“Simply hold your foot in it and also you’ll be high-quality.” That’s the very first thing I inform my drive associate as we head into the dunes in Dubai. She’s behind the wheel of the extra-long 2023 Land Rover Defender 130 whereas I’m driving shotgun. Earlier than us are miles of steep dunes undulating just like the close by Persian Gulf.
“It doesn’t matter what occurs, don’t elevate your foot off the gasoline till I inform you.”
My driving associate, let’s name her Melissa, provides me a nervous look, however places the large SUV in gear, takes a deep breath, and goes for it.
2023 Land Rover Defender 130
2023 Land Rover Defender 130 dune self-discipline
Driving within the dunes is all about dedication, or “driving with ardour” as our Land Rover guides say. It’s a must to keep on the throttle to keep up momentum, particularly when piloting a automobile that’s greater than 17 ft lengthy with room for eight and weighs in extra of 5,700 kilos. Just about anybody can get a tiny side-by-side by way of the dunes. A full-size SUV? Not a lot.
I’ve pushed inventory autos by way of dunes in Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, California, and Nevada, however I’ve by no means coached a beginner earlier than. Land Rover makes instructing simpler with a drive mode only for sand, full-time all-wheel drive with robotically partaking heart and rear differential lockers, and an air suspension to deliver floor clearance as much as 11.5 inches.
For this journey, our Defender 130 is outfitted with the P400 powertrain, which groups a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-6 with a mild-hybrid system to make 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. An 8-speed computerized places that energy right down to the sand by way of 32-inch Goodyear Duratrac tires.
2023 Land Rover Defender 130
As Melissa heads up the sandy slope, I can really feel the traction management begin to kick in a bit. “Oh crap,” I feel. “We’re nonetheless in Auto mode.” Positive, Auto mode will reply to the terrain and act accordingly, however it’s positively not as forgiving as Sand mode. Land Rover hasn’t allow us to air down the tires but both, so we have now a smaller contact patch on the sand and fewer flotation. However we’re in the midst of it now and it’s not like we will cease and alter modes. Melissa simply has to do it.
“Throttle! Throttle! Go! Go! Go! You bought it,” I yell as Melissa stays steadfastly on objective, her eyes fastened on the place she desires to go. It wasn’t the prettiest ascent these dunes have ever seen, however she’s conquered her first sand hill.
She appears over at me with a triumphant smile. “That is going to be enjoyable.”
2023 Land Rover Defender 130
Going large within the 2023 Land Rover Defender 130
As soon as we air down the tires from about 39 to 25 psi and change to Sand mode, which retains the revs excessive and cuts the traction management nannies, Melissa is confidently piloting the Defender up and over some medium-sized dunes whereas quite a few folks behind us are getting caught. This offers us loads of alternative to follow stopping and beginning on the gentle sand. It could sound simple however stopping too rapidly will dig within the entrance tires and also you’ll get caught. Mashing the throttle from a lifeless cease will bury you as properly.
Then I get the possibility to teach her up some larger dunes, the place throttle management is essential.
“It’s a must to carry sufficient pace to make it up the dune, however on the high you need to elevate at simply the correct second. Too quickly and also you’ll lose momentum and get caught. Too late and also you’ll launch your self over the dune.”
This gal’s received it. She heads up the dune with loads of pace, the turbo-6 offering greater than sufficient grunt. Simply as we crest the highest she occasions the throttle launch and we coast over the previous couple of ft, maintaining all 4 wheels on the bottom.
2023 Land Rover Defender 130
She does get caught as soon as, nevertheless, and it’s simple to do in a protracted automobile just like the Defender 130. The wheelbase could be the similar because the Defender 110’s, however its rear overhang is far, for much longer. All the extra 13.3 inches of size versus the 110 is carried on the rear, bringing the overall size to greater than 200 inches. The departure angle right here is 28.5 levels with the air suspension within the highest setting. In the meantime, the 110 and 90 sit at a significantly better 40.0 levels.
Which means the rear can drag coming off a steep slope, and that’s simply what occurs. It’s gentle sand so you’ll be able to energy by way of it simply, however the sand on the backside of the hill is chewed up and Melissa doesn’t have sufficient momentum to energy by way of. No worries although. A fast yank with a kinetic rope and we’re out and shifting once more.
2023 Land Rover Defender 130
When it’s my flip to drive I’m a bit extra aggressive. I crab stroll alongside the facet of a dune, flinging sand from all 4 wheels. I take the best line I can throughout the face of one other dune, simply to point out off. I’m in a position to level out to Melissa hazards like witches’ eyes, little sand bowls that may be exhausting to see that may finish your day when you drive into one. We additionally chat about trying just a few dunes forward to chart your path, browsing the tops of the dunes as a lot as potential. Whereas the others are digging out within the sizzling Dubai solar, Melissa and I are having a good time in cooled-seat consolation, singing alongside to unhealthy ’80s music.
In fact, I can’t let my time within the three-row Defender go by with out sampling that final row. It’s really not too shabby. At 5-foot-9, my knees elevate a bit of excessive and my butt sits a bit of low, however the 31.7 inches of legroom could be lots on shorter journeys. Hip and shoulder room are a bit of tight for 3 full-sized people again there, however children needs to be simply high-quality.
2023 Land Rover Defender 130
I really like that the Defender is primed for lengthy trekking with the aptitude to hold a veritable butt load of payload. You may shove greater than 1,700 kilos of drugs and other people on this factor and might carry 370 kilos on the roof whereas the rig is shifting. Mix that dynamic score with a static roof load score of 661 kilos and that’s greater than sufficient for a roof high tent for 2.
Though I all the time choose smaller rigs for off-roading, I can’t deny the Defender 130’s dune driving chops. It makes it simple for a beginner to study and permits me to have some enjoyable as properly. In fact, you’ll pay for the privilege. The SE trims we drove begin at just below $80,000 together with $1,475 for vacation spot, however the high Defender 130 X trim simply squeaks its manner into six figures.
That’s loads of cashola for positive, however have a look at what else is on the market. Apart from Land Rover’s different three-row Vary Rover and Discovery, solely the Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer can come near matching the Defender’s off-road prowess. I imply, are you going to take your Cadillac Escalade into the wild? Have enjoyable with that.
In case you’ve by no means pushed within the dunes earlier than, don’t freak out. Sure, it may be scary however the one two issues you have to bear in mind are to air down and drive with ardour. An excellent Sand mode helps, too.
Land Rover paid for lodging and airfare for Motor Authority to current this firsthand report.
—by Emme Corridor