Defender lineup grows to three vehicles as Land Rover adds 8-seat 130 version

The rebuilding of Land Rover's Defender lineup continues this summer with the addition of the eight-seat, long-wheelbase 130 model.

The 2023 three-row 130 is 34 centimetres (13.38 inches) longer than the Defender 110 and is designed to appeal to families who take a lot of camping and other gear with them on vacation. Maximum storage capacity is 2,291 litres (89.9 cubic feet), and a roof rack is standard.

The seats are arranged with two up front and two rows of three seats. The middle row slides forward and tilts to enable easy access to the third row. The second- and third-row seats are raised slightly to improve passengers' visibility.

Two 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbo Ingenium P400 engine produces  395 hp. It comes standard with a mild-hybrid system and are bolted to ZF eight-speed automatic transmissions. All-wheel drive is also standard.

Previous generations of the largest Defenders have been used for strenuous off-roading. The 130 is equipped for that type of driving. It comes standard with an electronically controlled air suspension system, which is capable of 16.9 inches of articulation to make driving over rough terrain safer. The Defender 130 can also be driven in water 900 miimetres (35.4 inches) deep. Land Rover's Terrain Response system is also standard.

The 130 gets some minor cosmetic and interior tweaks over the 90 and 110 versions. Wood veneer dash trim is optional, and the touch screen grows to 10.25 inches.

"New Defender 130 brings a new dimension of capability to our most durable and rugged family of vehicles," Nick Collins, Jaguar Land Rover's director of vehicle programs, said in a statement. "Its spacious interior welcomes and transports up to eight people in supreme comfort, enabling unparalleled sophisticated adventuring opportunities for families."

The Defender 130 will be available in SE, X-Dynamic SE, and X models, in addition to a First Edition introductory model. Pricing starts at $94,950, including shipping.

The 130 might not be the last new variant. Land Rover officials are said to be studying returning pickup and convertible models to the lineup. The previous generation of the Defender ended production in 2016 and did feature those models.