Could the burly, fierce, family-friendly Defender 130 be the extra-large Indiana Jones of the off-road SUV world? We drove it for a week, and now we're considering selling a kidney or two on the black market to afford one. Here's why!
Few cars command as much respect on the road as the new Land Rover Defender. As handsome as it looks in the short-wheel-base 90 model (read its review) or the longer 110 (read our review here), it’s the big-daddy 130 that truly calls the shots, and the First Edition model we tested is truly special. It was so special that we decided it would be the perfect car to shuttle a gorgeous Grade 12 learner (in the teal dress) and her date to the matric farewell, where an entrance had to be made before hitting the red carpet.
Our lovely couple is en route to the most important night of the Grade 12 school calendar in the stunning Defender 130!
Styling
The reason we selected the Land Rover Defender is because of its VIP status among local and international celebrities. Whether it’s in movies or reality shows, it’s always a Land Rover Range Rover, Discovery, or Defender that gets the “important” people wherever they need to go, with a chauffeur behind the wheel, of course. (In 2003, however, the late Queen Elizabeth got behind the wheel of one and hazed the Saudi Arabian crown prince!)
It was also during the 2023 Rugby World Cup that the matric farewell took place, and the Defender 130, in its Merlot-coloured (aka ‘Sedona Red’) metallic paint, even had Rugby World Cup branding on its bonnet and flanks, replete with France 2023 and Official Partner lettering, which attracted even more attention. The Defender also has non-slip surfaces on either side of the bonnet, in case you would want to rest a bottle of Veuve Clicquot and a few champagne flutes on there. Or a cappucino in your favourite Le Creuset cup when you’re glamping in the Serengeti.
Viewed from the side, you can’t help but notice all of that extra length, which further reiterates that SUV-Limousine feeling and is useful when you want to seat 8 people or just 5, and utilise the third row for the generous cargo area instead. It is a whopping 5,5 metres long, and it almost didn’t fit inside our garage.
Viewed from the front and rear, especially in low-light conditions, one can’t help but swoon at the respective light signatures and the overall shape of this vehicle.
Interior, space, and convenience
It’s only the British who can get the whole rugged-yet-elegant-and-outdoorsy-look just right, and this includes the practical and classy cabin too.
The handsome and hardwearing steering wheel has some quintessential retro-Defender vibes going, while the dashboard layout features a lovely storage shelf on the left, with a USB-A port facing the front passenger, and the central Pivi Pro touchscreen is perfectly sized at 11.4 inches and a cinch to use. Much like Harrison Ford, aka Professor Indiana Jones in the eighties and beyond, the interior screams ‘adventurous sophistication’, and we are all for it!
The level of standard specification is astounding, and you truly get your money’s worth. Items such as a large, refrigerated central armrest cubby (for small bottles of Perrier), an air quality sensor and cabin air purification system, and a Clearsight interior rearview mirror (to name a few) all form part of the package. And there aren’t too many off-roaders available that seat eight people in absolute luxury.
It’s also worth pointing out that there’s still a decent amount of storage space in the back when all seats are in their upright positions i.e., you have space for a decent amount of luggage even if eight seats are filled. Moving house? You’d probably be able to fit a small apartment’s contents into the Defender 130 when all seats are folded flat!
Even with a full car, there’s sufficient room for everyone’s stuff – 389 litres, to be exact—which is about the full size of a compact to mid-size crossover’s boot.
The Drive and Performance
The 3.0-litre, six-cylinder turbodiesel engine, 8-speed ZF gearbox, intelligent all-wheel-drive system, and advanced off-road kit (including a myriad of radar and cameras) work together in harmony to instill confidence in the most novice drivers. You’d never guess that this three-tonne vehicle would be so absolutely effortless to manoeuvre, whether you’re tackling a trail or looking for parking in the V&A Waterfront’s cramped underground parking.
The ride comfort is exemplary; electronic air suspension is a standard feature, and you hardly feel those irritating speed bumps that jar your bones in your average crossover. That’s not to say the suspension feels wallowy; the ride is comfortable yet firm and that’s why there’s not much lean in the corners when you tackle your favourite mountain pass, like the Houw Hoek pass en route to Caledon and Botriver.
My favourite feature by far is the 360-degree camera system that shows you an eagle’s eye view of the large Defender but also lets you see various sections of the car, including what’s underneath it. Should you activate off-road modes, the Defender’s image on the central touchscreen becomes transparent, allowing you to spot pesky rocks or potholes that might interfere with your mission.
Fuel Economy
10 litres per 100 km was our average usage, which included the school run in heavy traffic, some scenic mountain view roads with many ups and downs, as well as the N2 to the airport and back. (To put things into perspective, my husband’s Isuzu D-Max 250’s figure also hovers around the 10 l/100 km mark, and its kerb weight is much lower.) The diesel in one full tank should last you about 700 km if you keep Eco Mode engaged. (Find out which Land Rover Defender is better, the diesel or the petrol.)
Also, this figure is impressive if you consider there’s 221 kW and a meaty 650 Nm on tap! (This model has a top speed of 192 km/h, in case you were wondering.)
Safety
The Defender gets the full five-star safety rating from EuroNCAP and apart from the normal features, it also has semi-autonomous driving systems that include adaptive cruise control and emergency braking, along with lane keeping and steering assistance that gently steers around the bends, which removes the stress from both long-distance and inner-city driving in traffic.
Competitors
The Defender 130 competes with the likes of the Toyota Land Cruiser 300, the Lexus LX (pricing starts at R 2 507 600, BMW X7, and Mercedes-Benz GLS. While they’re all excellent vehicles with astounding off-road skills and a myriad of luxury features, the Defender 130 has the X-factor. And despite its handsome and self-assured demeanour, you’d never accuse a Defender of having to overcompensate for its owner’s (ahem!) shortcomings. The Defender, which oozes cool and confidence, has absolutely nothing to prove to anyone.
Price
The now-discontinued First Edition model was priced at just over R2.5 million, but you didn’t need to spend megabucks to get this model; should you have unlimited funds and you want a limited edition model, then the new Land Rover Defender 130 V8 Carpathian Edition is priced at R3 009 400.
Fortunately, we are quite happy to recommend the entry-level Defender 130 D300 X-Dynamic HSE, which is a way more affordable R1 935 500.
Verdict
Larger families who want a beautiful, feature-filled, capable car that is steeped in history will find that the Defender can do no wrong.
The only issue with Land Rover vehicles is that their past long-term reliability issues now serve as a warning to potential customers, as some advanced onboard systems were prone to problems, but this fear is unfounded, as many reliability surveys now report that new Defender owners are very happy with their purchase – read this article to find out more.
I wouldn’t be deterred from buying one, but I’d probably sell or trade it in before the warranty runs out. Besides, the Defender 130 is, to a certain extent, not a car you only buy with your head. Is it obvious that I have fallen in love?
ENDS
Keyword: Land Rover Defender 130 D300 First Edition (2023) Review