F-150 Lightning XLT

Evan is an East Coast based automotive journalist and a Certified Engineering Technologist. He is an avid autocrosser, hack mechanic, and a member of AJAC. If you don't find him driving or writing about cars, you'll probably find him in the garage breaking one.

Ford Slashes Lightning MSRP

Ford is striking the Lightning electric pickup's price. The automaker announced improved battery raw material costs as well as new changes to increase capacity for the price cut which sees a Pro model MSRP fall $15,000 to $59,000. XLT trucks, both short and Extended range drop $10,000 to $69,000 and $85,000 respectively, and a Lariat Standard Range drops $10,000 to $80,000. On the high end, pricing falls by a smaller amount, and a Platinum Extended Range drops $6,000 to $115,000. Ford says that the Michigan plant that builds the trucks is currently closed, but when it reopens the company will be able to build 150,000 trucks a year. Three times the old build rate.

Ineos Turns Grenadier into Quartermaster Pickup

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176907" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NEWS-7-17-2.jpg" alt="Ineos Grenadier pickup" width="2500" height="1667" />

Ineos has just introduced its second model, the Grenadier Quartermaster pickup. The Grenadier was introduced last year as a vehicle designed in the spirit of the original Land Rover Defender: An off-road workhorse. The Quartermaster trims the rear of the cab and stretches the bodywork by 30 cm to turn the vehicle into a pickup. Like the Grenadier Wagon, it will have a ladder frame and BMW 3.0L inline-six with a low-range transfer case and is designed for serious work and off-road driving. The new pickup bed is large enough to hold a standard pallet and will have a 760 kg payload. Max towing is 3,500 kg. Pricing will be announced next year at the same time Ineos opens the order books for the truck.

2024 Lexus ES From Under $50k

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176909" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NEWS-7-17-4.jpg" alt="2024 Lexus ES" width="2500" height="1999" />

Lexus has launched the 2024 ES sedan at dealers across Canada. The biggest difference this year is the price, which climbs by under $1,000 to start from $48,150. Lexus continues to offer three drivelines including the 203 hp ES 250 AWD, the 302 hp ES 350 V6, and the 215 hp ES 300h hybrid. There are eleven trims in total, beginning with the ES 250 AWD Signature and topping the range with the ES 300h Ultra Luxury at $64,650. The biggest content change is to those Ultra Luxury grade cars which get a new 18-inch alloy with a dark finish that is designed to reduce cabin noise.

45th Anniversary Toyota Supra

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176908" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NEWS-7-17-3.jpg" alt="Toyota Supra 45th " width="2500" height="1667" />

Toyota is adding a new 45th Anniversary Special Edition to the GR Supra line for 2024. The model celebrates 45 years of the Supra by adding 19-inch wheels and an adjustable rear spoiler to the 3.0L six-speed model. It's also finished in Plasma Orange and will be built in limited numbers. The 2.0L model starts from $58,010, the 3.0L AT and MT from $69,500, and the 45th Anniversary $77,200.

Land Rover Discovery Sport Refreshed for 2024

<img class="aligncenter wp-image-176910 size-full" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/NEWS-7-17-5.jpg" alt="2024 Land Rover Discovery Sport interior" width="2500" height="1608" />

Land Rover has refreshed the Discovery Sport SUV for 2024 with updated cabin amenities. The Disco Sport starts with a new 11.4-inch curved glass display screen that shows off the company's latest infotainment system. The new software is designed to put 90 percent of tasks no more than two button presses away. Land Rover has also improved the interior air filtration system by adding PM2.5 particle filtration as well as CO2 management. JLR says the system "may promote wellbeing for the whole family by monitoring and controlling CO2 levels inside." It also has nanoe X technology that JLR says can combat pathogens and reduce odours and allergens. Lastly, the 2024 updates include some new finishes inside and a new steering wheel design as well as some small exterior cosmetic changes. Order books for the 2024 Discovery Sport are open now from $64,050.

News Roundup: Ford Lightning Price Cuts, Ineos Grenadier Pickup, More

Guillaume Fournier Photographe-GFV_4340

Automotive journalist from Montreal, AJAC-member, and owner of claveyscorner.com

With a total of just over 5,000 SUVs sold in Canada in 2022, Land Rover is not what one would qualify as a mainstream brand. To put things into perspective, Mercedes-Benz sells more than six times as many vehicles in this country.

But within its niche market, the renowned British-born, Indian-owned builder of adventure-ready luxury SUVs still has its own superstars. One would assume that the brand’s best-selling vehicle would be its flagship, the almighty Range Rover. Yet, it isn’t.

The best-selling Land Rover is actually the retro-inspired Defender, with 1 630 units sold in Canada last year. And right behind it, is this one: the Range Rover Sport (1,166 units), which gets a complete overhaul for the 2023 model year.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176740" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Guillaume-Fournier-Photographe-GFV_4336.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2080" height="1387" />

Undeniably Pretty

One area where this new Rover Sport betters the competition and, arguably, every other Land Rover in the lineup, is in looks. Designed by Gerry McGovern, the Range Rover Sport looks all business from all angles. It is properly stanced, aggressively raked, beautifully streamlined, and both elegant and purposeful all at once. This is arguably one of the most attractive SUVs I’ve ever driven. Most of the people I passed during my time with it agreed.

My model, a P400 SV-Dynamic, is right in the middle of the lineup with a hefty starting price of $108,450. Of course, as these press units typically are, mine was packed with a few optional packages totalling $18,000. The Ostuni Pearl White Range Rover Sport you see in these pictures carried with it a $131,641 sticker price, including freight and other fees.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176741" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Guillaume-Fournier-Photographe-GFV_4331.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2080" height="1387" />

But of course, a high price tag comes as no surprise coming from this nameplate. Range Rovers were always designed to attract high-dollar consumers looking for something considerably more exclusive than, say, a Cadillac Escalade, or a Porsche Cayenne.

Powering my example is JLR’s now familiar turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. It’s good here for a healthy 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. It’s equipped with a 48-volt mild hybrid system for reduced emissions and fuel economy and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Of course, this being a Land Rover means all-wheel drive and an adjustable air suspension all come standard.

Leather and Tech

I had driven the standard Range Rover about a month before driving this Sport, so I was able to compare the driving dynamics of both. If the bigger one felt a bit too much like a wallowing boat, leaning considerably more towards comfort, this Range Rover Sport presented a much more formidable blend of comfort, sophistication, and athleticism. Granted, this has always been the Sport’s promise, but it didn’t take me much time at its helm to realize why consumers love it so much.

Mind you, it’s not like I was missing out on creature comforts. My tester’s white leather interior was sublime to say to least, with thick, infinitely adjustable seats that offered both great comfort and support during spirited driving. Land Rover adds an extra armrest inside between the seat and the center console. It’s a nice touch, but this author’s larger frame felt a bit cramped with them in place. Luckily, they can be tucked.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176735" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Guillaume-Fournier-Photographe-GFV_4354.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2080" height="1387" />

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176734" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Guillaume-Fournier-Photographe-GFV_4357.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2080" height="1387" />

Leather in a Range Rover Sport doesn’t end on the seats. It covers the door inserts and the dashboard, further adding to the sense of exclusivity. Just like the truck’s styling, the cabin has a clean, modern, and uncluttered theme. It’s very minimalistic, with a 13.1-inch screen resting at the center of it all, acting as the main command screen and infotainment system.

In typical JLR fashion, the system’s interface is generally quick to react, beautifully presented, and generally easy to operate, but some basic functions, like removing the vehicle’s start-stop feature do require a few unnecessary steps. It’s the same story for accessing the heated seats. Yes, the fact that one needs to push the HVAC buttons to unlock them is a cool touch, but it’s one step too much when it’s -20 degrees outside and the darn thing decides to lag.

Finally, while a centre console acting as a fridge is definitely one of the coolest features an SUV can have, it did compromise the Range Rover Sport’s available storage solutions. If one chooses to shove a few cool drinks in that box, there’s basically nowhere left to stow anything else.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176732" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Guillaume-Fournier-Photographe-GFV_4361.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2080" height="1387" />

General build quality and fit and finish in this Range Rover Sport is exquisite and rear seat comfort is never an issue, even for tall passengers. Cargo space is also class-competitive at 1,492 liters when those rear seats are lowered flat.

But is it Sporty?

In this configuration, the Rover Sport isn’t exactly fast, but it’s not slow either. Its performance is what I like to call adequate in the sense that once it picks itself up and goes, it does it in a swift, no-nonsense sort of way.

There is some delay in the drivetrain’s response, however, and it feels like the result of too much stuff going on underneath the hood and, well, too many gears. Even in its sportiest Dynamic setting, the Sport doesn’t immediately react to a floored throttle. One must wait a few seconds before the thing gets going.

But once it does, it darts forward effortlessly with a generous wave of low-end torque. It’s always smooth and never thrashy. It’s the same story for the suspension tuning. Land Rovers have a reputation for riding like a cloud on rough surfaces, and this Sport is no exception. Road imperfections are barely felt.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-176728" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Guillaume-Fournier-Photographe-GFV_4401.jpg" alt="2023 Range Rover Sport" width="2080" height="1387" />

That being said, there was an elephant in the room the entire time I drove this thing: it never really felt, well, sporty.

Entering a corner quickly felt like I was bothering it. When pushed, this sport-oriented version of Land Rover’s infamous utility vehicle felt clumsy rather than motivated to perform. Then there were irritating cabin squeaks that revealed themselves when driving over broken roads, a somewhat disappointing realization considering how mind-blowingly expensive these things are.

Perhaps one needs to up the ante for the V8-powered version of this vehicle to really appreciate its performance claims. An all-new SV model was recently added to the lineup, boasting the fastest 0-100 km/h time of any Land Rover in history. I’m sure that one is fun to drive on a twisty road.

But this one, the P400, is at least sportier than its big brother, but it’s definitely not a performance SUV in the likes of a Porsche Cayenne S or a BMW X5 M. But then, when you think about it, do Range Rover buyers care about acceleration times and g-force-generating capabilities? I think not. The Sport is therefore only a Sport in design and in format. It’s yet another pretty face within Land Rover’s posh portfolio of shiny SUVs, and it’s the model that Canadian consumers prefer driving.
<h3>RANGE ROVER SPORT P400 SV-Dynamic</h3>
BODY STYLE: Midsize SUV 

CONFIGURATION: Front engine, all-wheel drive

ENGINE: 3.0L turbocharged I6 (395 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm / 406 lb-ft @ 2,000 rpm).

TRANSMISSION: 8-speed automatic

FUEL CONSUMPTION: 13.1 L/100 km (city) / 9.1 L/100 km (highway) / 11.3 L/100 km (combined).

OBSERVED FUEL CONSUMPTION: 11.8 L/100 km

CARGO CAPACITY 645 liters (1,492 liters total)

PRICE: $131,641 (as tested)

WEBSITE: <a href="https://www.landrover.ca/en/index.html?&amp;CrossChannelAudiencesSearch=LandRoverSearch&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwg-GjBhBnEiwAMUvNW_SA6BsZDEPoKC4fNUQB4mPW8oaAuCCVjKC3LSkCl8Hvhfgyw8Il3RoCHo0QAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">Land Rover</a>

2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport Review

news 5-1 (3)

New Defender trims

JLR (as Jaguar Land Rover is now known) is adding new grades to the Defender, including adding its supercharged V8 to the 130 model and a new five-seat Defender 130 Outbound. The Defender 130 V8 (they're not calling it a Land Rover anymore) has the same 5.0L supercharged V8 as the shorter models. Well, almost the same. Here it makes 493 hp and 450 lb-ft, instead of 518 hp in the V8 110. It should still turn the Defender into a bit of a rocket ship. The less powerful V8 will also be offered in the Defender 110 SE. Defender 130's new Outbound trim drops the rearmost seats in favour of more cargo space. This one can hold up to 2,516L of gear, around 200L more than the seven-seat D130. More importantly, the load floor is now flat, making it much more useful than the three-row's cargo area. It has other camping-friendly features like rubber mats that can fold down to protect the bumper. D130 V8 pricing starts from $141,550, about $30k more than the I6.

BC increasing EV support for commercial sector

The Province of BC is working to increase electrification in the commercial vehicle sector. Three CleanBC programs are getting new funding to help encourage zero-emissions adoption by those who run medium and heavy-duty EVs. $19.5 million will be spent on 130 new charging stations designed for bigger trucks. Commercial trucks have trouble fitting into conventional EV charge stations designed for passenger vehicles. $30m will be spent on what the province calls "the technology gap." Trying to help develop clean tech for larger vehicles, marine, and aviation. Lastly, Seaspan Ferries has received support to help buy fast charging stations and two large EVs to help move heavy trailers and cargo. The province says that commercial transport is responsible for 60 percent of transportation emissions and 25 percent of total provincial greenhouse gas emissions. The province has now funded 20 projects to help lower emissions in the commercial sector.

Bye Bye Bolt

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175907" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-2.jpg" alt="Chevrolet Bolt" width="2500" height="1667" />

Chevrolet is dropping the popular Bolt EV after model year 2023, and the Bolt EUV will go along with it. Instead, the Orion Township, Ohio, plant where the vehicles are built will go all-in on the 2024 Silverado EV. A much more expensive (and likely profitable) endeavour for GM. To help replace its entry-level EVs, expect new models this year including the Chevrolet Equinox EV. Based on GM's latest Ultium electric platform, that model is expected to launch in the summer and eventually be priced "around $37,669."

Flo expands to build more charging stations

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175909" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-4-scaled.jpg" alt="FLO charging station" width="1978" height="2560" />

Canadian charging operator Flo has announced a partnership with the Canada Infrastructure Bank that will bring more than 2,000 public fast-charge stations online by 2027. The $220m loan will double the number of public fast charge stations, Flo says. The project will use Flo's newest 320 kW ultra-fast charger, designed to bring most EVs capable of ultra-fast charging to 80 percent in just 15 minutes. Flo is planning for approximately 400 new sites in communities with populations greater than 20,000 people.

More Tacoma Teasers

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175910" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-5.png" alt="Toyota Tacoma" width="2100" height="1260" />

Toyota is almost ready to let us see the 2024 Tacoma pickup, but first, we get at least one more tease. This time it's portable tunes. Toyota will offer a JBL Flex portable speaker with the truck for the campsite and worksite audio. The portable boom box will dock in the truck's dashboard to charge and may be part of the truck's audio system. The removable stereo isn't new (Jeep has already done it) but it is cool. Stay tuned, if you'll pardon Toyota's pun, for more.

More power for EQE

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-175906" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/news-5-1-1.jpg" alt="Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV" width="2500" height="1406" />

Mercedes-Benz has announced new acceleration upgrades for EQE sedan and SUV and the EQS sedan and SUV models. The upgrade bumps EQE 350 models from 288 hp to 348 hp and cuts a full second from the 0-100 km/h times. The EQS 450 models climb from 355 hp to 435 and get just under a second quicker. The over-the-air update starts from $75 per month on EQE and $115/month on EQS. Or you can get a lifetime subscription to the extra power for $2,500 on EQE and $3,800 on EQS models.

News Roundup: New Defender trims, Chevy Bolt to be discontinued, Power boost for Mercedes EQE/EQS, more

SBO (1)

This year, Land Rover once again awarded Defender SUVs to charitable groups making a vital difference in their communities. Of this year's five winners, one was Canadian. Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais – Ottawa Volunteer Search And Rescue will be coming home with a new <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/reviews/2023-land-rover-defender-130-review">Defender 130</a> to help the organization's searches and rescues. We spoke with Stephane McDermott and Jack Ricou, the two members on hand at Land Rover's Winner's Weekend to collect the group's new Land Rover, about the group and what the award meant to them.

The 2022 Defender Service Awards were given out in five categories, reflecting the very different roles charitable groups have in their communities. Animal Welfare, Community Services, Environmental and Conservation, and Veterans Outreach were the other four. Ottawa Volunteer SAR won the Search and Rescue category, sponsored by Pelican.

Jack Ricou has been a member of the group since 2007, he said. Both Jack and his wife Katherine have had many roles in the group including President, General Manager, and training officer. Stephane has been part of the group since 2016 and handles logistics.

Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais started in 1996 after a hunter went missing in the area. Searches then were largely police-lead, but the police didn't have the numbers or expertise for this growing role. This was just 10 years after an event Ricou described as the birth of modern SAR in Canada, when the concept was still growing and taking hold.

Searchers Use Modern Techniques to Resolve Situations Quickly

Today Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais has 150 trained volunteer searchers. Volunteers take a two-weekend basic course and from there can upgrade their skills. Each volunteer spends more than 50 hours learning what to do to help find missing persons and make sure they don't become one themselves.

Group members can find themselves searching for lost children who have wandered off, missing hikers and hunters, and people with dementia. The group has ATVs, watercraft, dogs, and even drones to help conduct searches, and can quickly coordinate with other resources from near and far.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174911" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SBO-2.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender service awards" width="1536" height="1536" />

Searches have moved beyond the classic movie-style line search, where a line of people walk in one direction until they find something. New high-tech methods are more effective and use fewer resources. McDermott told us that around a quarter of searches are concluded in under an hour using these modern methods.

But SAR is still incredibly dependent on volunteers. Search and Rescue efforts are not funded by federal or provincial resources. Groups like Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais raise their own funds for vehicles, equipment, training, and even the cost of fuel to get to a search. On top of that, the group is also called upon for disaster response. For managing what they called "spontaneous volunteers," doing work like filling sandbags, storm rescue, and cleanup.

Volunteers Cover Search area 10x Size of PEI

SBO operates in both Quebec and Ontario, covering an area of more than 58,000 square kilometres. They also will partner up in mutual aid agreements with other groups in both provinces when those groups need search help. Despite the distance, Ricou said that multi-day searches in Quebec might only see members reimbursed for mileage. In Ontario "we don't get that kind of monetary support," he said. Volunteers even bring their own food for an extended search.

This need for funding is why this new Land Rover is so important to the group. Initially, it will be replacing an older vehicle, towing a 14-foot trailer that holds the group's six-seat side-by-side ATV.

Land Rover Will Help Fundraising and Operations

The Defender will also be used for the group's public relations efforts. Sauvetage Bénévole Outaouais members spend a great deal of time on what Ricou described as "trying to work ourselves out of a job." That means teaching people how to get outdoors safely, what to do if they get lost, and other wilderness skills.

The crew will also use the Defender 130 at fundraising events. The same bright yellow wrap that makes the Defender visible on the job should draw in anyone who sees it at an event to hopefully try and learn more about the group.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174906" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Land-Rover-DSA-1.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender service awards" width="1731" height="1154" />

Eight days. That was all the time SBO's board and volunteers had to get their Defender Service Awards entry ready. McDermott said one of the group's latest recruits learned about the contest just over a week before the deadline for entries.

"It was almost surreal," said Ricou. "This little group of people met in my backyard, around the picnic table, and we looked at the requirements."

Ricou wrote a three-minute script to fit the guidelines, he said, and then promptly took seven minutes to say it on tape. The next day, they recorded a mock search in the park across from his home and added some photos from previous searches to help round out the visuals of the video. One team member even stopped at the local Land Rover dealer to try and find out exactly what the Defender could offer the group.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174909" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Land-Rover-DSA-4.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender service awards" width="1731" height="1154" />

Weeks after making their submission came a call from Land Rover. "We get on the phone (with Land Rover), and there are five teams on there. Search and Rescue teams from all over North America," Ricou said. That's when the teams were told they were the five finalists.

From there it was all about getting out the vote from the community. "We were reaching out to friends and contacts, we were even canvassing at all of the outdoors stores," said McDermott. They also put together other videos and posted them to social media working to spread the word. The group's efforts worked, evidently, with the team securing the most votes in their category.

If you see the white and yellow Defender 130 around the Ottawa area, make sure to give a wave. The driver and passengers could be on their way to find a missing person or to help teach others how to not get lost in the first place. And if you're thinking the topo map lines in the wrap look familiar, they might be. The designer was a local architect who is also part of the group, and the map shows a small part of Gatineau Park

And while they might be driving around in a new Land Rover filled with new Pelican cases for their gear, this is a group that can always use your help saving lives.

<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/q8zTThBZpyE" width="900" height="481" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Ottawa Volunteer Search and Rescue Wins Land Rover Defender Service Award

d130 (3 of 20)

There is no dimension on the Land Rover Defender 130 that has anything to do with 130. Not the wheelbase, not the overall length, not the track width. Maybe if you measured from two random points you could find a dimension that was 130 inches, but it has nothing to do with the wheelbase like it did on the old Defender. Now that that's out of the way, here are the things that actually matter.

130 here means this Defender is longer. 340mm longer, to be exact, and all of that extra length is behind the rear axle. It stretches the Defender from a model that offers an optional rear seat you might sometimes use into one with a rear seat that will fit XXL-sized adults. In comfort, believe it or not. I had enough space to sit back there for drives of at least an hour.

A new sunroof in the last row adds a bit of headroom. It also adds a lot of light for rear-seat passengers. It's too bad it doesn't open for some safari-style peeking out the top, but you can't have everything. After all, there's not much room for a mechanism back there.

All three rows of seats are heated, too. Passengers in the way way back can explore in comfort while air vents make sure they have enough of a breeze as well.

What they don't have are any USB charge ports. None of the Defender 130s on our test event had any sort of power aft of the front row. There were up to three in the front, but that was all. The Land Rover reps there thought there were supposed to be more, so maybe this is a victim of the ongoing chip shortage?

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174832" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/d130-18-of-20-scaled.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender 130" width="2560" height="1707" />

Getting into the back isn't that easy either. The middle row slides forward, but not enough for me to climb in. Smaller or more nimble passengers might have an easier time. I was able to get in and out by folding the middle row flat and climbing over.

The Defender 130 has plenty more cargo space than the 110 in most configurations thanks to the extra length. <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/2022-land-rover-defender-110-v8-review">A 110</a> can hold up to 231 litres behind the optional third row, 916L behind the second row, and 2,233 when all the seats are flat.

D 130 can hold 389, 1,232, and 2,291 respectively. Why are the figures so close with all of the seats down?

In the <a href="https://www.wheels.ca/vehicle-reviews/2022-land-rover-defender-110-v8-review">Defender 110</a>, the middle row folds perfectly flat. With them folded, the floor is flat from the tailgate to the back of the front seats. In the Defender 130, the rear cargo floor is lower than the back row of seats. Neither row of seats folds particularly flat, and there is a large gap between rows 2 and 3.

If you're planning on using the Defender 130 as a van or to sleep in (when camping) that might be an issue. If you're planning on carrying more people and bags, the Defender 130 is still by far the best choice.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174828" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/d130-14-of-20-scaled.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender 130" width="2560" height="1707" />

While the original two Defender models offer a four, a six, and a V8, in Canada the Defender 130 is powered only by the inline six. For now, at least. The 3.0L turbocharged engine makes 395 hp, along with 406 lb-ft. That torque arrives from 2,000 rpm and holds on all the way through 5,000. The engine has a 48v mild hybrid system that makes the stop-start system much smoother and lets it operate more of the time.

How much fuel does it save? It's tough to say, but the official EPA figures are 13.8 L/100 km city, 11.2 highway. The 110 gets 13.1/10.2, reflecting that it is several hundred kilos lighter. I saw about 11.7 on my test drive, not including the off-road bits, which isn't bad for an eight-seater that looks like a brick.

The engine offers the smoothness you can expect from an inline-six. But it also delivers a sound that is much more like a V8's rumble than anything a small-displacement six has any right to offer. Points to Land Rover's engineering team for this one.

Nearly 400 hp is plenty to move the Defender 130 along briskly, even if it is no featherweight. The steering and ride reflect that mass, with surprisingly heavy steering weighting (though it's adjustable with the right off-road pack) and the susceptibility to cross-wind gusts you'd expect from the shape.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174823" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/d130-9-of-20-scaled.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender 130" width="2560" height="1707" />

The ride is appropriately soft for a vehicle nearing six figures. Air suspension is standard on all Defender 130 models, along with the ability to raise and lower the ride height. The air springs and adaptive dampers soak up anything the road can throw at you. And anything that the off-road trail can as well.

With wheel sizes starting at 20 inches and only getting bigger, I didn't have high hopes for the Defender 130 off-road. Especially since these are street-focused SUV tires and not anything that lays any pretense of capability on the wet clay of our route.

But Land Rover knows what it is doing when the pavement stops. Combine the standard low-range transfer case, electronic locking centre differential, and what might be the best traction control system in the business, and the Defender 130 crushed the trail.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174822" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/d130-8-of-20-scaled.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender 130" width="2560" height="1707" />

Forget the machine gun symphony of solenoids you get from most traction and stability systems. Land Rover's just did its job in the background. A display showed you that the tires were occasionally slipping, but there's no chance you noticed either the slip or the system's intervention.

Off-road tires are on the options list, in a pack that includes an electronic active rear differential. Our test units all had the Advanced Off-Road Capability Pack which included configurable terrain response, All Terrain Progress Control, and Terrain Response 2. The first lets you pick your own settings for the last, and the middle one is off-road cruise control. Handy.

Ahead of the third row, the cabin is the same as the other two Defender models. It has the same quick and responsive 11.4-inch touch screen, a configurable digital dash, and seats with far too many ways to adjust them.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174830" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/d130-16-of-20-scaled.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender 130Land Rover Defender 130" width="2560" height="1707" />

We need to talk about the HVAC controls for a moment, though. Land Rover didn't hide everything in the touchscreen (thank you!) but it did make those dials extremely multi-purpose. By default, they change the cabin temperature. Press them and they adjust seat heating and cooling. Press the little fan button and the right side one controls the air speed. Press the button that looks like an SUV and the left dial controls the off-road modes.

For an owner, it's probably fine after a week. For the occasional user, it seems overly clever. We'll let you decide.

The Defender is full of grab handles, too, and most of them are impressively solid. Grab onto the centre console handle of a lesser SUV, and the entire dashboard threatens to join you outside of the vehicle. Defender's handles feel like they could be tie-down straps.

There are handles for every window-seat passenger, plus two at the edges of the dash. Those ones are paired with clever cut-outs so you don't crunch your hand with the door.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-174826" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/d130-12-of-20-scaled.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender 130" width="2560" height="1707" />

With a starting price of $93,000, the Defender 130 is hardly cheap in Canada. A Defender 110, for example, starts from $69,950. But part of that is engine and trim availability. The 130 doesn't offer the S trim or its smaller engine, and it comes with standard equipment like air suspension.

Start optioning a Defender 110 more like a 130 and the price gap shrinks. To the point where we'd actually call the Defender 130 a bargain in comparison. We know, nearly six figures isn't cheap, but this is 2023 and car prices are climbing more quickly than we can track. And this is a style-forward luxury off-roader with seating for eight.

In other words, there's nothing quite like it on the market today. It's big, it's mostly comfortable, and it's cool. It also has the road noise you'd expect from a vehicle shaped like a brick and the up-and-down cargo area is not going to work for anyone planning on sleeping in the back. Maybe try the accessory ladders and a roof rack instead?
<h3>2023 Land Rover Defender 130</h3>
BODY STYLE: four-door midsize SUV

CONFIGURATION: Front-engine/all-wheel drive

ENGINE: 3.0L I6 with 48v Mild Hybrid ; Power: 396 hp @ 5,500-6,500 rpm; Torque: 406 lb-ft @ 2,000-5,000 rpm

TRANSMISSION: eight-speed Automatic

CARGO CAPACITY: 389 litres behind rear seat, 1,232 behind second row, 2,291L with all seats folded

FUEL ECONOMY: (Premium Gasoline in L/100 km) 13.8 city; 11.2 highway

OBSERVED FUEL ECONOMY: (L/100km) 11.7 combined

PRICE: $93,000 (base SE); $105,991 (First Edition as-tested)

2023 Land Rover Defender 130 Review

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Having worked in the automotive industry in many roles for over 15 years and currently the Content Strategist for Wheels.ca - Kunal's obsession with cars goes back to his early childhood. Even now his insatiable thirst to be in the know of anything with wheels and a motor continues, and will likely never fade. His idea of bliss is the open road,  good tunes and a manual gearbox. Kunal is a member of AJAC (Automobile Journalists Association of Canada)

Owners of the old Defender will routinely tell you that it’s a horrible car to drive and even harder to live with on the day-to-day unless you're off-roading or towing. Yet, many have a special place in their hearts for them. Gearheads can be a weird and irrational bunch.

Launched shortly after the Second World war ended, Land Rover’s Willys Jeep-inspired truck was an agricultural “all-purpose vehicle” that didn’t have to stop when the road ended. It quickly became an off-roading legend. The Land Rover would be pressed into service for the British Army and was a favourite of the Royal family. Prince Phillip was even carried to St. George’s chapel in a custom Defender hearse he had helped create.

The Defender name itself didn’t arrive until 1990, and it was in constant production until the last one rolled off the assembly line in 2016. During its seven-decade run the Defender’s original formula barely changed, and you’d probably benefit from owning one if you live in the middle of the Serengeti but for most it’s overkill. For something more versatile, the redesigned and thoroughly modern next-generation Defender is the one you’re going to want.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DSC03592.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-169032" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DSC03592.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender V8" width="2048" height="1365" /></a>

It’s already won numerous awards and accolades and received glowing reviews from every corner of automotive media. Redesigning an iconic model is never easy but Land Rover has hit this one out of the park.

You can get it as a 2-door (Defender 90) or a 4-door (Defender 110) or an extended 4-door (Defender 130) with three rows of seating, and a range of factory accessories and off-road goodies like side-mounted gear carriers, roof racks, and even a portable rinse system.

With power coming from either a 296 hp turbocharged 4-cylinder or a 395 hp mild-hybrid inline-6, there’s more than enough get-up and go. But if that doesn’t sound like quite enough, a new Defender V8 will bring even more.

It’s not inexpensive starting at $128,100, but there’s quite a bit more engine: a 5-litre V8 topped with a supercharger good for 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Like all Defenders, there’s permanent 4WD and electronically controlled centre and rear differentials governed by Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system. V8 Defenders also get a new Dynamic mode meant to showcase its newfound handling balance, though I’m not quite sure the word handling and Defender belong in the same sentence.

A Defender V8 gets its own set of 22-inch wheels, V8 badging on the front doors and door sills, and a quad-tipped exhaust. It’s subtle and you’ll probably just think it’s a regular Defender.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/22-land-rover-defender-v8-rear.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-169024" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/22-land-rover-defender-v8-rear.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender V8" width="2048" height="1365" /></a>

My tester had the Extended Black Pack which blacks out the badging, grille, and underbody cladding. Special mention here goes to the mud flaps and a caged cargo separator, both very cool factory accessories like the gear carriers (not outfitted on this Defender). They’re functional but mainly they look so damn cool like you’re part of some Arctic expeditionary force, and I think that’s what many of the buyers stepping into Land Rover showrooms are thinking when they first set eyes on this thing. It’s got the look of the original, and it’s just as capable as the original and then you drive it and realize that it’s also a thoroughly modern SUV and it couldn’t be more different.

The new V8 just enhances everything. Like much of the Defender’s off-road prowess the power is largely unnecessary but it adds a big brawny engine note to a big brawny vehicle and it just feels like this is how the designers always intended it to be.

The supercharger effect is invisible and barely audible when pressing on. The dynamic drive program stiffens up the steering and dampers and lets out a bit more volume from the pipes and probably the speakers too. Power delivery is immediate and the big beast squats on its haunches under heavy acceleration. An Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, like what you’d find in an expensive sports car seems out of place but also serves as a reminder that you’re not in just any Defender. For such a big, tall thing, it’s also remarkably maneuverable; no doubt a factor of its uprated suspension including thicker anti-roll bars.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/22-land-rover-defender-v8-side.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-169023" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/22-land-rover-defender-v8-side.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender V8 interior" width="2048" height="1365" /></a>

If you do venture into the wilderness with your shiny new V8 Landie, then you’ll be reassured to know that it has more ground clearance than a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon and can venture into water as deep as 35 inches. Built-in wade sensors will show you how deep is too deep right on the main screen, making off-roading, which can be quite scary at times, a cakewalk.

One of the best things about the Defender, for me, is the cabin. It is at once, durable, elegant, and thoughtful. You don’t give a second thought to getting in with muddy boots, and winters would be so easy with the rubberized floors. I’d probably ditch the floor mats altogether and just wipe everything down every other week. The seats, too, are trimmed with a hardwearing fabric that somehow feels coarse and supple at the same time, like it’s the future of fabrics, but today.

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/22-land-rover-defender-v8-storage.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-169022" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/22-land-rover-defender-v8-storage.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender V8 interior" width="2048" height="1365" /></a>

&nbsp;

<a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DSC03577.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-169026" src="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/DSC03577.jpg" alt="Land Rover Defender V8 interior" width="2048" height="1365" /></a>

The entire dashboard is basically a storage bin, also lined with a rubberized material and there are sturdy grab handles exactly where you need them. There are big buttons for all the important things and nifty multi-purpose dials control the cabin temperature, seat climate and, even drive modes. You sit high up with a commanding view of the road thanks to lots of glass, including the famous roof-mounted alpine windows just like on the last Defender.

There’s a new screen too, an 11.4-inch curved number with upgraded software, over-the-air update capability, and faster response times. It looks great and is easily Land Rover’s best effort yet.

Gripes? Not many. It’s thirsty, which should surprise no one, but that only hurts me as the poor auto journalist that has to hand the keys back to Land Rover after filling it back up, of course. But if you’re someone who’s just forked over the cash for a Land Rover fitted with a supercharged V8, I don’t see it being much of an issue. I’m also not sure the Alcantara wheel makes sense here, but that’s just me reaching.

The new <a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/2021-ford-bronco-wildtrak-review/">Ford Bronco</a> and familiar <a href="https://wordpress.wheels.ca/first-drive-2021-jeep-wrangler-rubicon-392/">Wrangler</a> both start at a lower price but don’t offer the same combination of refinement, luxury, or presence that the Defender does. The Mercedes G-Class is even more capable but it’s thirstier and much more expensive.

The Defender is a very accomplished SUV and one of the most enticing buys in this quickly growing space of off-road-ready rigs. The V8 elevates the Defender to another level. It’s expensive and completely unnecessary, just the type of thing that appeals to gearheads.
The vehicle was provided to the writer by the automaker. Content and vehicle evaluations were not subject to approval.

<h3>2022 Land Rover Defender 110 P525</h3>
BODY STYLE: 5-door, 5-passenger mid-size SUV

CONFIGURATION: -Front-engine, four-wheel drive

ENGINE:  5.0-L supercharged V8 ; Power: 518 hp @ 6000-6500 rpm; Torque: 461 lb-ft @ 2500-5500

TRANSMISSION : 8-speed automatic

CARGO CAPACITY: 786-1875 litres

FUEL ECONOMY : (Premium-grade Gasoline in L/100 km): 16.4 city; 12.7 highway; 14.7 combined

PRICE: $128,100 (base); $132,795 (as tested)

 Website: <a href="https://www.landrover.ca/en/index.html">Land Rover Canada</a>

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