The Defender Octa is absurdly expensive, absurdly capable, and almost impossible to judge objectively.
Its active suspension transforms this heavy SUV into something outrageously controlled, composed, and shockingly fast everywhere.
Reliability still hangs over the experience, but the Octa’s charisma makes rational objections almost laughable.

Winter has been absolutely relentless this year, and I’m not exaggerating when I say this has felt like one of the longest in recent memory. But, and truly, I’m not actually complaining. Not even slightly. Because as the snow fell and the chill in the air continued to hover, I faced it all in a 2025.5 Land Rover Defender Octa First Edition, and honestly, that’s enough to lift anyone’s mood.

2025.5 Land Rover Defender Octa | Photo: Matt St-Pierre

Let me get this out of the way now: this is not going to be a perfectly objective review. A current-generation Land Rover Defender already pushes all the right buttons for me, and the Octa turns that fixation up to a completely unreasonable level. This thing nails the whole sport-utility-vehicle brief in a way most so-called SUVs abandoned years ago. It looks right, it has presence, it has purpose, and it appears ready to drive straight through whatever ugly weather or bad decision lies ahead.

Defender bod++

And visually, the Octa does enough to stand apart from a regular Defender 110, an already tempting outfit. The grille is larger to feed the V8 more air, the bumpers are unique, and the whole thing is 2.7 inches wider. You notice that immediately, especially with the enormous fender flares wrapping around those 33-inch tires mounted on 20-inch diamond-turned wheels. The stance is nearly outrageous. It looks expensive, overbuilt, and more than menacing. Then there’s the chopped carbon fibre trim sprinkled around the exterior and cabin, which is exactly the kind of detail this sort of machine needs. It’s flashy, sure, but it also suits the truck’s attitude.

The price is just as outrageous. A 2026 Defender 110 starts at about $81,000, while this 2025.5 Octa First Edition lands at roughly $195,000 before everything else ($198,664 for 2026). But here’s the problem: if you want one, that number almost stops mattering. Because the Octa isn’t going to or even trying to win a value argument. It wants to become a fixation. On that level, it succeeds.

Luxury, purpose, space

Inside, it all looks and works like a Defender. The layout is sturdy, practical, and pleasingly upright. Storage is excellent, visibility is strong, and all the key Defender traits remain intact. The Octa-specific touches elevate the experience without, and this is important, turning it into something precious. The seats, for example, have a proper performance look, almost like integrated racing buckets, yet they still fit the truck’s rough-and-ready image. The fit and finish are superb, the materials are substantial, and even the exposed hardware has a satisfying robustness. It all comes together beautifully.

The rear seat space is generous, too, and the cargo area remains wonderfully square and usable. There’s even a full-size spare, which in a vehicle like this is utterly correct, not nostalgic. Everything about the Octa still says utility first, even with a six-figure price tag and enough carbon trim to spark online arguments.

TIL there are 6D

The real story begins once you drive it. The Defender Octa’s party trick, and really its defining feature, is the 6D Dynamics active air suspension. Around town, over potholes, frost-heaved pavement, ugly expansion joints and all the daily nonsense that ruins lesser SUVs, the Octa remains uncannily composed. It doesn’t float aimlessly. It controls everything. It collects the body, settles the motions, and delivers an absurd level of refinement for something sitting on chunky 33-inch rubber. On more road-focused rubber, I genuinely think this thing would be outrageous on a track. Which is a completely absurd sentence to write about a Defender, but the Octa earns it.

Then you pick up speed, and it gets even more impressive. Highway composure is excellent, body roll is tightly managed, and even ramps and quick transitions don’t upset it. No, it doesn’t remain perfectly flat all the time, and yes, you’ll notice some nose-dive at a full stop, but the way it re-levels itself is remarkable. The single-press Octa mode and the press-and-hold off-road launch function only add to the sense that this thing was engineered by people who may not fully understand moderation.

Supreme V8

Then there’s the engine. A twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 with 626 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque has no business making this much sense in something this large, yet here we are. It hits 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, which is deeply silly for a big, bluff, semi-aerodynamic brick with proper off-road credentials and more than a metre of wading depth. And the active exhaust gets the tone exactly right. It sounds rich and muscular without turning every cold start into a neighbourhood incident.

The MHEV technology serves a minor function, and efficiency isn’t it. Natural Resources Canada says that 14.2L/100km is what you can “expect” in mixed driving, but aim for 16.5L, and you won’t be let down. Anyhow, you can’t be let down by the V8 and trigger-fast 8-speed autobox, 2-speed t-box, Terrain Response system, and 4-wheel torque vectoring. Conquering terrain will become a hobby.

The Octa also gets oversized brakes, thankfully, because when you create a machine this fast and heavy, you’d better make sure it can stop without drama.

What to Watch For

There’s no elegant way around this: reliability remains the dark cloud here. That concern is part of the Land Rover ownership conversation, whether fans like it or not. Fuel consumption is also catastrophic, and servicing, tires, and brakes on something this specialized won’t be cheap. None of this will surprise anyone shopping in this bracket, but it should (could?) be part of the decision. Buy it with open eyes and enough financial flexibility to shrug off expensive surprises. As a used purchase… I’d think thrice.

Verdict

In the end, it’s simple. If I had ridiculous money, there would be almost no stopping me from buying one. I like the G-Wagen. I like the Lexus GX and LX. I understand the appeal of all these ultra-premium SUVs.

But the Defender Octa has something extra: a sense of occasion that’s hard to replicate. It’s wildly expensive, objectively flawed in many ways, but still one of the most desirable SUVs on sale. That’s the magic of it. It makes the sensible part of your brain go quiet, and honestly, I get it.

Specifications
	2025.5 Land Rover Defender Octa	2026 Ford Bronco Raptor	2025 Mercedes-AMG G 63
Price Before Options and Luxury Tax ($CAD)	$195,000	$112,590	$249,000
Engines	Twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8	Twin-Turbocharged 3.0L V6	Twin-turbocharged 4.0L V8
Output (hp)	626	418	577
Torque (lb-ft)	553	440	627
0-100 km/h (seconds)	4.0	6.5 (approx.)	4.4
Wheelbase (mm)	3,023	2,960	2,890
Length (mm)	5,003	4,852	4,873
Width (mm)	2,064	2,178	1,984
Height (mm)	1,995	1,976.1	1,976
Wading Depth (mm)	1,000	939.8	700
Cargo Volume Behind 1st / 2nd rows (L)	1,875 / 786	2,196 / 1,008	2,010 / 640
Towing Capacity (kg)	3,500	2,041	3,500