Land Rover Defender News

Buyers still love 4WDs in Australia. It remains a big-selling segment, but some of its biggest hitters are suffering losses.China is starting to get a foothold in the market with budget offerings posing a serious threat to established regulars.Emissions-heavy vehicles such as 4WDs are also coming under fire from increasingly stringent rules in Australia.Here is the rundown of the best-selling 4WDs up to June 2026. The Ford Everest large SUV is up front with more than 11,000 sales in 2026 so far, despite a near 10 per cent year-on-year drop. It is based on the Ford Ranger, which is the best-selling ute in Australia.The Toyota Prado takes second place with more than 9000 sales so far this year, but it has experienced an even sharper drop of nearly 42 per cent year-on-year.The Prado is a scaled down version of the LandCruiser 300 Series, using a 2.8-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, as opposed to the more powerful V6. Isuzu’s MU-X is third, making 7564 sales up to June, but it too experienced a more minor slump of 3.2 per cent. The LandCruiser 300 Series is currently fourth on the standings, and is the only car in the top five to have experienced a substantial growth in sales. Its 6451 sales constitutes a 26.3 per cent rise compared to first six months of 2025.Toyota also released a performance petrol hybrid V6 variant earlier this year.The Suzuki Jimny rounds out the top five as a much smaller and cheaper competitor to those above it. Priced from $31,990, before on-road costs, the Jimny is down 11.1 per cent compared to this time last year, while still amassing 3882 sales. The Nissan Patrol is down nearly 25 per cent compared to its sales result up to June 2025, with 2843 sales so far in 2026. The current Y62 petrol V8 Patrol will cease production next month, and order books for a new twin-turbo V6 will open later. GWM’s Tank 300 mid-size SUV off-roader has continued to surge up the sales charts in 2026, with 2759 sales so far.The Tank 300 is available in petrol, diesel, plug-less hybrid and plug-in hybrid set-ups - more varied than any of its competitors. BYD’s Denza sub-brand is another Chinese rival experiencing a solid sales return in Australia.Its B5 plug-in hybrid SUV has already accumulated 1445 sales this year, having only gone on sale in December 2025.Its bigger sibling the B8 is also approaching the 1000-unit mark midway through this year. The ultra-luxury GMC Yukon Denali from the United States is starting to pick up momentum in Australia. The V8-powered eight-seater Yukon Denali went on sale in the middle of last year, but 2026 has seen sales explode by nearly 190 per cent. It remains a low-volume model with only 202 sales, as it carries a $174,990 price tag. The 4WD segment is about undergo some serious changes in the next few months, including an influx of new models.The Mitsubishi Pajero will return to Australia, along with several new Chinese competitors likely to join it over the next 18 months.The anticipated Geely Galaxy Cruiser is slated for a UK launch, meaning Australia could its next step, while the GAC Yue 7 also seems to be on the way. 

More than 30,000 Jaguar Land Rover SUVs have been subject to urgent recalls in Australia, according to notices from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sports and the Arts. The largest of these recalls concerns 23,313 Land Rover Defender, Discovery and Range Rover SUVs for the model years 2019 to 2026.“Due to a manufacturing defect, the connection to the driver’s airbag clock spring may corrode over time and lead to an increased resistance in the airbag circuit,” the notice stated.“As a result, the airbag may fail to deploy in the event of an accident.“In the event of an accident, the airbag not deploying as intended could increase the risk of injury or death to vehicle occupants.”The second issue relates to the Jaguar F-Pace SUV, Land Rover Defender and Discovery, as well as Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Velar models.It impacts 7152 units from the 2024 to 2026 model years.“Due to a manufacturing defect, the front-end auxiliary drive belt idler pulley may over rotate and cause damage to the oil pressure and temperature sensor,” the notice stated."This may lead to an oil leak and engine stalling resulting in a loss of motive power whilst driving.“An engine stall or sudden loss of motive power could increase the risk of serious injury or death to vehicle occupants and other road users.”The brand will contact the affected owners of all affected vehicles asking them to contact a dealer and have the work to fix the issue carried out, free of charge. A spokesperson Jaguar Land Rover said these are recalls are a part of a global recall and there have not been any reported incidents of the issue occurring in Australia. 

A smaller version of an iconic 4WD is no longer set to be EV-only, as new plans reveal hybrid drivetrain options have become a larger part of JLR’s future.The Land Rover Defender is going to spawn a smaller version of the nameplate, possibly called the Defender Sport if reports including those from Autocar in the UK are accurate.All signs pointed to an EV powertrain for the smaller Defender, based on Jaguar Land Rover’s (JLR) plans to roll out its new Electrified Modular Architecture (EMA) as an EV-exclusive platform, but now the company has shifted strategy to include hybrids.Likely good news to many traditionalists in the JLR customer base, the brand confirmed the new Defender model would indeed go hybrid rather than EV-only.“A new model from the Defender family has been confirmed as the second vehicle to be launched on the EMA platform, which will now include the option of HEV as well as BEV in the future,” JLR said in a statement.According to JLR’s Managing Director for Defender and Discovery, Mark Cameron, plans are already looking well into the future for ‘Defender’, which now stands as a sub-brand rather than a single model under JLR’s ‘House of Brands’ strategy alongside Range Rover, Jaguar and Discovery."We've got a portfolio of one model with several variants,” he told Autocar on his plans for Defender, “but I'm working seven to 10 years ahead to build out this whole brand portfolio."We've got to make sure everything we do as Defender has the DNA of the brand: epic built-to-last, go-anywhere capability."While development is well on its way, details short of the inclusion of hybrid drivetrains in the so-called Defender Sport are scarce.Cameron has said while the new model likely won’t have the same capabilities as a Defender due to the platform’s electrification limitations, the model will still be “class-leading in the attributes that make it a Defender”.Importantly, JLR also has a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Stellantis to work on hybrid technology, which could even result in the new model from Defender sharing some DNA with its historic rival.The new Defender model will be the second to launch on the new EMA platform after the Range Rover brand is to launch a new “full hybrid-electric vehicle.”“The HEV will be a unique new addition to JLR’s propulsion portfolio, offering more choice alongside mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV), plug‑in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) and full battery electric vehicle (BEV) options.“JLR will reveal more on its first electric model built on its EMA platform at Halewood, Merseyside, later this year.”

Fuel prices are soaring across the board whether it is petrol or diesel. Some drivers are being more affected than others as lower fuel efficiency contributes to higher refuelling costs. Here are the most expensive cars to run currently in Australia based on fuel efficiency. Other contributing factors to the high fuel costs on this list include the fact many of the cars have big fuel tanks and require premium fuel.Fuel prices have been calculated using the average prices for fuel in New South Wales and at an average of 15,000km driven per year. Among the heaviest guzzlers is the Nissan Patrol four-wheel drive, with its 5.6-litre V8 drinking fuel at a rate of 14.4L/100km. Its 140-litre fuel tank and requirement for premium unleaded petrol means it costs $364 per fill-up and a total yearly cost of $5617.28. The Patrol will move to a more efficient 3.5-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo petrol, which is expected to reduce fuel costs. The Ford Mustang sports car is another V8 on this list, with its 5.0-litre unit registering average fuel efficiency at 13.6L/100km and a yearly cost of $5310.27.Ford’s other representative is the Ranger Raptor high-end ute, powered by a twin-turbo six-cylinder petrol engine costing $4482.76 per year. The Ineos Grenadier off-roader is the most expensive model to run and costs $5618.50 a year to run, in part due to it being diesel, which has been the fuel type that has increased the most. The Lexus GX550 has refuelling costs of $208 per fill-up currently, costing $4800 for the year, along with nearly $3000 for the Jeep Gladiator, which unlike many on this list can run off E10 fuel.The 6.2-litre petrol V8 found in the Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up has an economy of more than 12 litres per 100km, costing $4,356.30 over the year.  Genesis’ GV70 luxury SUV costs more $4400 per year in fuel, a similar figure to the supercharged 5.0-litre V8 variants of the Land Rover Defender. Highest fuel efficiency new vehicles on sale under $150,000 

Large SUVs are the big, spacious heroes of suburbia, favoured by families with more than a couple of kids and picked for their adventurous and sporty looks when probably a people mover would do.Of course, there are the large SUVs that aren’t just tough looking but incredibly capable off-road, too. Then there are those which are fully electric, and bring supercar acceleration to something that feels like the size of a small house.As part of our ongoing 2026 CarsGuide Car of the Year awards, here are our top 10 large SUV model ranges from the sub-$100K category in alphabetical order and why they made the cut. Our top three, including the category winner, will be announced February 6.Chinese carmaker Chery brought its flagship Tiggo 9 seven-seater SUV to Australia in late 2025 and in one grade only - the Ultimate.CarsGuide reviewers found the Tiggo 9 to be outstanding value for money, but also standing out is its ‘Super Hybrid’ system which offers a large battery, fast charging and a long combined range with excellent fuel efficiency.Add to this a superbly comfortable ride and you can see why the Tiggo 9 has made our shortlist.  Hyundai’s Santa Fe quickly became an Aussie family favourite after it was launched here 25 years ago. Loved for being spacious and affordable, this large SUV became safer, better to drive and more refined over the years until we come to today’s fifth-generation model, which is the best yet.The Santa Fe is a three-row large SUV available in both petrol and petrol-hybrid powertrains. It has some fierce rivals in this large and affordable SUV segment, but CarsGuide reviewers loved the way it combines practicality and value for money with style and refinement that can withstand all the spills and rough treatment delivered by families.  So much kudos needs to go to Kia for launching its largest SUV ever - the EV9 - as an all-electric model only. A brave move that even made the EV9 unique in its segment as the first fully electric, seven-seat, upper-large SUV on the market.CarsGuide reviewers found the EV9 to be practical, superb to drive with outstanding levels of comfort and performance, and while it can be pricey there’s large fast charging batteries, with long ranges and vehicle-to-load power capability.Add to all this the futuristic chiselled looks and you have an SUV that’s bravely different, and beautifully fit for purpose.The Land Rover Defender is iconic. Famous for being the choice of transport for decades of hardcore adventurers to royalty and everyone in between, not many SUVs can combine prestige and off-road prowess like the Defender. The new Defender is a far more luxurious affair than the early Land Rover Series 1 from the 1940s that started the whole off-road SUV thing, but the blocky looks are still reminiscent of its agricultural ancestor.CarsGuide reviewers found the Defender to be comfortable and great to drive, with excellent practicality but fuel consumption can be high and towing capacity less than rivals.Available in a short- and long-wheelbase, with a choice of powerplants from supercharged V8s to hybrids the Defender is an exceptional go-anywhere luxury SUV.The Polestar 4 is a prestige electric coupe-style SUV that arrived in Australia in 2024, causing chins to wag due to its complete lack of rear window, and a digital review mirror.The rear window controversy was good publicity for the brand which arrived in Australia in 2022 with its Polestar 2 sedan but had seemingly gone off the boil with the arrival of a multitude of new Chinese electric SUVs.At 4.84m end to end, the Polestar 4 is about a finger’s length longer than the Tesla Model Y, but more expensive and would see its rivals as Audi’s Q6 e-tron Sportback and BMW iX3.  CarsGuide reviewers found the Polestar 4 to have an impressive driving range, excellent performance, great styling… but that lack of back window and the digital rear view mirror, not so great. The new-generation Skoda Kodiaq arrived in 2025, bigger and more refined than the previous version, even if the styling appeared to have barely changed. CarsGuide reviewers found this seven-seater to be practical with excellent cabin storage and packed with loads of standard features, making the Kodiaq excellent value.Superb to drive with great handling and a comfortable ride, the Kodiaq is the alternative to more mainstream rivals such as the Mitsubishi Outlander or Toyota Kluger.  Toyota’s seven-seat large SUV has also been on the shopping list of Aussie families since 2003 and while there’s more rivals to pick from than 20 years ago, the Kluger remains popular.CarsGuide reviewers found the Kluger to be spacious, practical, effortless to drive and with a fuel efficient hybrid powertrain, it is also outstanding value for money and comes with low servicing costs and Toyota’s reputation of reliability.Aussie Klugers are made in right-hand drive at Toyota’s Indiana plant in the United States.  Toyota’s LandCruiser 300 Series is a legend in its own time, acclaimed worldwide as one of the most capable large off-roaders, that’s comfortable, and with an exceptional reputation for reliability.With rivals such as the Nissan Patrol and Land Rover Defender, CarsGuide reviewers found the LandCruiser 300 Series to not only be great off-road, but also have good on-road manners, too. Reviewers noted, however, the high price tag and the need for better off-road tyres.The new-gen Toyota LandCruiser Prado arrived in late 2024 amid high expectations given the popularity of the previous modelsThe new Prado had a completely new retro cool look, but also a higher price tag. Still CarsGuide reviewers found the Prado very effective off-road and a big improvement over the previous gen with an increased towing capacity of 3500kg. But CarsGuide reviewers also found the Prado to be underpowered and not as good value for money as a Ford Everest or Isuzu MU-X.   Volkswagen's Touareg is a large, luxurious SUV that’s closely related to Audi’s Q7 but without the higher price.While all Touareg’s are five-seaters only, CarsGuide reviewers found it to be practical, full of sophisticated tech and refined in design and quality.A plug-in hybrid in the sporty R grade is available but CarsGuide reviewers found energy consumption to be high and EV driving range to be low.

Four-wheel drive vehicles are widely considered ‘real’ off-road vehicles, but all-wheel drive vehicles are also capable of tackling off-road adventures in their own right.However, for the purpose of this yarn, we’ll focus on 4WDs.So, what are the top five off-roaders of all time? This is a purely subjective yarn, so feel free to pitch in with your opinion and your own top five off-roaders of all time.Read on. (Note: all prices in this yarn were correct at time of writing.)All versions of this legendary 4WD have for a long time found favour with off-road adventurers because of their drivability (ease of use and comfort); its capability (in general driving terms, as an off-roader, and for hauling heavy loads); its reputation for reliability (which, some say, has lapsed in recent years); and its fixability if something goes wrong. Rest assured, if you suffer experience vehicle-based strife, even out past the black stump, you’ll likely be able to find Toyota parts somewhere near-ish without too much hassle.Many Cruisers are used as off-road vehicles (for work and play), but which Cruiser variant should be your preferred choice if you’re after a reliable, capable and comfortable long-distance tourer to haul camping gear or tow your camper-trailer or caravan? Take your pick: 40 Series, 60 Series, 70 Series, 80 Series, 100 Series, 200 Series. The 105 (more widely known here as the Prado) is the Cruiser’s less macho little brother, but it is still very popular because of its reputation as a capable, comfortable touring platform.Our mate Alf Johnston's 80 – pictured throughout this yarn – is a 1996 GXL 80 Series with a 24-valve 6-cylinder 1HD-FT turbo-diesel engine and automatic transmission. It has a touring friendly 270-litre fuel tank – a long range fuel tank set-up – and 30-litre water tank. A standard version had a 90-litre fuel tank and a 45-litre fuel tank.For me, the 4.5-litre V8 twin turbo-diesel engine (200kW and 650Nm) is the stand-out.There is a massive trade-off when buying most Cruisers though: new or used, it may be on the wrong side of expensive. Just ask anyone trying to buy a second-hand Cruiser about ‘Toyota tax’, i.e. the persistently high re-sale value of any Toyota that’s for sale, especially a Cruiser.Towing capacity is listed as 750kg (unbraked) and 3000kg (braked).Price: Expect to pay from $9999 for a 1999 Toyota Landcruiser 100 Series GXL 4X4 (with almost 391,000km on the odo) through to $242,000 for a 2022 Toyota Landcruiser 70 Series GXL (dual-cab chassis, loaded up with aftermarket gear and with 38,294km on the odo).Pros:RobustReliableNigh-on unbreakableCons:Hard to find oneEven harder to find one that hasn’t been thrashedWhen you do find a good one, it’ll be expensiveAnother Cruiser bonus: you can build up and customise your ultimate tourer with the help of Australia’s fantastic aftermarket industry – think ARB, Ironman 4x4, TJM, and the like.The Y63 is on its way but until then take your pick from new and used Patrols: GQ, GU, whatever.This well-respected 4WD wagon is another of Australia’s favourite touring vehicles and can be seen everywhere on the nation’s roads, and parked in caravan parks, or set up for camping.Any Patrol can be built up and customised as an ultimate tourer, but for me the mission-ready current-generation V8 Patrol Warrior wins out over the rest.Let me explain: a few years back Nissan Australia enlisted the expertise of Melbourne-based automotive engineering company Premcar to transform the Navara into the hard-core Pro-4X Warrior, which was a great success – and then Premcar did the same to the Patrol.At time of launch Premcar had baked into the Patrol more than $15,000 worth of top-notch conversion work, engineering upgrades and fitment of accessories to turn the 4WD wagon into the Warrior.It is bigger, wider and taller than the Ti spec Patrol on which it’s based and it has upgraded Aussie-tuned suspension, a Warrior-specific wheel-and-tyre package, a bi-modal exhaust system, substantial underbody protection, a 48kg increase in payload over the Ti to 736kg, as well as a whole lot of other stuff intended to turn the legendary 4WD wagon into an even more appealing vehicle, on- and off-road.The Warrior has the same 5.6-litre V8 petrol engine as the regular Patrol line-up but that’s fine because that engine – producing 298kW at 5800rpm and 560Nm at 4000rpm and matched to a seven-speed automatic transmission – is a bloody cracker.It also has a re-engineered version of Nissan’s Hydraulic Body Motion Control system, a 50mm total suspension lift with new springs front and rear (increasing vehicle height to 1990mm, 50mm more than the Ti), and increased ground clearance (323mm, 50mm more than the Ti) and wheel track (1735mm front and rear, 40mm more than the Ti).As with the Cruiser, the Patrol can be built up and customised as an ultimate tourer with the help of Australia’s great aftermarket industry (ARB, Ironman 4x4, et al).Price: Expect to pay anywhere from $115,990 for a 2025 Nissan Patrol Warrior (4X4) Y62 MY25 (with 546km on the odo) through to $122,990 for a 2025 Nissan Patrol Warrior (4X4) Y62 MY25 (with 5698km on the odo).Pros:GutsyIt’ll go anywherePlenty of sparesCons:ThirstyHard to find a good one for the right priceHard to find a good one that hasn’t been driven hardWhile older versions of the Ranger are well worth considering, let’s focus on the newer post-2022 versions here.The Ranger and its wagon stablemate, the Ranger-based Everest, are both refined, comfortable and capable, and either of them make a great platform as an on- and off-road touring vehicle.The Ranger – with either a 3.2-litre five-cylinder turbo-diesel engine (147kW/470Nm) a 2.0-litre four-cylinder twin-turbo diesel engine (157kW/500Nm), or the new-ish 3.0-litre V6 turbo diesel engine (184kW/600Nm) – is a solid and nice-driving unit.Obviously, if it’s your cup of tea, the Raptor is the go.Same goes for the Everest, though because it’s a wagon, it lacks the Ranger’s work-friendly versatility, but it does yield a smoother ride and handling overall.Long-distance road trips aren’t daunting if you know you’re clocking up the kays in these vehicles, which both offer refined on-road driving experiences.Ford’s all-wheel drive system is smooth in its application and helps to make these vehicles comfortably capable in most off-road scenarios.The Ranger and Everest have become increasingly prevalent on our roads in recent years and they appeal to off-road adventurers who want comfortable and capable touring vehicles.The Ranger has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 3500kg (braked). The Everest has listed towing capacities of 750kg (unbraked) and 3000kg (braked) or 3100kg (braked), depending on the variant.Price: Expect to pay from $28,888 for a 2022 Ford Ranger Xl 3.2 (4X4) Px MkIII MY21.75 (with 219,805km on the odo) through to $95,990 for a 2025 Ford Ranger Raptor 3.0 (4X4) MY25.25 (with 255km on the odo).Price: Expect to pay from $33,888 for a 2022 Ford Everest Trend (4WD) (with 176,099km on the odo) through to $88,999 for a 2023 Ford Everest Platinum (4WD) (with 22,212km on the odo).Pros:RefinedNice to driveWell-appointedCons:ExpensiveNew versions almost too reliant on techV6 can become thirsty off-roadThe legendary Land Rover Series I, II, III preceded the Defender, but while the older Landies have the monopoly on that ye olde Insta-friendly romantic vision of off-roading, the 75th anniversary Defender 110 of 2023 does it for me.This limited-edition 75th anniversary five-door 110 body style Landie with like-it-or-loathe-it Grasmere green exterior is based on the high-grade HSE variant. Note: three-door 90 body-style versions are also available.The Defender manages to retain the old Defender’s distinctive shape and spirit while introducing the new-generation’s style and presence into the mix.This is a P400 MHEV (mild hybrid electric vehicle) and has a 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, supported by a small electric motor. That engine produces 294kW at 5500-6500rpm and 550Nm at 2000-5000rpm and it’s matched to an eight-speed automatic transmission.The P400 MHEV has a 48-volt lithium-ion battery, aimed at reducing engine load and fuel consumption, and it has a 7kW electric supercharger aimed at minimising turbo lag.The Defender has permanent all-wheel drive and a dual-range transfer case with high- and low-range 4WD. It has a comprehensive suite of driver-assist tech – including Land Rover’s Terrain Response 2 system, with switchable modes such as Grass/Gravel/Snow, Sand, Mud and Ruts, and Rock Crawl. That system tweaks throttle response, engine outputs, transmission shifts and diff control to best suit the terrain.It also has centre and rear diff locks.Defender buyers can add to their vehicle from a range of accessories and Packs, which include grouped accessories to suit your specific lifestyle, i.e. Adventure, Explorer, Country or Urban.Price: Expect to pay from $112,950 for a 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 75th Edition Auto AWD MY23.5 (with 50,970km on the odo) through to $125,800 for a 2022 Land Rover Defender 110 P400 75th Edition Auto AWD MY23.5 (with 25,000km on the odo).Pros:Old-school charmNew-age styleIt’ll go anywhereCons:Price-tagHard to find a good one for the right priceThe Pajero is on its way back – hopefully in the not-too-distant future – but until then if you can find a previous-gen Pajero you’re in luck.Mitsubishi officially ceased production of its fourth-generation Pajero in March 2021, but this no-frills 4WD wagon still holds tons of appeal for seekers of adventure – and that’s why you see a lot of them everywhere: on the blacktop, out in the bush and on our beaches.It’s not the most dynamic or exciting off-roader on the market, in terms of looks or performance, but the 3.2-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel Pajero (141kW/441Nm) has a legion of fans due to its simple, no-fuss approach to life on and off the road. It’s also not the heaviest hauler around (tow capacity is 3000kg), but it’s a gutsy unit.It’s easy to drive, very capable and very functional. The 4WD Pajero also has 'Super Select II' 4WD system which offers four drive modes: 2H (two-wheel drive, rear), 4H (4WD high range but, in this, safe to use at high speed on bitumen), 4H LC (4WD/all-wheel drive with locked centre diff; suitable for off-road driving at 30km/h or so) and 4L LC (4WD with locked centre diff and low-range gearing engaged; suitable only for low-speed 4WDing (below 30km/h). Turns out 4H is a good state of play for general driving.The 2.4-litre, four-cylinder turbo-diesel Pajero Sport (133kW/430Nm), though light on in terms of towing capacity (3100kg, braked) still compares favourably to segment rivals and dual cab utes in terms of general standard packability and it remains an appealing proposition as an all-round touring machine.Price: Expect to pay from $43,990 for a 2022 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed (4WD) seven-seat eat MY22 (with 72,349km on the odo) through to $60,888 for a 2024 Mitsubishi Pajero Sport Exceed (4WD) seven-seat MY24 (with 10km on the odo).Pros:Nice to drive on-roadVery capable off-roadDecent fuel consumptionCons:Feels a bit old compared to rivalsTowing capacity (on paper) is less than rivalsSmaller inside than most rivals

Audi wants a hardcore off-road SUV to rival Land Rover’s Defender and it plans to do it with the help of the Volkswagen Group’s retro-revival sub-brand Scout.

Modern 4x4s are packed with clever tech - but at what cost?

Land Rover has turned to the dark side.The British brand has released a blacked-out version of its V8-powered off-road monster, dubbed the Defender Octa Black.It combines a potent 467kW/750Nm 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 and mild hybrid assistance with muscular off-road performance and primo luxury kit.The man in charge of the Defender program, Mark Cameron, said the Defender Octa is the tallest and widest Defender, enabling it to tackle even more extreme terrain.“The introduction of Defender Octa Black takes things up a notch,” said Cameron. “We know our clients love giving their Defenders all-black finishes, so our designers have applied this principle to every possible surface – inside and out – to create the ultimate tough luxury Defender Octa,” he said.Gloss-black finishes cover nearly all surfaces, including the exhaust tips, Land Rover oval badge, 22-inch inch alloy wheels and even underbody elements.Inside there is black leather upholstery and black seat backs, armrests and dashboard.It also comes with a whopping big 700W 15-speaker Meridian stereo, 13.1-inch multimedia screen and what Land Rover calls Body and Soul Seats that pump the audio signals from the stereo through the seats so passengers can “feel the music".There is advanced air suspension, which Land Rover claims responds to any driving style and gives the driver greater control over any terrain. The air suspension allows for a 323mm ground clearance and approach and departure angles of more than 40 degrees, along with a ramp angle of 29 degrees and a wading depth of 1000mm.This is coupled with a special Octa driving mode for off-road, which has a special ABS calibration that is designed for driving on gravel roads.Its beefy V8 can propel it to 100km/h from a standstill in 4.0 seconds on the way to a top speed of 250km/h. Fuel of 13.1 litres per 100km isn’t great.The Octa Black is only available in the 110 body style and is priced from $313,800 (before on-road costs), or about the same as three Toyota LandCruiser 300s.

The Land Rover Defender will gain more V8 options for the 2026 model year (MY26) as the British firm moves to rejuvenate the much-loved off-roader with design and tech updates.