 13.7l/100km with a combination of highway and suburban driving, which is more than acceptable considering I wasn't focusing on getting the best consumption figures and that it's a big, heavy piece of machinery. The Defender 130 D350 X very much fills a niche market in its portfolio, and at R2,410,800 before options, it's reserved for the well-heeled. It's fantastically comfortable to drive with exceptional road manners given its size, and whenever I see one on the road, I understand fully why it was their choice.
The Herald
10 hours ago
- The Herald
In a Land Rover Defender 130 the world follows your pace
You might want to look into alternative storage solutions (maybe a roof box) for long-haul trips, however, as boot space is paltry with the third row of seats in use. The rugged yet sophisticated execution of the cabin remains as appealing as it did when we first saw the Defender in 2019. Elements such as the exposed rivets and rubberised floors evince a sense of proper durability. That shone through on our tester with its higher mileage. The Defender had received minor upgrades along the way, including the adoption of the enhanced Pivi Pro infotainment system, which is among the best in the business. Aside from that, there are no glaring changes. An old ergonomic gripe resurfaced: when unfastening the driver's sun visor, one smacks their knuckles against the central rearview mirror. In 130 guise, the Defender is truly vast, with a length of 5,358mm, width of 2,105mm and towering height of 1,970mm. The 360° camera system comes in handy, even if the audible warnings of the park distance control are more alarming than they need to be.
TimesLIVE
13 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
In a Land Rover Defender 130 the world follows your pace
At the 2019 Frankfurt motor show, Land Rover debuted its contemporary reincarnation of the Defender. Attendees were agog, enticed by the prospect of future-forward technologies blended with old school toughness. Towards the end of 2020, the model went on sale in South Africa. In the lead-up to that, there was lots of manufactured hype but also a sense of anxiousness. Would it prove to be a worthy bearer of the storied lineage, or would it be a half-baked attempt, a fashion accessory with little substance, trading on the clout of a legendary nameplate? My first go in the five-door, 110 series model was at the brand's Kingsley Holgate off-road course in Johannesburg. The retro-themed looks and minimalist, robust cabin design were obvious highlights. The same for the effortless way in which the Defender sauntered over obstacles, with its air suspension and four-wheel drive system making mince meat of axle-articulating ruts, steep climbs and the obligatory wade through a waist-deep pond. Of course that was a simulated environment, not the real world. Skepticism was assuaged when soon after the launch Holgate took a Defender fleet around the continent on one of his famous humanitarian missions, seemingly without hassle. In 2021 the local range expanded with the charming Defender 90, the short-wheelbase version. My test unit was outfitted with white steel wheels, adding another layer of cool factor, throwing a nod back to its forebear. The 90 could also be had with a sliding fabric top for open-air mirth. Then Land Rover went a bit bonkers in collaboration with the company's special vehicle operations, developing a fiery V8 derivative using the marque's vaunted 5.0l supercharged motor. It emerged a manic machine, thunderingly loud and surprisingly rapid with a sinister character befitting that of a Bond villain's fleet. It played such a role in No Time To Die, the 25th installment of the 007 franchise. Last year Land Rover launched the crazier Defender Octa, which uses a BMW-sourced 4.4l V8 turbocharged petrol heart. In a relatively short time, the rebirthed Defender achieved acceptance among traditionalists and earned a new breed of consumers, who struggled to resonate with the predecessor's oil-in-fingernails nature. Last week the manufacturer sent an example of the long-wheelbase 130 my way. The largest Defender you can buy today. This particular test unit had more than 20,000km on its odometer, battle-hardened, having seen its fair share of thrills and spills. Literal spills, judging from sticky cooldrink residues left in the fridge under the central armrest. Yes, the Defender has a fridge. Not an entirely new feature – Land Rover and Range Rover models have offered it for a while. But an amenity that impresses, specially if you are a practical, family-minded type of buyer. The 130 will appeal to such kinds. It has a sunroof panel for the last seating row, which dazzled the young occupants in my tribe, in addition to many USB ports around the entire cabin. Our tester was configured with the six-seater layout, with its second row that has individual captain chairs, each donning their own armrests. It's a great way to avoid crabbiness usually induced on the open road when siblings sit with shoulders touching. Rear occupants get their own charging ports and climate control. Image: Brenwin Naidu You might want to look into alternative storage solutions (maybe a roof box) for long-haul trips, however, as boot space is paltry with the third row of seats in use. The rugged yet sophisticated execution of the cabin remains as appealing as it did when we first saw the Defender in 2019. Elements such as the exposed rivets and rubberised floors evince a sense of proper durability. That shone through on our tester with its higher mileage. The Defender had received minor upgrades along the way, including the adoption of the enhanced Pivi Pro infotainment system, which is among the best in the business. Aside from that, there are no glaring changes. An old ergonomic gripe resurfaced: when unfastening the driver's sun visor, one smacks their knuckles against the central rearview mirror. In 130 guise, the Defender is truly vast, with a length of 5,358mm, width of 2,105mm and towering height of 1,970mm. The 360° camera system comes in handy, even if the audible warnings of the park distance control are more alarming than they need to be. Somewhere in the big book of poetic African proverbs there must be something that references the Defender and how it goes unperturbed by the antics of overzealous Polo drivers. It is the rhinoceros that takes little notice of an irritating wasp hovering around its butt. Aggressive tailgaters and kamikaze Kwid motorists are less of a concern when you are behind the wheel of the hefty Land Rover. Easing along in the middle lane at about 110km/h, with the eight-speed automatic in top gear, the world seems to turn at your pace. Life is peaceful and you get to your destination completely unbothered, as long as the intrusive lane-keep assist does not get to you. The tank-like Defender imbues its driver with calm confidence. That applies when the road becomes muck, thanks to those proven off-road credentials, including a wading depth of 900mm. Should you prefer a more energetic rhythm than middle lane meandering, the 3.0l, six-cylinder, turbocharged-diesel has plenty of punch. It is the one to have for that sweet spot between power and frugality. Designated D350, the in-line motor delivers a substantial 257kW/700Nm, able to hustle the 2.6-ton 4x4 from rest to 100km/h in a claimed 6.8 seconds. A figure not far off certain hot hatchbacks, all while being able to achieve fuel economy figures under 10l/100km. The Defender remains one of Land Rover's best products. Hugely capable off-road, pleasant on asphalt, a cabin that blends smart conveniences with traditional tactility, and its overall brand cachet steeped in history, the appeal is easy to understand. The 130 range starts at R2,040,700 for the D350 X-Dynamic model while the V8 is R3,241,400. Pricing includes a five-year/100,000km warranty and maintenance plan.
