2024 Land Rover Defender 130 Outbound

If you own a Land Rover, you either have big plans for off-road adventures or, at least, you want to look like you do. Since giving the Defender a major reboot for 2020, Land Rover has been expanding its profile with multiple lengths, new powertrain options, and packages to make it more adventure-ready than ever… which brings us to their latest offering, the Defender 130 Outbound.

The Land Rover Defender’s global reputation for off-road performance is well-founded and well-deserved. But here in America, Jeep Wranglers are a much more common sight on the trail, with Land Rovers sticking more to the paved territories of high-end shopping malls and gated communities. So, for 2024, Land Rover has a new Outbound package for their Defender 130 that is sure to attract attention no matter what surface its rolling on.

The Defender 130 arrived last year of course, adding length for passengers and cargo while still using the 110’s 119.0-inch wheelbase. Those that head Outbound will notice the biggest change in the rear side glass, which has been replaced with body-color panels, so you can mount accessories like cargo cases or even a ladder for reaching the roof rack. Other Outbound upgrades include a matte finish for the bumpers and exterior trim, plus, 20-inch black alloy wheels with all-terrain tires.

To this point, a third row has been standard in the 130, but Land Rover assumes those that are Outbound will want that space for provisions; so just 5-passenger seating here, but a great 46.9 cubic-ft. of cargo space in back, expanding to 88.9 cubic-ft. with the rear seatbacks folded.  Additional storage nooks are integrated into the space, along with added tie down points, and a new cargo net. 

The interior is a mix of rugged and refined, with exposed bolts, rubber flooring, durable Resist fabrics, and Robustec trim. Though leather is available, and it ultimately remains a very luxurious experience, with loads of premium features like wireless phone charging, ambient lighting, big sunroof, and Meridian premium audio.

All Outbounds are fitted with Land Rover’s P400 mild-hybrid 3.0-liter inline-6 outputting 395-horsepower and 406 lb-ft. of torque. As in all Defenders, all-wheel drive is standard; Outbounds also getting a 2-speed transfer case.

There was plenty of gusto from that drivetrain to quickly get us rolling off the line, with power delivery arriving seemingly at the snap of a finger or tap of the throttle. We hit 60 in 6.5-seconds. Power did seem to plateau once we were up to speed, with steady delivery for the remainder of the ¼-mile. Shifting in the 8-speed automatic transmission was a little slow, but even with the aggressive tread pattern of the tires, things were very calm and quiet inside the cabin. Our best time was a 14.9 at 93 miles-per-hour. 

The soft suspension and off-road nature of this rig made for substantial nosedive and not a lot of feedback through the pedal in our braking runs, but no complaints about stops averaging a good 119-feet from 60. While the Outbound is not outfitted for navigating through a cone course with exceptional agility, the long and wide platform provides plenty of stability for all surfaces.

Now, what this Outbound is designed for is conquering non-paved territory and looking super-cool while doing it. Here in our section of the Mid-Atlantic, that means mostly mud and rocky trails, all of which were no match for the Outbound. It’s a big and heavy rig, so it’s more adept at driving over and through things, not nimbly navigating around them. But there are so many cameras and off-road specific driving aids, that Land Rover’s skillful computer programmers have already done most of the hard work for you, making it all a mostly stress-free affair.  

Outbound pricing starts at $85,975 which is only about 15-grand over a base Defender 130, but there are still various packages and plenty of standalone options to add from there.  

There’s no telling how many 2024 Land Rover Defender 130 Outbounds will actually head outbound. But no matter where it does venture, it is bound to turn plenty of heads, as without a doubt, it’s the coolest looking Land Rover you can buy.