I've had the D130 P400 about 2 weeks now and I'm just getting familiar with it. I placed my spec'd-out order for it shortly after the 130 was announced and this is my first purchase of a Land Rover product after years of successive Chevy Tahoe 71 models. Time will tell.

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Welcome, I hope you enjoy it.

 

What are your initial thoughts based on your past experience in Tahoes? I’m taking delivery my 130 in a few weeks after cross shopping Z71’s, AT4’s and such.

 

Well, I need more time with the Defender. It's certainly a very nice vehicle and I like the design of both the interior and the body. Stretching the body does not look awkward at all. I must say, however, that the Defender also reminds me of what a nice vehicle the Chevy Z71 is.

One initial thing is that the Defender's cargo area is much more restrictive. I could slip a 4X8 sheet of plywood in the back of my Tahoe if need be. Even if the rear hatch would NOT fully close, I could carry it. Ain't no way with the Defender. Almost a foot more constricted. I haven't tried the third row seats yet but I have premonitions that is also going to be way tighter than the Tahoe's.

Driving and ride quality of the Defender is very nice but, again, in all honesty, I cannot tell you that it is better than the Chevy. There's also the requirement of higher octane, more expensive fuel for the Defender. Not sure yet what my fuel mileage will be. On the road at 65-70 mph, my last Z71 would average 21-22 mpg ! There are other things of comparison but I'd rather get some miles on the Defender before saying too much.

I do like the looks of the Defender. I also like the fact that I don't see myself coming down the road on a regular basis. Of course, maybe there's a reason for that! lol

I'M NOT NEGATIVE ON THE DEFENDER.

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I have a Chevy Tahoe and the Defender. I've owned the Defender since summer of 2021 and bought the first Tahoe when they began to build them with 4 doors, perhaps in the late '90s. I've had a version ever since. My latest is a 2017 model which I think is 1 Gen back. I love that vehicle and the spec. But, I'm an unrefined red-neck. I love my Defender and have had a series or Defender for about as long. If I had to go one, it would be the Tahoe hands down: easier to maintain, cheaper, more reliable, holds more people comfortably, yada yada yada. To put it in terms that many of you can understand: my Tahoe is my wife, but my Defender is my high maintenance mistress.

 

I gotta ask...Did you even look at he Defender before you signed the paperwork? No surprise it won't hold a sheet of plywood, it is a smaller, narrower vehicle than the Tahoe. I have had a few Escalades recently amongst a few other daily drivers (GC SRT, Ram 1500 Limited etc) and would not think to objectively compare the Defender to any of them. It is more of a Wrangler for grown-ups, regardless of the length.

 

We have had our 130 D300 for 4 months now, 4500 miles and we absolutely love it.

it doesn’t feel like a 2.7 tonne car at all, it feels so much lighter to drive than my pickup (similar size)

We are driving it to Italy week for a long weekend skiing, so will have a really good test for it.

overall would definitely buy another one, but perhaps without the 3rd row so the boot is flat and massive.

 

Of course, I looked at them. I am not saying that the advantages of the Tahoe are surprising only that (as I said) having the Defender 130 makes me appreciate those advantages of the Tahoe better.

Although I had not seen the 130 model before I ordered it, the dimensional specs of the 130 are similar in many ways to the previous generation Tahoe and even fairly close to the new gen enlarged Tahoe.

To wit:

2023 Defender 130/ Pre-2021 Tahoe/ 2021-2023 Tahoe

Inches
Height - 77.6/ 74.4/ 75.9
Length - 200.8 w/o spare/ 204/ 210.7
Width w/o mirrors - 79.1/ 80.5/ 81
Wheelbase - 119/ 116/ 120.9
Track Front - 67.2/ 68.7/ 68.5
Track Rear - 67 / 68.7/ 68.3

 

Nice! a sheet of plywood FLAT in the back of a Tahoe, that’s very cool. One of the most offensive looking things to me is a NON long bed truck. They just look useless to me. I didn’t know that Tahoes are that capable. Good to know.

I have hauled full sheets of plywood and 6 X 6 X 10 posts on the Land Rover roof rack on the Defender. Not often, and not long distance, but it was not a problem.

Enjoy your new 130!

gary

 

I have a 2023 D110 P400 that I have had since November I love it. I have a 2022 Tahoe Z71 that I keep at my home in Cabo San Lucas. They damn near cost the same. In all honesty the Tahoe lives in Mexico Southern Baja because there is a dealer there. The Defender would do great there too but after 6 Land Rover vehicles I know the benefits of being closer than 1,000 desolate miles from my dealer.
I have no complaints regarding either, Defender feels slightly more refined, the ZF Transmission is without a doubt amazing and I have no idea how many times it shifts 8 or 10, you dont feel it and it does a great job of keeping that turbo charged 6 at the perfect torque curve, something the Tahoe doesn't. I probably wouldn't tow a 26 foot center consul boat very far with the Defender like down to Cabo but I would with the Tahoe. My kids beat the living hell out of the Tahoe, surf trips on 60 miles of dirt and sand roads and after about 25,000 miles no squeaks, rattles, or problems.