Defender 130 V8: Why I’d Buy This Over a BMW X7!

Land Rover Defender 130 V8 Review: The ultimate 8-seat powerhouse? The Land Rover Defender 130 V8 is a car of glorious contradictions. It’s a 5-meter-long family bus with the heart of a Jaguar F-Type. In 2026, as Land Rover moves towards BMW-sourced engines and electrification, this 5.0-litre Supercharged V8 is a dying breed. We’re finding out if this £120,000 behemoth is the ultimate way to move eight people, or if the "scratchy plastics" and high fuel bills finally catch up with it. We’re testing the raucous soundtrack (no soft limiters here!), checking if adults can actually fit in that extended 3rd row, and seeing if the 130’s massive overhang ruins its off-road soul. From the 0-60mph launch to the truth about the Pivi Pro infotainment and those 100% real quad tailpipes, this is the definitive deep dive. Is this the best Defender ever made? Let's find out! Compare the best new & used car deals with carwow: https://bit.ly/New-Car-Deals-0804 Sell your car for a great price: https://bit.ly/carwow-SellMyCar Chapters: 00:00 Defender 130 V8: A dying breed? 00:30 Design: The 130 overhang & quad pipes 01:20 0-60mph: The nose-up launch! 02:44 Chassis: Can a bus handle like a sports car? 03:40 The Engine: The 5.0L Supercharged Legend 04:53 Revs: Best sounding SUV on sale? 05:18 Interior: Luxury vs Scratchy Plastics 07:12 5 Annoying things you need to know 09:18 Back Seats: Real space for 8 adults? 12:06 Infotainment & 2026 Tech Updates 12:50 Country Roads: The V8 experience 13:43 Verdict: Buy it before it's gone!