In order to fit the third-row seating, the Defender 130’s length has been stretched by 340 mm. Designers then crafted a boat tail-style uplift at the back to provide a departure angle of 28.5 degrees. The rear LED lighting units have also been tweaked.

Inside, the Defender 130 features a third-row that can accommodate three adults (total seating capacity of eight people). Theater-style seating provides better comfort, while a second row that slides and folds forward allows easy access to the third row. For comfort, there are now climate control vents across all rows of seats. The climate control itself debuts the brand’s Cabin Air Purification Plus which combines nanoe X technology for allergen reduction and pathogen removal, and a PM2.5 filtration system. The third-row also has padded armrests and USB-C charging ports. Large windows provide excellent visibility across all three rows, while the panoramic sunroof makes the interior even airier.

For those who want more cargo carrying capacity, the Defender 130 is also available in a five-seater configuration.

Even with the third-row up, the Defender 130 offers 389 liters of cargo space. However, when not in use, this 8-seater Defender gives up a bit of cargo space versus the 5-seater version of the Defender 130. With the third row folded, it’s 1,232 liters versus 1,329; with the second and third row folded, it’s 2,291 liters to 2,516 liters.

Powering the Defender 130 are the same engines found in the Defender 90 and 110. This includes a gasoline (P400) and diesel-powered (D300) six-cylinder engines with mild-hybrid technology. As their badges imply, the P400 delivers 400 horsepower and 550 Nm of torque, while the D300 offers 300 horsepower and 650 Nm of torque.

Standard electronic air suspension allows for up to 430 mm of articulation with 71.5 mm of additional lift at the front (73.5 mm at the back). Water wading is set at 900 mm.

Order books for the Defender 130 are now open with deliveries to start later this year for the Philippine market.