2024 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Outbound – When Two Rows Are Better Than Three

One of the best looking offerings in the SUV category, Land Rover’s Defender is a deftly blended combination of style and capability. Offered in a wide variety of configurations, there is an iteration of the Defender for pretty much anyone who wants to own a truly capable sport utility vehicle. Case in point; the Outbound version of the artfully chiseled Land Rover Defender 130 P400 is aimed at those for whom outdoor adventure with recreational equipment is high on their list of preferred activities.

The Defender 130 Outbound’s13.4-inch increase in length over the Defender 100, coupled with the omission of the third row of seating and rearmost side windows, provides more enclosed space for outdoor gear. For 2024, Land Rover Defender 130 Outbound pricing starts at $84,500, my test model’s price as experienced came in at $95,338. Let’s take a closer look.

2024 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Outbound First Impressions

The extra length, in conjunction with the deleted rear windows, could have made the Defender130 Outbound look ungainly. However, the optional side mounted storage bin and ladder accessories offer functionality while breaking up what would otherwise be long expanses of sheet metal. They also enhance the Defender Outbound’s “ready for anything” appearance.

Further advancing that image is a set of Goodyear Wrangler Territory Duratec tires, designed specifically for all types of terrain. Granted, they do look a bit small, as they’re offered solely in 20-inch diameters, compared to the 22-inch all-season offerings. However, they also improve the Defender Outbound’s offroad capability.

Exterior Dimensions

Driving Impressions And Performance

Power is sourced from Jaguar Land Rover’s 3.0-liter supercharged, turbocharged, and intercooled DOHC 24-valve inline-six. The powerplant employs an aluminum block and head, along with direct fuel injection. Power output is rated at 395 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. While it’s more than powerful enough, throttle response could be a bit better.

An eight-speed automatic transmission and a twin-speed transfer box channels engine output to all four wheels. I counted just over six ticks to get the Defender 130 Outbound to 60 from a dead stop. And, while I didn’t test it on my own, I was told the Defender Outbound will run the quarter in just under 15 seconds. Top speed is a quoted 149 mph.

Getting back to those hardy Goodyear tires, I’d expected them to sing like Alvin and the Chipmunks at speed on the highway. However, they were remarkably quiet. Ride quality was good too. Yes, cornering capability was somewhat hampered by the Outbound’s elevated ride height. But that ain’t what the Defender 130 Outbound was designed to do. Meanwhile, the Land Rover handled with ease around town and displayed remarkable agility on the trail.

Performance Specifications

(Make sure to remove any headings/rows that don’t apply to the model that you’re testing. Any vehicle capable of towing should include the towing and payload rows)

Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Outbound Fuel Economy

Predictably, fuel economy isn’t numbered among the Defender 130 Outbound’s strengths. The EPA says to expect 16 MPG in the city, 18 on the highway and 17 overall. Electric assist notwithstanding, we’re talking about a 5,907 pound SUV, hosting a rather powerful engine, so fuel economy is bound to suffer. According to the trip computer in ‘my” Defender Outbound, I averaged 17.9 mpg.

Interior Design And Comfort

*Of the many things Land Rover does well, interior design is readily numbered among them. The look of the passenger compartment struck me as being upscale and utilitarian—all at once. The design is classy, while details like exposed rivets remind you of the Defender’s rugged nature. In fact, everyplace the eye or the hand comes to rest exudes an inference of quality.

Moreover, that recess in the dash, upon which the Defender nameplate is emblazoned, provides a handy place for maps. An upholstered magnesium beam, running the width of the dash, creates that recess and provides added structural rigidity.

Just below the infotainment screen is a “peninsula” containing the shift lever, on/off switch, climate controls and drive mode buttons. This frees up the center console to provide cupholders, secondary storage and an inductive charging pad for smartphones. The configuration also makes all of those controls easy to locate and operate. Judicious applications of rough-cut walnut veneer add a tasteful visual accent.

Interior Dimensions

Technology And Ease Of Use

Logic rules the day in terms of the controls—both in layout and function. With everything pretty much where I expected it to be, no hunting was required to find the specific switch I needed for a given circumstance. Everything fell readily to hand.

The Defender’s head-up display, providing plenty of information at a glance, was complemented by digital instrumentation behind the steering wheel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen to the right of it for infotainment functions. The touchscreen provides the user interface for Land Rover’s “Pivi Pro” operating system, which I found to be more responsive than the “Touch Pro” operating system it replaced. Pivi Pro accepts over-the-air updates too.

“My” Defender 130 Outbound also featured a Wi-Fi hotspot, smart cruise control with stop and go functionality, as well as a 3D surround camera and a 360° parking aid. Blind spot assist, lane-keep assist and Land Rover’s driver condition monitor were also fitted. Traffic sign recognition, an adaptive speed limiter, a 
rear traffic monitor, Android compatibility and CarPlay were featured—along with Meridian’s 700-watt surround audio system.

Cargo And Storage Space

Carrying capacity behind the second row is cited by Land Rover to be 35.8 cubic feet. Folding the second row got me a quoted 76.1 cubic feet of interior carrying capacity. The roof is said to support up to 370 pounds with the rack in place. The optional side-mounted lock box provides enough space for small tools, a portable air compressor, jumper cables, emergency flares and the like. Meanwhile, the available folding ladder, which is capable of supporting 330 pounds, makes loading gear atop the Defender Outbound easier to do. The maximum towing capacity is 8,200 pounds and the maximum payload is 1,800.

2024 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Outbound Vs. Its Competitors

The two leading contenders in this category are the Genesis GV80 and the Porsche Cayenne, neither of which can match the Land Rover’s offroad prowess. Nor can they come close to its carrying capacity. In fact, when considered in that regard, the Land Rover has no real competition, as no other automaker offers such a stylish three-row body with just two rows to emphasize carrying capacity. Yes, some exist that allow you to remove the third row, but that can be a wholly unpleasant experience. Plus you have to store it someplace. The Outbound frees you of those concerns by eliminating the third row altogether. That configuration, plus the Land Rover’s decidedly luxurious appointments, and its ability to go pretty much anywhere AND come back again, establishes the 2024 Land Rover Defender 130 P400 Outbound as the choice for a vehicle of this type.