Video: The New Land Rover Defender 130 Surprises Me When Towing 7,300 Lbs, But Not All Is Great!

Is this the best towing three-row SUV?

The New Land Rover Defender 130 has a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 lbs, and Andre is about to put it to the test!

Towing 7,300 lbs with the new Land Rover Defender 130 may seem like something we would put on a different channel. I mean, the Land Rover is a luxury off-roader that doesn’t have a frame like other full-size SUVs. Andre feels that, with its size and capacity, it competes with the big boys. As such, he’s comparing it to truck-based SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Ford Expedition, and others.

Despite its size and towing capacity, the 130 does not come with a trailer brake controller, which is a bummer. Andre equipped it with the Prodigy Tekonsha remote brake controller, which we’ve used in the past. Our Alumina trailer is using this setup, which can be transferred to other trailers when necessary.

Andre shows us his setup and drops a quick pitch for our sponsor Sinclair gasoline. While it is mighty long, the trailer only weighs about 2,000 lbs, and our Bronco weighs 5,300 lbs. Altogether, the weight comes in at about 7,300 lbs – well under the Land Rover Defender 130’s maximum capacity.

While the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 starts at about $70,000 – you can easily exceed the $100,000 mark if you’re not too careful.

Andre points out that the 130 is remarkably smooth and quiet. The air suspension not only provides a bump-free ride, but the trailer combination also doesn’t sway at speed. He feels that its one of the most compliant SUVs he’s ever towed with.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 comes with a turbocharged, 3.0-liter B400 I6 that’s connected to a mild hybrid system. In total, it makes 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. That power is fed through an 8-speed automatic transmission to a sophisticated four-wheel drive system.

Without towing, Land Rover says this setup will run from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds. Loaded (at high elevation) with 7,300 lbs, Andre managed an average of 16 seconds. Considering the weight and smoothness of the speed runs, that’s admirable.

By the end of the video, Andre shows us its MPG and gives us his verdict for the new Defender 130. It did well – very well.

Nathan Adlen
Easily amused by anything with four wheels, Nathan Adlen reviews vehicles from the cheapest to the most prestigious. Wrecking yards, dealer lots, garages, racetracks, professional automotive testing and automotive journalism - Nathan has experienced a wide range of the automotive spectrum. Brought up in the California car culture and educated in theater, childhood education, film, journalism and history, Nathan now lives with his family in Denver, CO. His words, good humor and video are enjoyed worldwide.