We sure picked the right time to go cruising in Land Rover’s Defender 130. The week was full of dire warnings from the met Service ad NEMA about the impending apocalypse of Cyclone Vaianu, swirling its way toward the North Island.
But the 130 was probably the finest way to get around as the rain squalls and wind built ever more severe. There’s one clear advantage to driving an AWD vehicle in such weather: it’s always 4WD. Unlike most 4WD utes, which can’t actually use 4WD on tarmac for fear of breaking the transmission or transfer case in tight turns, the 130 is all business in such conditions.

No low range as such? No problem. Roads slimed with mud and leaves and moss? Not even worth talking about. The 130 just dealt with it.

To sum up: Land Rover’s Defender 130 is an extended-length luxury SUV featuring three rows of seating for up to eight passengers and a massive 2,516-litre maximum loadspace.

Known for its "best-in-class" space, it blends rugged off-road capability (290mm ground clearance) with modern technology. Available engines include mild-hybrid diesels and a 372kW 5.0L petrol V8.

Our test vehicle is the twin-turbo diesel mild hybrid, and it has 700Nm of torque, with maximum available between 1,000rpm and 3,000rpm. That, and the superb transmission, is the key to Defender 130’s appeal. This is peak Defender.

The exterior is boldly styled. Practical elements like the side grilles sit comfortably alongside tread-grip plates on each side of the bonnet. Rectangular garnish plates on each side window evoke the accessory gear containers available on the whole range. The spare tyre sits on the rear door – and it’s hard to think of any other SUV that still does this. The rear door itself is supported on massive hinges and the whole thing is perfectly balanced so that opening or closing it gives only a sense of mass, not weight.

The raised bonnet, sculpted grille, modified bumper design with updated script and flush tail lights all define Defender’s distinctive shape. The 22-inch gloss black five spoke alloy wheels wear Continental tyres.

At the rear, there are a pair of sturdy recovery rated hooks. Up front, it’s possible to add a winch with a 4.5-tonne pull rating. Not many owners are likely to get that serious about offroad fun, but the point is that they can.

Inside, the sheer volume of top-end spec is almost overwhelming.

There are 14-way heated and cooled electric memory front seats with plush four-way adjustable manual headrests. The steering column is heated and electrically adjustable for reach and rake. All the seats are finished in leather. Second-row seats have their own climate control vents. And on the subject of the third-row seats, they are easily the most adult-friendly third row we have experienced. Both second and third row seats are heated.

Above, there’s a massive panoramic sunroof, surely the biggest on the market.

The petrol V8 version has a top speed of 240km/h. That’s slightly outrageous in an eight-seater AWD vehicle. We actually prefer the D350 mild hybrid six-cylinder twin turbo diesel in our test vehicle, thanks. Even when diesel’s a silly price, this is the more practical choice by far. Economy? We saw a best of 6.4l/100km for a slow 64km/h motorway crawl and overall, the 130 returned 11.2l/100km in a mix of stormy urban work, twisty rural roads, muddy offroad work and a post-cyclone Muriwai beach venture.

The 130 majors on gear stowage, whether the second and third row seats are up or laid flat. In that, it steps ahead of the 110, which is the most popular version. The 110 can seat up to seven people. Fill every seat in a 110 for a trip away and the luggage will require a roof box as well as the space behind the seats.

Getting more ambitious? The 130 will of course tow 3,500kg on a braked trailer, keeping personal effects dry, warm and secure inside.

The whole Defender range looks more or less similar, creating a whole-of-brand ‘design language’ that recalls the classic old-school Defenders but emphasises that these Defenders are really not those Defenders. The 130, simply, is more Defender than the others.

It’s not for everyone, of course. The Defender 130 D350 HSE is $174,900, which rules out some casual enquiries. But for those who can afford it, this is one special vehicle – in a storm or otherwise.

Its ability to do so many things and work so many different ways for its owners makes this defender the best of the bunch. In many ways, it’s only when we climb out of the 130 and into other 4WDs that we appreciate the excellence of the 130.