The Land Rover Defender 130 Could Dethrone the Ford Expedition
The biggest Land Rover Defender model is coming to America. The large 2022 Land Rover Defender 130 is coming here to tackle rivals such as the Ford Expedition with its rugged capabilities and three rows.
What we know about the Land Rover Defender 130
According to Car And Driver, rumors about the existence of a larger Land Rover Defender has been confirmed. It’s known as the 2022 Land Rover Defender 130, and it will be coming to America with three-rows. But there aren’t any photos of it yet!
This luxury SUV is expected to seat up to seven or eight passengers and have a body that’s about 201 inches long. That’s the same length as the Cadillac Escalade and GMC Yukon. However, we’re comparing it to the Ford Expedition because it’s the number one large SUV in America.
How does the Defender 130 compare?
Unfortunately, not much information about the new 2022 Land Rover Defender 130 has been revealed yet. But the name stems from its length. The Land Rover Defender 110 has three-row seats fit for tiny children and is often too small for adults.
But the Land Rover Defender 130 is 14-inches longer, meaning the third-row seats should be large enough for adults to sit comfortably. It will also ride on the same chassis as the Defender 110 with the same wheelbase.
The Ford Expedition is 210 inches long, so it may provide more seating space and cargo room. It also has a wheelbase that’s 122.5-inches long compared to the Defender’s 119-inch wheelbase. It will be interesting to see how this impacts ride quality.
We don’t know what type of heat the Defender 130 will pack yet. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque may need more muscle. But it may get the new supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine with 518 hp.
Also, the four-cylinder engine that pumps out 296 hp is paired with a 139 hp electric motor in the plug-in-hybrid Defender that will launch soon. Also, we could see the diesel version. Although, there have been no confirmed plans to bring the hybrid or diesel models to the U.S. yet.
The Ford Expedition only has one engine option for now. The 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 pumps out 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Platinum trim will provide 400 hp. There haven’t been any mentions about a hybrid Expedition yet, but Ford vehicles are heading that way.
Land Rover Defender 130 and Ford Expedition features
The 2022 Land Rover Defender 130 will not come cheap. It’s expected to begin over $100,000. However, the 2021 Ford Expedition has an MSRP of $49,025. Of course, it’s not a luxury option, but it still gets the job done as the favorite family hauler.
The Land Rover Defender is praised for delivering a smooth ride on the pavement and for having excellent off-roading capabilities. But the Ford Expedition can be equipped with the FX4 Off-Road package.
You can expect the Defender 130 to have a very luxurious interior. But the Ford Expedition King Ranch provides a life of luxury as well. We will have to wait for more information to do a deep dive into both models. Plus, the 2022 Ford Expedition will have a refreshed look and new interior.
