Defender OCTA to look epic on Instagram or crush an off-road course, but what’s it actually like day-to-day? Here’s what early reviews and first drives suggest:
Comfort & Ride Quality
Performance in Daily Driving
Interior & Practicality
Fuel Economy & Costs
Off-Road Capability
Bottom line:
The Defender OCTA is shockingly civilized for a 4x4 that can tackle hardcore trails, but it’s still a huge, heavy, expensive SUV with fuel and running costs to match. If you need serious off-road ability and want Range Rover-level performance, it’s fantastic — but if you’ll mostly be commuting in the city, there are more practical choices.
Comfort & Ride Quality- Surprisingly refined for such a hardcore SUV.
- The new 6D Dynamics active suspension keeps it flat in corners and plush over bumps — it’s more comfortable than older Defenders, but it’s still a tall, heavy truck, so you’ll feel some body movement on bad roads.
- On the highway, it cruises quietly with only mild wind and road noise despite aggressive tires (if optioned with off-road rubber).
Performance in Daily Driving- The 635-hp twin-turbo V8 makes it hilariously quick for something this big (0–100 km/h in ~4 seconds), and the throttle response is smooth enough for city driving.
- Steering is accurate, but like most big SUVs, it’s not nimble in tight urban areas.
- Parking can be challenging because of its sheer size, but the cameras and driver aids help a lot.
Interior & Practicality- Cabin materials are premium but rugged — rubberized floors, tough upholstery options, and high-quality switches make it feel luxurious yet durable.
- Excellent seating comfort front and rear.
- Loads of space for passengers and gear, but some testers note the high cargo floor can make loading heavy items awkward.
- Infotainment is modern (Pivi Pro system) but can be laggy; thankfully, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is standard.
Fuel Economy & Costs- It’s a thirsty V8: real-world consumption hovers around 15–18 L/100 km (or worse if you push it).
- Insurance and maintenance costs will be significant — this is a high-end, complex vehicle.
- Tires, brakes, and servicing will cost much more than a regular Defender.
Off-Road Capability- Outstanding — this is where it’s in a league of its own. 6D Dynamics lets it maintain grip and stability on extreme terrain, and standard features like locking diffs, height-adjustable air suspension, and a wading depth of 1 meter make it almost unstoppable.
Bottom line:The Defender OCTA is shockingly civilized for a 4x4 that can tackle hardcore trails, but it’s still a huge, heavy, expensive SUV with fuel and running costs to match. If you need serious off-road ability and want Range Rover-level performance, it’s fantastic — but if you’ll mostly be commuting in the city, there are more practical choices.