The third size of Defender, the largest Defender 130, has hit the road testing circuit in the United Kingdom, with spy shots circulating online. Though it appears to ride on the same wheelbase as the Defender 110, it adds length behind the rear wheels to supposedly fit a full-size third row and carry eight.
The prototype has been spotted in camo vinyl wrap, without the bulked up cladding that the original Defender prototypes carried in 2018 and 2019. Overall, of course, the shape is well-known at this point, selling in strong numbers around the world.
The difference between the Defender 110 and Defender 130 is length, just like it was in the original Defender. However, while the original D130 had a longer wheelbase (actually 127 inches – the early versions were known as Defender 127, before it was rounded up for marketing purposes), the new one shares the D110’s wheel base (119”) – but adds length at the rear to fit a full third row with more legroom than the D110, and some more cargo space. While this does sound like off-road death for the model, it doesn’t seem to put the vehicle at much more of a departure angle disadvantage than a standard Range Rover or Discovery 5. The Defender 90 and Defender 110 do have some of the best departure angles of any modern 4x4, after all.
Beyond the extra “junk in the trunk,” the D130 looks the same as any other modern Defender. There was no attempt to camo the front end or rear façade beyond the swirly vinyl wrap – the parts seem entirely interchangeable with a D90 or D110 from the outside.
The D130 will be more of a premium vehicle, however, aimed at the higher end of the Defender clientele. The D90 and D110 can be had in base spec for about $50,000, but expect the D130 to be more. It also might not be available in cheaper trim levels. Also to consider – there’s a possibility that, with the extra weight and passenger capacity (rumored to be eight, one more than the seven-passenger D110), it will not be available with the 2.0-liter four-cylinder motor the base models have, bumping the base price up in line with the pricier 3.0-liter mild hybrid straight-six. It’ll probably have the option of the supercharged 5.0-liter V8, though.
The D130 also has potential for an overland vehicle, if you’re less concerned about departure angle and more concerned with interior space. While it’s not the crew cab pickup the old one was, it offers a compelling alternative to full-size SUVs like Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Ford Expedition, and Toyota Sequoia.
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