The Defender Octa Is Land Rover At Its Best: Review

The Defender Octa is essentially a supercar for off-road adventure.

Land Rover Defender Octa Review

Photo by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

Jeff Glucker

By: Jeff Glucker

Jan 9, at 12:00pm ET

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The Land Rover origin story begins with a tale of basic machines. Ostensibly tractors with off-road capability courtesy of a four-wheel-drive system, Land Rover soon grew into a brand for those obsessed with the idea of "adventure."

There are photos of Land Rovers from all eras in locations scattered across all corners of the globe. From Cambridge to Cairo and Brazil to Botswana, a well-worn Land Rover is a picture-perfect postcard of a life spent enjoying the world around us.

Today, Land Rover has morphed into multiple luxury "brands" that have split from that original evolution. There is one model, however, that remains most true to what a Land Rover still can be in the heads of those who dream of distant lands; the Defender Octa.

Land Rover has essentially created a supercar for the dirt. The Octa exudes the go-anywhere sense of adventure that Defender owners crave… or at least want to pretend they do. Regardless, the Octa is the ultimate evolution of what a Land Rover can and should be.

Quick Specs 2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Engine Twin-Turbocharged 4.4-Liter V8 Output 626 Horsepower / 553 Pound-Feet

0-60 MPH

3.8 Seconds Transmission Eight-Speed Automatic Base Price / As-Tested $160,150 / $170,200

The recipe here is a familiar one; start with a solid foundation and then add more power. There’s a right way and a wrong way to do that, of course. If you don’t upgrade other components, the added power will all be for naught, and you wind up with an unenjoyable mess. Thankfully, Land Rover did this the right way.

Land Rover opted for a modified version of BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 engine. Output is rated at 626 horsepower and a beefy 553 pound-feet of torque. That torque comes on strong at just 1,800 rpm and remains hefty all the way up through just over 5,800 rpm. Constant available power is a key ingredient of potent off-road performance, and that performance is indeed potent; Land Rover quotes a 0-60 mph time of just 3.8 seconds.

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Review

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa

Photo by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

A number like that sounds downright stupid for a nearly six-thousand-pound SUV. Normally, I would agree with you, but not with respect to the Octa. Land Rover fits this Defender with its impressive 6D Dynamic suspension system. Think McLaren-level engineering but for an off-road vehicle.

The setup involves hydraulically linked dampers working together with the air suspension to eliminate the need for anti-roll bars. It delivers exceptional on-road performance without compromising off-road capability.

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Review

Photo by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

Pros: Tremendous Power, Incredible Off-Road Capability, Upgraded Style

Ditching the anti-roll bars means the Defender Octa sees an increase in articulation ability—the individual wheels have a greater range of up/down travel. That allows you to stay in contact with the ground as you scramble around various on-trail obstacles. I know those "wheel in the air" shots look cool on Instagram, but more wheels on the ground is better. That is, unless you’re hitting jumps at speed—and the Octa nails it there too.

The brakes receive equal attention and get a proper upgrade over the standard Defender. Up front, you have massive six-piston Brembos clamping down on 15.7-inch rotors. These are huge brakes hiding behind the standard all-season tires. You’ll want to check the box to swap from the 22.0-inch wheels down to the far-better-looking 20.0-inch hoops, however, as that’s how you unlock the available all-terrain tires.

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Review

Photos by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

Hold the button at the bottom of the steering wheel to enter Octa mode. The Defender now corners more flatly, reduces pitch under braking and acceleration, and can soak up the impacts after proper full-send moments. This attitude translates to Octa's on-road Sport mode, where the same suspension engineering allows for supreme in-cabin comfort and trust when you’re hurtling down a curvy, canyon road.

Land Rover nailed the steering feel of the Octa. You sense the heft of the vehicle, but it’s also extremely well managed. Land Rover quickened the steering ratio, which is perfect for catching a slide on a fast patch of a gravel road. It’s also helpful when parking this rig at your local Whole Foods.

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Review

Photo by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

Cons: Priced to the Moon, Lame Color Palette, I Only Have Two Kidneys to Sell

The ability to excel at on- and off-road performance is typically a tough act to pull off. Mercedes nails it with its G-Class, especially now that you can opt for the AMG Performance package, featuring, surprise, a hydraulically actuated suspension system. There’s a reason why this setup is used on both vehicles. The demands of customers for both products require it, even if those vehicles will rarely see dirt.

That’s also why the Defender Octa wears such a hefty price tag. The starting price for a 2026 Octa is right around $160,000. The Faroe Green First Edition I’ve tested here is north of $170,000. This is tons of money, but I mean it when I say this is a supercar for all seasons and all corners of the planet.

And it’s a better deal and more capable than an AMG G63. With the Octa, we’re working with 12.7 inches of ground clearance, a maximum wading depth of 39.4 inches, and approach and departure angles both north of 40 degrees. Yet the G63 starts just under $200,000 and doesn’t include the upgraded suspension system as standard.

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Review

Photos by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Review

Photos by: Jeff Glucker | Motor1

Sure, there’s a question of reliability… but I’m choosing to ignore that for now. Why bring reality back into the conversation of super SUVs that attempt to defy physics?

What do you think?

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Comments

The Defender Octa represents the current pinnacle of everything that Land Rover stands for, past and present. It’s a heroic machine that can take you places you’ve seen on the pages of those National Geographic magazines you read as a kid or into the iconic images from the glory days of the Camel Trophy competition.

I just wish Land Rover offered it in Sandglow Yellow—then it would truly be perfect.

Land Rover Defender Octa Review

2026 Land Rover Defender Octa Review