Land Rover Defender 130 review

From the driver’s seat, you won’t actually see anything that lets you know you’re in the longest of all the Defenders. Heck, you won’t even be able to tell when you look in the rear-view mirror thanks to Land Rover’s ClearSight camera system. We’re still not fully onboard with those as a concept by the way, but when you’ve got two full rows of adults to look past it might come in handy. 

So yes, let’s talk layout. First off, you get two seats in the front row and no option of a third jump seat. Then, in the middle row you get less legroom than in a 110 (around 20cm less), although the seats do slide to help. There’s space for three there as usual, and the seats fold forward to allow access into the rearmost row. That final row also has three seats, and Land Rover insists that three adults could fit back there. We’re not so sure. It’s certainly roomier than the third row of most seven-seat SUVs, but once you’ve posted yourself in you’d probably only have enough shoulder space to comfortably sit next to one other. 

Granted our test dummy was six feet tall, but legroom is also a little bit of a squeeze.

What about boot space?

With all the seats in place there’s 389 litres of space in which you’ll fit a small load of shopping. But hang on, because how often will you be taking seven others to the shops? Fold the rearmost row flat and you get 1,232 litres of space, and if you fold the middle row too then there’s a cavernous 2,291 litres. It’s basically a van at that point. 

Do I get screens?

Of course you do. The main infotainment screen is a responsive 11.4-inch unit that comes complete with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. You also get a fully digital dial display and – on some trim levels – a head-up display. 

It all works very well, and unlike in the updated Range Rover you still get separate climate controls and proper buttons to change the terrain mode and the height of the air suspension.