Things we like

The Land Rover Defender Octa offers exceptional off-road capability, maintaining its composure even at high speeds across challenging terrain. On the road, it is more engaging to drive than any Defender before it, with sharper steering and improved body control. Despite its extreme performance and rugged nature, it delivers Mercedes G-Class AMG G63-level power and capability at a usefully lower price.

Things we don’t like

The Defender Octa comes with a high price tag in absolute terms, particularly in the limited Edition One form, which pushes it even further up the scale. While the sports seats provide excellent lateral support, they lack the long-distance comfort of the standard Defender’s seating. Additionally, although the twin-turbo V8 delivers immense performance, it lacks the character and distinctive sound of the old supercharged V8.