Land Rover Defender 110 long-term test: report 3

The car Land Rover Defender 110 Sedona Edition Run by Will Nightingale, reviews editor

Why it's here To find out if the 'new' Defender is still a compelling choice five years after its launch

Needs to Combine a comfortable and relaxing drive with family-friendly convenience. Oh, and be great off road

Mileage 3410 List price £84,470 Target Price £82,477 Price as tested £96,033 Official economy 32.5mpg Test economy 28.3mpg

19 June 2025 – The ultimate Defender?

The Land Rover Defender has one of the broadest price ranges of any car currently on sale. You can buy an entry-level Defender 90 for £57,135, my relatively well-specced 110 D350 for around £96,000 or really push the boat out and spend £150,000 on the range-topping Octa version.

Does the Octa really justify its roughly £55k premium over my car, let alone the cheapest versions of the Defender? Well, visually you might think the changes aren’t dramatic enough. True, the particular Octa I’d lined up for comparison was fitted with diamond-turned 20in alloys and proper knobby off-road tyres (a £5515 option), but not many people gave it a second glance on the Defender-infested roads around London and Surrey.

That’s despite its flared wheel arches and a 28mm increase in ground clearance. For some, the Octa’s relative subtlety will be part of the appeal and for others there’s always Sargasso Blue (instead of Charante Grey) paintwork for a more eye-catching vibe. 

What’s not in doubt is the extra performance on offer. Under the Octa’s bonnet there’s a mighty 626bhp 4.4-litre V8 engine. It’s capable of launching this range-topping Defender to 60mph from a standstill in just 3.8 seconds and makes a jolly nice sound whenever you put your foot down, without being ostentatiously loud like a Mercedes G63 AMG.

There are far more changes than just the engine, of course. The suspension has been beefed up so the Octa can take harsher impacts when off-roading, although when you’re on the road – and let’s face it that’s where most Defender owners spend most of their time – the changes do make the ride noticeably firmer than in my regular 110.

And while the handling is a bit sharper and the steering quicker, we’re not talking about huge changes in the grand scheme of things. In short, don’t expect the Octa to keep up with a Porsche Cayenne GTS on the road, although if said Cayenne tried to follow the Octa on rough terrain it would be the equivalent of trying to chase a mountain goat up Everest while wearing stilettos. 

So, what’s the verdict? Is the Octa really the pinnacle of the Defender range and worth every penny? Well, it depends on your viewpoint. On one hand, it’s objectively a much better car than a G63 AMG – a car that costs even more money (from £189,375).

But being better than a G-Class isn’t exactly hard, and I must admit I was quite happy to be back in my regular Defender 110. Its more relaxed body movements are more appropriate for a big, heavy SUV, plus it’s more comfortable and quieter. Perhaps I’m just getting old, but for me the Defender is at its best towards the lower end of its line-up.

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