Land Rover Defender 130 D350 review: where off-road muscle meets modern luxury

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.

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.

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.