The Land Rover Defender, and especially the Defender OCTA, is the peak of off-road capability within the Land Rover lineup. The large SUV is designed to get anywhere, and the 626 horsepower OCTA is designed to do all that, but way faster. Its V8 bellow, upgraded drivetrain, and svelte interior make it the perfect luxury off-roader, even in the face of competitors like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class. To see if it still holds up when you throw a bit of regular life at it, I took the dog along during my week with the car.As ever, our tester is my 85-pound dog, Beorn. He's happy to do it and he works for cheap.Ease Of Access: Too Tall For SomeChase BierenkovenAccessing the Defender, and how easy your pet finds it, all comes down to vertical. If they're spry and they've got some hops, this is a non-issue. The Defender's rear doors are very wide, and so is the path to entry. Beorn had no trouble getting inside, but he's also pretty tall, very young, and would rather die than be left somewhere alone for 10 seconds. If your dog is smaller or more independent, the Defender might be a tough sell.If you prefer to put your pet in the trunk, though, I have good news. All Defenders equipped with air suspension can be lowered at the trunk, providing better access not only to the rear of the vehicle, but to the second row, too. After all, the whole rear of the SUV lowers a few inches when you press the button, which is located on the left side of the trunk.Interior Space: Plush And SpaciousChase BierenkovenIt's good to be a dog, but it's probably better to be one in a Defender. The OCTA's ride is noticably more firm than the more pedestrian versions, but even so, it's a comfortable place to spend some time. The rear seats are plenty wide enough for even big dogs like Beorn to sit like a sapien, and with headroom to spare. I caught him staring out the safari windows and the passenger windows, which also provide some excellent ventilation in the back. Speaking of which, there's an independently controlled fan in the back that can help provide some added airflow to pets in the trunk space.Chase BierenkovenThe seats also fold totally flat independently, which makes the simulatneous carrying of pets and cargo much easier. You could, for example, have a pet occupy two rear seats, while leaving the third folded to accomodate larger items like skis inside the car. It's a pretty sweet setup, and I don't have much to complain about.Materials: Tough-Feeling, But Too Nice For PetsChase BierenkovenStill, this is billed as a high-dollar luxury SUV. While the materials no doubt feel luxurious and of high quality, they're also way too nice for dogs. Maybe skip the white interior. The Defender OCTA in particular makes use of some high-quality leathers, which you'll find on the seats, armrests, and even the seat backs. While these materials are great for people, I'd certainly want to avoid letting pets on them.Verdict: A Nearly Perfect SUV For Dog OwnersChase BierenkovenIn summary, the Defender's biggest weaknesses for pets are the things people love about it: the off-road ride height and premium materials. These two things can present some obstacles for dog owners, but they're also easily mitigated. What you're left with is an excellent SUV for hauling pets and conquering trails.
+59 others
