Land Rover Defender 130 2023 Review

The 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 adds a circa-$20,000 premium onto the existing five-seat Defender 110 on which it is based, with pricing starting at $122,620 plus on-road costs for the entry SE D300 diesel tested here.

That price is based on the MY23.5-spec vehicle, which has already been superseded by the dearer MY24 D300 X-Dynamic XE priced from $126,670 plus ORCs.

From there, the P400 occupies the middle rung of the 130 line-up, starting at $136,870 plus ORCs, while the flagship P500 petrol V8 sits atop at $240,270 plus ORCs.

The entry Defender 130 competes against other three-row offerings including the Toyota LandCruiser Sahara (from $135,501), Nissan Patrol Warrior (from $101,160) and Lexus LX (from $151,561), along with less-off-road-focused offerings like the Audi Q7 (from $108,469).

The SE version of the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 driven here mirrors that of the smaller Defender 90 and 110 offerings, with the added inclusion of a bigger infotainment screen pinched from the Defender V8, a third-row sunroof and height-adjustable adaptive air suspension.

The rest of the standard equipment includes 20-inch alloy wheels, Matrix LED headlights, leather upholstery, keyless entry/start, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, four-zone climate control and much more.

As is the case with this end of the market, plenty of optional packs abound and our test vehicle is a prime example, wearing another $30K in optional extras including 22-inch wheels ($4850), extended leather interior pack ($3390), Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 off-road software ($2210) and heated seats in the second and third rows ($1620).

The Defender 130 is backed by Land Rover’s five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty in Australia, plus five years’ inclusive roadside assist.

A five-year servicing plan will set owners back $2850 based on five-year/20,000km intervals.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 has a surfeit of active and passive safety equipment including adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring, driver attention alert, lane keep assist and traffic sign recognition – among myriad other functions.

There’s also hill descent control, wade sensing, a 360-degree camera, reversing camera and front and rear parking sensors, together with a full suite of airbags.

The Defender 130 has not been crash-tested by Euro NCAP or ANCAP, but the smaller Defender 110 carries a five-star rating based on testing conducted in 2020.

The Defender 130 was subject to a safety recall earlier this year – before the first customer deliveries were made – due to manufacturing defect in the third-row seat backrest locking mechanism.

Infotainment in the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 SE is controlled via an 11.4-inch centre touch-screen display sporting JLR’s latest PiviPro software.

It is matched by a separate digital display in the instrument cluster.

There’s also wireless phone charging, Bluetooth and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality.

Everything is legible to navigate, easy to use on the go and functional without causing distraction.

Smartphone mirroring is easily accessed via a dedicated tab on the touch-screen, while a bank of hardwired buttons and switchgear beneath the main screen means you can make easy climate control adjustments without burying yourself in needless display menus.

Under the bonnet of the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 we find the familiar array of turbocharged 3.0-litre Ingenium six-cylinder petrol and diesel engines (with 48V mild-hybrid assistance), all of which are hooked up to an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission and send drive to all four wheels all of the time.

The D300 turbo-diesel driven here offers up 221kW and 650Nm, providing a 0-100km/h time of 7.5sec.

At the top of the range is the P500 V8 petrol that pumps out 368kW/610Nm (reaching 100km/h in 5.7sec), while the P400 six-cylinder turbo-petrol produces 294kW/550Nm (0-100km/h in 6.6sec).

The 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 SE D300 has a claimed combined-cycle fuel consumption figure of 7.9L/100km.

We averaged 9.6L/100km across a 1500km journey, which included open-road driving, commuting and touring.

Here’s the great news: the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 drives a lot like the smaller Defender 110 on which it is based.

The body is controlled, the controls are nicely weighted and the six-cylinder turbo-diesel engine is a breeze to operate – be it in touring or commuting scenarios.

For a big, heavy jigger – weighing 2.7 tonnes and stretching nearly 5.4 metres from end to end – the Defender 130 is relatively easy to navigate through car parks and tighter spaces. We can thank the myriad on-board cameras as part of this, together with the lightly weighted low-speed steering and thoughtfully modulated pedals.

The 130 also treads a delicate path when it comes to ride and handling, for the most part soaking up imperfections gracefully and avoiding any tendency to bounce over the rear with its extended derriere.

Occasionally, harsher imperfections will make their way through the cabin, but the air suspension is usually quick to recover and the electronics keep a considered eye on proceedings.

Dynamically, the 130 does a fine job telegraphing what’s happening underneath you and the body feels well controlled through changes in direction and over mixed road surfaces.

Road noise and wind noise are kept to a quiet hush, and the diesel is a far cry from the rattly oilers of years gone by.

In fact, the 221kW/650Nm unit is a seemingly perfect combination for the Defender 130, offering effortless go-forward from the bottom of the dial – with peak torque materialising from just 1500rpm.

In headier driving, the diesel spins freely and works well with the eight-speed automatic to provide brisk acceleration from a standstill, out of corners and when overtaking.

At no point does the engine feel short on go-forward and it spins just above idle at highway speeds to provide an effortless open-road environment.

Combined, these traits mean the Defender 130 sings to the same song sheet as its smaller 90 and 110 stablemates. It is comfortable, refined and feels polished in all conditions – a nice match for everyday commuting and longer journeys alike.

About the only blight on our drive experience was some creaks and rattles already emerging in our test car, despite only 4000km on the odometer.

Is the Pope Catholic? Off-road capability continues to be one of the signature hallmarks of the Land Rover Defender, which is why all versions of the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 feature a low-range transfer case, adaptive air suspension and the latest iteration of JLR’s Terrain Response system.

Rather than riding on a longer-still wheelbase like old-generation Defender 130s, which featured a 130-inch wheelbase, the new 130 is retains the same on-road footprint as the 110, including its 3022mm wheelbase.

Structurally, where the 130 differs is aft of the rear axle. Land Rover has added 340mm of additional body length behind the rear wheels to liberate space for three seats in the third row.

The height-adjustable suspension means there’s up to 430mm of wheel articulation on offer in each corner, while the wading depth is a LandCruiser-busting 900mm.

That said, the Defender 130 loses some shine when it comes to braked towing capacity, at 3000kg (a 500kg dip from the 110).

Furthermore, the Defender 130 offers a payload capacity of 700kg, which could put paid to long-journey adventures if you’re travelling with five or more and their luggage.

The 130’s ground clearance remains a generous 290mm and its approach, breakover and departure angles are 37.5, 27.8 and 28.5 degrees respectively – the latter being well down on the Defender 110’s more generous 40-degree departure angle.

While we didn’t venture too far from the beaten track on this occasion, it’s clear that the 130 is well versed in off-roading – capturing everything that is great about the 110, with the small exception of its inferior departure angle.

It has umpteen outward cameras to assist with off-road duties and the Terrain Response software does a stellar job of tailoring the vehicle to the terra firma underneath.

On quicker unsealed roads, the Defender 130 feels stable over corrugations and potholes, while also offering the same dynamic virtues and stability on slipperier surfaces.

In a word, big. The 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 mirrors the 110 through the first two rows for space, but adds proper eight-seater proportions in the bleachers, with ample legroom, headroom and shoulder-room for smaller journeys.

Granted, you wouldn’t want to ride up back from Sydney to Melbourne, but on moderate journeys there’s ample space.

Additionally, our test vehicle’s rear bench seat offers its own sunroof, air vents and optional seat heaters, together with an open glasshouse and largely unobstructed forward view courtesy of a tiered layout across the three rows.

Getting into the third row is via a relatively narrow walkway courtesy of the sliding and tilting second row. No fold-and-tumble functionality here.

There’s enough room (389 litres officially) for a couple of overnight bags with the third row upright. Stowing the three seats away is easy enough, courtesy of fabric tabs at the rear of each individual pew, liberating 1232 litres’ worth of room.

In time, Land Rover will offer the Defender 130 as a five-seat option (no-cost) in a potential boon for touring types. With a completely flat rear floor, there’s 1329 litres of boot space – and all Defender 130s get a full-size spare on the tailgate.

Speaking of which, the horizontally-opening tailgate is a breeze to use and cleverly damped, so if you open the door on an incline it will hold steady – even if left halfway open.

Further up front, the first and second rows of the Defender 130 offer roomy proportions and a design which carefully straddles aesthetics and nice materials with excellent open cubbies and incidental storage.

It might be nearing four years of age, but the interior of the latest-generation Defender feels as fresh and relevant as ever.

The white leather seats and carpeted floors of our test example feel more luxury vehicle than off-roader, but the space is cosseted, refined and family-friendly.

It depends on your situation. For many, the smaller Defender 110 will remain a more compelling proposition courtesy of its cheaper purchase price, superior payload and towing capacity and more universally-liked exterior profile.

With that said, the new 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 makes a stronger argument as a family chariot, with its roomy cabin and retained on-road dynamics.

In either case, it’s a win-win – and clear proof that Land Rover has again extended the Defender’s appeal without diluting its core characteristics.

2023 Land Rover Defender 130 SE D300 at a glance:
Price: $122,620 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel
Output: 221kW/650Nm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel: 7.9L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 208g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Not tested