The Land Rover Defender 130 X’s Interior Is Still Screwing Around

admin Posted on 3 months ago 7 minutes read

When Land Rover relaunched its all-new Defender model for the 2020 model year, no one expected it to be the utilitarian workhorse of an SUV the prior Defender built its reputation upon. But there were nods, or shall we say, screws, to its legendary progenitor.

It’s something you’re reminded of from the moment you step into any Defender, the exposed screws dotting the doors and other areas of the cabin. For this 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 X model in particular, the Gondwana Stone exposed-metal door panels and the Ebony Windsor leather trim screwed into them offer a dynamite-looking throwback touch.

It’s one of the only loose screws, er, threads, that tie the two Defender generations together. Because at more than $100,000 all in as this 130 X is, the mission of the new-generation Defender is becoming far less about what it can do in the mud and guts on a gnarly English trail and more about how it gets you and your family safely and luxuriously to your next vacation destination. How well does the 130 X coddle its occupants? How well is it screwed together? We took a closer look inside to find out.

In the Cockpit and Front Row

There are a couple things we noticed from the jump as we climbed inside the 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 X. One of which is something any luxury vehicle at this price point should have—doors that unlock as you approach. This is standard fare in vehicles at half the price. And while the SUV looks huge, it wasn’t an issue to hop into its cockpit, but once in there, man, is it cramped. The center console area takes up a ton of space, and although that space is well used for the most part with two ample stowage areas, big cupholders, and a wireless charging pad, it impedes the driver’s ability to stretch out.

Other than that, there are plenty of options to adjust your seating position and lumbar support (no massaging seats, though, boo, but both driver and passenger seats are heated and cooled), and the power-adjustable wheel helps get you into a position of your liking. There are a couple of little cubby spots on either side of the steering wheel that also add a bit of function. We’re not thrilled with the steering-wheel control button setup, but they do the job.

The gauge work is quality stuff and offers some adjustability, and there’s a head-up display; these are good and helpful features. The 11.4-inch infotainment screen and Land Rover’s Pivi Pro system are much improved from the first new-gen Defenders. We easily set up phone pairing, and it offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but the reaction to screen inputs and getting to some areas were an issue at times (changing something as simple as a Sirius station proved a minor annoyance).

It’s potentially time for a software update, though we didn’t think overall it was markedly worse than competing automaker systems in its execution or operation. (For the 2026 model year, Land Rover is upping the size of the Defender’s screen to 13.1 inches, with what it says is its “fast and intuitive interface.”)

One bizarre feature we can’t wait to see jettisoned, however, is the partial control of Defender’s terrain-system adjustments by the otherwise HVAC dials. It all just ladders up to the infotainment screen in the end, so why not just put it all there? Strange. We sort of get it; it’s a space thing and an analog dial thing, but it’s time to decouple those functions. There’s too much going on with the Defender’s Terrain Response 2 system and all the other assorted suspension adjustments for them to not have their own special setup. As for the shifter, it’s also a space-saving measure in positioning that functions decently as something of a pistol grip; it’s better than some, not as good as others.

Second-Row Captain Command Center

We’re fans of the captain’s chair setup in bigger SUVs, and the 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 X has one of the most impressive examples we’ve encountered recently. A $1,000 option, they’re both heated and cooled and come with a winged headrest. Worth the money. Both passengers also have their own climate zone, USB-C port, and strangely placed in the floor but otherwise useful cupholders. They’re not too far off the passenger seat as far as comfort and convenience go.

Getting into the third row is easy enough, as well: Just jump in and split between them.

Third Row, Cargo, and Tow

One of the Land Rover Defender 130 X’s biggest pluses is its third-row setup. Not only is it easy to hop back there even for out of shape middle-aged dudes like your humble author, when you get back there, it’s plenty comfortable, with more than a bit of room for kids of all ages. There are cupholders and power ports at each end, a sunroof above, the seats are heated, and there are air vents. Quality stuff.

Blow 100 Large on 130?

When it comes to getting yourself into a Land Rover Defender 130, it really boils down to what really matters to you, and of course, how much cash you want to drop. The X model looks great inside and out, is chock-full of just about everything you can get on a 130 short of the V-8 engine, and for $1,000, we’d spring for the captain’s chairs.

But the more you spend on a vehicle this capable off-road, the less you’re going to want to do anything extreme in it, so take that into account when asking your accountant if you can afford one.