Land Rover Defender 130 Outbound 2024 review: goodbye extra seats, hello enormous boot

4.0 out of 5

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The Outbound is, in effect, a trim in its own right. It’s one of the more affordable 130s, slotting into the range above the X-Dynamic SE (from £78,860 in D300 guise) and HSE cars, but below the X-Dynamic HSE and flagship Defender X variants. As standard, the Outbound comes with the same 12-way electric memory seats and Meridan sound system as the base car, as well as a set of 20-inch wheels and LED lights.

Those planning to take their Defender 130 Outbound far off the beaten track can have their car fitted with a satin protective film at the point of order. Land Rover says this is for “clients needing superior scratch resistance”, but at £4,000, you’d best be sure you’ll use it. A more sensible option might be a set of all-terrain tyres (in lieu of Land Rover’s standard-fit all-season rubber) – a snip at £255.

The Outbound can also be fitted with various option packs, including the Explorer Pack, Adventure Pack and Country Pack, which bundle together extras you may find handy, depending on how you plan to use your car. The Off-Road Pack and Advanced Off-Road Pack throw in things like an active differential and a configurable terrain response system, but even without these features, the Defender 130 remains a formidable 4×4.

And like the entire new-generation Defender line-up, the Outbound is an incredibly capable road car, too. It’s stable, secure and refined in even the worst weather, and while it’s perhaps not as smooth or effortless as the V8, the torquey diesel we tried felt plenty quick enough for daily driving. 

It’ll also add an easy 10mpg to the trip computer; these versions are not only cheaper to buy, they should also be significantly cheaper to run.

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