Land Rover Defender Outbound (2025) Launch Review
The Land Rover Defender Outbound derivative is designed for the overlanding market, so it sacrifices some seating capacity for heightened practicality. We got behind the ‘wheel of the newcomer during the Western Cape’s first winter storm of 2024.
Let’s get the formalities out of the way. Coventry-based Jaguar Land Rover (or JLR, as it now prefers to be known) has repositioned itself as a house of brands, with each Land Rover model now marketed as a standalone brand. Essentially, you’ll be driving a Range Rover, Defender or Discovery, not a Land Rover.
To be fair, the Defender does have a cult-like following and, like (Toyota’s) Land Cruiser, its nameplate could be viewed as… a brand in its own right. The Defender line-up caters for all tastes and needs. This is the big boy; we’ve reviewed the Defender 130 before (in First Edition guise), but this one is different.
What is a Land Rover Defender Outbound?
The Defender 130 is billed as a people-carrying luxury SUV, but if you need an 8-seater, a premium MPV, such as the Volkswagen Caravelle or Mercedes-Benz V-Class, is arguably better suited for the role.
The Outbound ditches the 3rd row of the 130’s 2-3-3 seat configuration to free up several acres of load capacity. You still have 5 seats with ample legroom in the 2nd row, but the load bay becomes one of the biggest holds we’ve seen (1 329 litres), which expands to 2 516 litres if you fold the rear seatbacks down.
The Land Rover Defender Outbound can be distinguished by the matte finish applied to its mesh grille and bumpers, as well as the 20-inch wheels (in gloss black). This derivative is only available in a handful of exterior colours – our test unit (shown here) was finished in a gorgeous matte grey, replete with a square bonnet decal. This finish is not just for looks; it also adds a layer of protection from “bush rash”.
As a Premium SUV, the Defender Outbound sports “generous lashings of luxury”, but Land Rover has also applied clever practical touches to the cabin. For example, while it’s quite appropriate to have plush carpets in a luxury SUV, this overlanding variant is equipped with rubber mats, which are easy to clean.
Also, the load bay has a durable rubber floor to protect the interior from being gouged or scratched by camping stoves, mountain bikes and other heavy items. Mounting points are provided to secure cargo.
Engines and Performance
Customers have a choice of 2 engines. The D350 has a 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbodiesel that produces 257 kW and 700 Nm of torque – it gives this Defender 130 variant a claimed 0-100 kph time of 6.7 sec.
The P400, in turn, is powered by a mild-hybrid 3.0-litre 6-cylinder turbopetrol motor that puts out 294 kW and 550 Nm of torque. For what it’s worth, the P400 is said to gallop from 0 to 100 kph in 6.6 sec, which is impressive for a vehicle of the Landy’s size. Both variants have 8-speed auto transmissions.
Of course, being a Defender, the Outbound will be expected to traverse the roughest off-road terrain. To that end, it comes equipped with Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and Terrain Response system (it rides on air springs, with adaptive damping). With the appropriate drive mode selected, the variant’s electronically controlled air suspension is claimed to allow up to 430 mm of articulation and up to 900 mm of wading.
Finally, the newcomer is rated to tow braked trailers of up to 3 000 kg – a tow bar is fitted as standard.
What is the Defender Outbound like to drive?
Our evaluation route saw us driving north of Cape Town towards the Cederberg region, where we visited places such as Citrusdal and Clanwilliam. This trip formed part of a bigger adventure called the Defender Night Sky, which was intended to include some star gazing, but the winter weather had other ideas.
On tarred roads, the Defender Outbound exudes classiness and impeccable road manners. Even though the variant is fitted with 20-inch all-terrain tyres, the cabin was hushed. We drove a P400 and, despite its 2.5-tonne kerb weight, the turbopetrol-powered unit delivered eager acceleration without any hesitation.
Irrespective of which drive mode you’ve selected, the P400 will respond to your accelerator-pedal inputs almost instantaneously, with the transmission efficiently shuffling its gears. Don’t be too heavy with your right foot, though – our test unit’s trip computer indicated a fuel consumption figure of 13 L/100 km.
Then we got to truly test the Outbound’s mettle. We also traversed many kilometres of gravel farm roads and, just to make regional driving more of a challenge, Mother Nature decided to whip the Western Cape with a brutally strong cut-off-low weather system that yielded 4 days of uninterrupted rain and flooding.
With the majority of gravel roads turned to veritable furrows of mud, we had to rely on Defender (130) Outbound’s all-terrain tyres and all-wheel drive system to keep the vehicle stable while driving at pace.
Some of the puddles were rather deep, but our test unit was untroubled. It’s reassuring to know that even in the wildest conditions, the Defender Outbound is unlikely to get stuck unless you drive foolishly. The vehicle does the hard yards for you, so just sit back and relax in those comfy heated leather seats.
How much does Land Rover Defender Outbound cost in SA?
The Defender 130 is sold with a 5-year/100 000 km warranty and -maintenance plan.
| Defender 130 Outbound P400 | R1 974 600 |
| Defender 130 Outbound D350 | R1 970 800 |
Summary
While heavy rain partly disrupted the Defender Outbound’s launch event, driving on muddy, rutted roads provided a suitable real-world test of the new 130 variant’s capability. In those unpleasant wet and windy driving conditions, the Defender was a source of surefooted, safe and confidence-inspiring transport for its occupants, who were ensconced in luxury and comfort. The Defender – any derivative – will do it all.
It’s no wonder that the model is JLR South Africa’s top seller! As for the 130 Outbound, we were thoroughly impressed with its packaging and what it “brings to the table”. Who really needs an 8-seater anyway? Settle for 5 and enjoy one of the biggest load bays in SA’s Premium SUV segment instead.
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