The 2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA Gets a BMW Twin-Turbo V8 and 2.7-Inch-Wider Stance

Most automakers who work on high-performance trucks and SUVs eventually come to a big ol’ fork in the road. There are lean and mean sporty machines like the Lamborghini Urus Performante, BMW X5 M Competition, and bygone GMC Syclone and then there are serious off-roaders – think Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392, Ford F-150 Raptor R, and GMC Hummer EV. Go for the former and you’d better think twice when approaching a dirt road, while the latter will start to lose their composure any time the speedometer nears 90.

Land Rover isn’t most automakers. Starting with the Range Rover Sport SVR, the company has been able to blend impressive off-road capability with scintillating on-road performance, giving everyone something to enjoy. The latest byway in that forkless road map is the 2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA, which builds off the Defender 110 with a more aggressive stance, way more power, and the latest suspension and powertrain controls to improve performance in the rough stuff.

Jaguar Land Rover

The name, which comes from the incredibly strong octahedral structure of a diamond, is meant to denote that the Land Rover Defender OCTA is both tough and desirable. And while it might just be the branding talking, it certainly seems to work in the Defender’s favor, as even today’s lesser models seem to attract an equal mix of stylish tastemakers and dust-adorned adventurers.

The most attention-grabbing line item has to be the new twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 found under the hood. Producing an insane 626 horsepower and 590 pound-feet, the OCTA is up 108 and 129 respective units over the former Defender V8 flagship, allowing it to sprint to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds – a full second quicker than its predecessor. The mild-hybrid V8 – likely sourced from BMW alongside the Range Rover lineup’s V8s – comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and two-speed full-time four-wheel drive, and when kitted out with all-season, road-oriented tires and 22-inch wheels, the Defender OCTA will hit 155 mph.

But while the Defender V8 (which will be sold alongside the OCTA) was all ate up with motor, the new flagship gets revised suspension hardware to ensure it can handle terrain even better than its brethren. With an extra 1.1 inches of ride height, the newest Defender has more ground clearance, and its 2.7-inch-wider track improves stability off-road (though at the expense of some maneuverability). Making the most of that burly stance is Land Rover’s newest 6D Dynamics suspension technology, which features hydraulically linked dampers that provide more articulation and respond more quickly than before.

Jaguar Land Rover

That impressive suspension should provide good performance in the rough, but unlike many off-road setups, it’ll also give more stability in on-road driving too, since the system can provide extra resistance to roll and pitch in the right setting – which is why Land Rover has been testing the hot Defender at the Nurburgring. And if you’re not planning on tearing up the Autobahn any time soon, the OCTA can be had with so-called Advanced All-Terrain tires by Goodyear, measuring 33 inches in diameter.

The wider hardware also necessitates more aggressive bodywork, with massive front and rear wheel arches and a higher-clearance front bumper that optimizes airflow to the twin-turbo engine. Four-exit exhausts poke out of the reshaped rear bumper, and a robust network of aluminum alloy skid plates protect vital underbody components. The Defender OCTA also makes no bones about its off-road intent, highlighting its recovery points with a subtle Phosphor Bronze coating.

Jaguar Land Rover

Inside, the Rover gets new high-back front bucket seats with larger bolsters. The OCTA will also be the first Defender to get LR’s Body and Soul audio system, comprising speakers and exciters integrated into the front seats. There’s a variety of upholstery options, starting with standard semi-aniline leather with Kvadrat cloth textile accents. Also available is literally seamless Ultrafabrics upholstery, which is a recycled plastic material that provides stain and water resistance. The latter is actually standard on the Defender OCTA Edition One, a special version for the 2025 model year that also includes novel shredded carbon fiber interior accents.

Jaguar Land Rover

Available only in the medium-length Defender 110 body style, the OCTA has a starting price of $153,475 including destination, going up to $169,275 for the loaded Edition One. That’s a lot more cash than the Defender V8, which in the 110 body style costs $112,975 for the 2024 model year. However, the 2025 Defender OCTA is still cheaper than the $188,000 Mercedes-AMG G63, which is less powerful and slower – and possibly less capable off-road.

And while the 2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA certainly isn’t cheap, that fork-free driving experience means it could actually replace two vehicles in your garage. So maybe it’s actually a bargain.

2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA

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