RE: 2025 Land Rover Defender OCTA | UK Review

[Alpenus]

jimbim said:

Such an ugly, excessive and wasteful thing.
How has the Defender gone from loved British institution to tasteless new money school run show off mobile so horribly?
RS6 every day, please.

I've had an RS6 really not all that to live with, i have an Octa coming, may regret it but it looks like a lot of fun which is what life's about right?

[Julian Scott]

Firebobby said:

I think the DIL's Chelsea truck looks just as good for £50k less!

But that's the thing. The OCTA isn't about looks, it's about what they've done that you can't see,

[DonkeyApple]

David87 said:

It's absolutely mega, but unless you have an enormous estate on which to lark about, I think ownership might be a frustrating experience in the UK. I had a Ranger Raptor for a bit and I felt the same about that as you just couldn't get anywhere near what it was developed for.

Yup. Does look like great fun but much easier for a Septic to enjoy fully.

[Julian Scott]

Alpenus said:

jimbim said:

Such an ugly, excessive and wasteful thing.
How has the Defender gone from loved British institution to tasteless new money school run show off mobile so horribly?
RS6 every day, please.

I've had an RS6 really not all that to live with, i have an Octa coming, may regret it but it looks like a lot of fun which is what life's about right?

I have a friend with one on order too. He is getting rid of a 911 GT3 RS, which itself replaced a GT2. Aside from his tongue in cheek rationale about Cheshire roads being so bad, the OCTA will be ideal; his rationale is purely the same as yours - it looks like a bit of fun.

He's also pretty good at getting cars that he doesn't loose an absolutely chunk on.

[Gary Woodland]

Can confirm, my knob is tiny and I really, really want one.
Be good fun though won’t it?

[BUG4LIFE]

I defo have one!

[Angelo1985]

I love that aside from the wider tracks it has no chintzy at all. All the money is in the development of a defender that can be a defender but also deploy over 600 hp without feeling overwhelmed and not rolling on the first bend.

I don’t need it, but I want it. Much like people who buy a urus, but classier.

[Angelo1985]

Haters, please carry on writing: it’s so much fun reading you being triggered by a new Land Rover just because it has a bigger engine and wider tracks 😂

[Nik Gnashers]

Perfect for the school run !

[Julian Scott]

Nik Gnashers said:

Perfect for the school run !

Sorry, no prize today. We only award prizes for overused clichés on their first use in any given thread.

You'll get chance to try again on the very next SUV article, just be a little bit quicker next time.

[HighwayStar]

Twinair said:

Can’t make my mind up if the lack of bling is a good thing or not, does it look special enough for the price - or is the understated look a benefit…? Idk…

And if was sexed up, a bit more shouty, obvious even they’d be a load of looks like it’s trying to hard, tacky, who’d be seen in that comments. Far from my sort of car but like it.

Edited by HighwayStar on Thursday 13th March 19:51

[Deranged Rover]

Julian Scott said:

Love the concept of this.

Love the looks.
Love that it's more go than show, more trousers than mouth.
Love that it triggers so many people.

Just wish it sounded a bit better, but that's the same as the stock V8 - that option can be easier fixed via our friends at Milltek. Not sure this BMW sourced V8 could ever sound that good though.

I love nearly everything about it, too.

Everything except the BMW engine under the bonnet.

[DonkeyApple]

Deranged Rover said:

I love nearly everything about it, too.

Everything except the BMW engine under the bonnet.

Better than no V8 though. Will be interesting to hear if they've made it sound better than BMW can?

[Firebobby]

Debaser said:

Firebobby said:

I think the DIL's Chelsea truck looks just as good for £50k less!

Won't that lack the power, and chassis, of the Octa?

400 horse! It's quick enough

[Julian Scott]

Firebobby said:

Debaser said:

Firebobby said:

I think the DIL's Chelsea truck looks just as good for £50k less!

Won't that lack the power, and chassis, of the Octa?

400 horse! It's quick enough

So it's not even a V8.

You're bringing a catapult to a gun fight

[BRR]

I was fortunate enough so spend some time taking one of these around JLR's test tracks and it was by far the most impressive car I've ever driven in terms of it's breadth of ability, I was gobsmacked at how quickly it can cover very rough ground and in Octa mode how much fun you can have doing it. The on road experience was very impressive also, though with the normal tyres and the amount of power and grip it has you'd need a test track or lack of desire to keep your license to fully experience and appreciate the depth of engineering

I have zero need for one but I really, really want one

[philrs03]

I saw one at Goodwood last year and had a good fondle of it in person. Absolutely mega thing, the interior is lovely in person too. I’ve had my first edition for 3 years now and it’s hands down the best daily I’ve ever owned. I’d love one of these. The perfect car for my neck of the woods, ideal for Overtaking the 38mph numpty crew on ploughed Welsh/Herefordshire back roads. All the perks of a Defender with the added perk of a ridiculously powerful V8, I need it In my life.

[disco666]

Quite a divisive thread!
So many saying (correctly) that it's pointless would happily take a modern Ferrari, McLaren etc.
4x4's aren't my thing at all, but this would be epic fun.
Surely that's the point?

[Hairymonster]

Julian Scott said:

Love the concept of this.

Love the looks.
Love that it's more go than show, more trousers than mouth.
Love that it triggers so many people.

Just wish it sounded a bit better, but that's the same as the stock V8 - that option can be easier fixed via our friends at Milltek. Not sure this BMW sourced V8 could ever sound that good though.

Tediously predictable.

[NJJ]

Does anyone know if the SVR badge has now disappeared? There's no current RRS SVR only the SV(?) and now we have the Defender OCTA, seems a bit of a silly name and all a bit confusing for what is a serious bit of kit at a very serious price.