MOTORING: Is new Land Rover Defender worth the £87,000 price tag – and could you park it at the supermarket?
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It’s hard to believe but it seems some people have looked at the long wheelbase Land Rover Defender and thought: “Yes I like it, but it’s just not long enough”.
That can be the only reason why the clever people at Land Rover HQ in the Midlands have come up with their latest version of the iconic Defender, which has now been with us for more than three years.
It’s the eight-seater 130 which is an elongated version of the already big 110.
At 5358mm long with the rear door mounted spare wheel, it’s incredibly 340mm longer than its cousin, the massive seven-seat, long-wheelbase upmarket Range Rover. It’s all in the bodywork which is stretched from the rear C-Pillar as the wheelbase is the same as the 110 – and it looks sensational.
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At a hefty price tag almost £87,000 with more than £3000 of options and a breathtaking first-year VED of £2015, it works out at about £10,000 more than the equivalent 110 version which is quite an investment for slightly bigger seats in the third row.
Of course, this is far more than a luxury people-carrying minibus. It comes crammed with the Defender’s comprehensive off-road equipment which gives the vehicle remarkable off-road ability.
I got the chance to test that out at the Land Rover Experience Scottish centre at Dunkeld in Perthshire which is a playground of demanding challenges of rough surfaces, deep mud, murky ponds – no threat with the Defender’s wading depth of almost a metre – and gravity-challenging inclines. The 130 has the same approach and departure angles as the smaller versions so they were tackled with no danger of grounding.
From the outside, the 130 looks huge but the interior layout is the same as the rest of the range with a vast array of electronic, computerised technology which operates automatically to see you safely through any challenges you’re likely to encounter in our great outdoors.
You can call on any of the off-road settings including rock, gravel, sand and snow which alter the traction and power distribution and choose the correct level of the air suspension.
Of course, the vast majority of these vehicles will be lucky to do anything which will even see their tyre treads get mucky, far less venture off the beaten track.
They are remarkably capable, but I worry that some owners may take on challenges beyond their own capabilities in the mistaken belief that whatever happens the technology will get them out of trouble. We’ve seen examples of that where drivers have followed satnav instructions and ended up in rivers simply because the navigation voice told them to.
I had a great time taking on the obstacles and fearsome drops and climbs and despite its proportions, the big 130 took everything in its considerable stride.
As part of the continuing evolution of the classic brand, the Land Rover name is being quietly played down with Defender as well as Range Rover being given more prominence. On the 130 for example the Defender name is given a high profile across the bonnet and rear, while Land Rover is consigned to a small discreet badge on the side.
The test vehicle had the mild-hybrid twin-turbocharged, 3.0-litre straight-six diesel engine under the huge bonnet churning out a gutsy 300 hp and a significant 650 Nms of torque.
The interior design reinforces the vehicle’s ruggedness with exposed screwheads, big grab handles and lots of angles to the dash and door panels.
The third row of seats are just big enough for three adults but they’re not that easy to access, even with the second row tilted forward and there’s hardly any boot space behind them.
It’s superbly capable off-road and well-mannered on the road too in spite of its size although I suspect finding a space big enough in the supermarket car park might prove something of a challenge.
