With the Land Rover Defender and Eastnor Castle in the backgroundJust a few years after we all fell in love with the Land Rover Defender, the comeback of the era that returned this legendary explorer to the SUV market, the company once again jolted us by introducing the Land Rover Defender Octa. Octa, which is short for octahedron or diamond, is designed to produce the most powerful yet tough and resilient performance in the Land Rover family. But it goes further than that; priced from $159,000, it also delivers the most refined and comfortable drive in the Land Rover lineup. Interestingly, the Octa is not the only car named for a diamond; the Rolls-Royce Cullinan is named for the Cullinan Diamond, the largest rough diamond ever discovered. But that's where the analogy ends; the Cullinan is a truck-sized SUV fully outfitted with over-the-top features and details. The Defender Octa takes a page from Range Rover, lining the interior with fine materials and an understated feel but remains true to the Defender heritage: it's designed to go further, faster and more capably than any other Defender ever built.After getting a thrilling first ride in the Octa a couple of years ago, it wa00s finally time to take the wheel and give it a go. This time, though, the course was particularly challenging: Land Rover invited me to take it out on the company's proving ground, the place where their engineers test their vehicles before approving them for changes, updates, or production. This is where these things live or die; where they literally prove themselves. AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. Additionally, I was Land Rover's guest for this experience but all opinions are my own.Taking the Land Rover Defender Octa Off-Road The Land Rover Defender conquering one of the obstacles at the company's proving ground – Credit: Kimatni RawlinsAs an off-roader, I peg my expertise somewhere in the middle; I am experienced enough to be capable, but I'm not an expert. And while there are lots of different off-roading experiences, from climbing to mountaintops to crawling rocks, overcoming obstacles that seem impossible—that flood of relief when you make it is an incredible feeling—trail riding is my favorite. Pushing an SUV to its limits, reading the trail ahead second-by-second and keeping your speed up is a thrill. It's bumpy, belly-laugh-inducing and exhilarating. It's that last part that keeps me coming back over and over again, happy to test out any SUV that lets me push it on a trail. And that's what it's like behind the wheel of the Land Rover Defender Octa, the pinnacle SUV in the Defender lineup. It's a finely finished SUV powered by a BMW-designed twin-turbo V8 engine that generates 626 HP and an off-road system that delivers everything Land Rover can do and then some. Yes, it's powerful, but it's more than that.Read: Off-Roading Reveals Cosmo Tire's True CharacterWhat Makes the Octa More Capable Than Other Defenders?The Land Rover Defender in, under all that dirt, Sargasso Blue – Credit: Scotty ReissIt's not just the powerful engine that makes the Land Rover Defender Octa special—though that helps. Adding to its capability is the highly tuned suspension and drivetrain designed not just for off-road driving but for high-speed off-road driving, all while keeping passengers feeling secure and comfortable. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Octa is available with 20" or 22" wheels and sits 1.1" higher than the standard Land Rover Defender, giving it over 12″ of ground clearance. With its wheels set 2.7" wider, and fenders that pop from the frame to cover them, it's designed to grab more of the ground beneath it. And it has 3.3 feet of wading depth, the most of any Defender. And then, there's a dedicated Octa mode accessed by tapping the diamond tab on the steering wheel. This mode enhances Dynamic or Sport mode with faster steering for better agility and precision, better braking and an advanced cooling system so you can stay on the trail longer. In addition to the wider wheels, the Octa has a better rear departure angle for getting up and over sharper obstacles, an aluminum front skid plate and full underbody protection. Read: Destination Defender Is the Poshest Place to Get DirtyThe Ultimate Off-Road Test: Eastnor CastleAn American spec of the Land Rover Defender Octa with the Octa mode control centered on the lower part of the steering wheel – Credit: Scotty ReissThe course for our test drive was the Land Rover proving ground at Eastnor Castle in England's Herefordshire countryside. If it sounds fancy, it is; the 5,000 acres that surround the castle, which served as the Roy family's estate in season 1 of Succession, undulate in valleys and ridges separated by wooded hillsides and fields of wildflowers. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut if it sounds exclusive, it's not; anyone can sign up and learn off-road driving at the Land Rover Experience Eastnor, one of 49 around the world where Land Rover's experts teach anyone who wants to learn (from about $500 for up to three drivers). And Eastnor Castle, one of many that dot the region, is open for public and private events, from Dragon Camp for kids in summer to hunting season outings, weddings and more.Our trek took us from the Experience center through the woods and up to the top of a ridge where we had incredible views of the valley below and Eastnor Castle on the next hill over. From there, we continued to the testing ground; here, Land Rover has set up obstacle courses designed to highlight (or test) the different features of Land Rover and Range Rover SUVs.Read: 2022 Land Rover Range Rover: Royal Style in an Off-Road PackageHopping Into the Land Rover Defender OctaThe square mesh that adorns the Land Rover Defender Octa's air vents is an elegant detail – Credit: Scotty ReissThe first thing I had to acclimate to was driving on the wrong side of the car; in the UK, Land Rovers are right-hand drive and on public roads, you'll drive on the left side of the road. But once you hop in and orient yourself, you get used to it. The front cabin of the Defender Octa is not unlike the rest of the Defender lineup: The dashboard has a convenient storage bay for small items and a large center console is deep enough to hold a few things; the deep cup holders are large enough for sizable water bottles and there are plenty of places to put a phone or keys. There's more storage under the center armrest. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe center screen holds most functions, though there's a panel of fast-access buttons and dials just below it. What you'll notice is that the finish details are a step up; leather or soft-touch materials cover every surface; the front and rear seats are heated and the front seats are vented to cool you off when needed.The Octa features the company's premium Meridian sound system, which pairs with "Body and Soul Seats"; these allow you to feel the music as much as you hear it. There's plenty of legroom and headroom and the seats allow you to sit with proper posture so even in the rear seat you won't feel nauseous on a rugged off-road course. Behind the Wheel of the Defender OctaThe center camera has the side view selected so we can see the clearance on either side of our tires – Credit: Scotty ReissOnce it was my turn to drive, I put it in gear and listened to the pro driver who sat up front with me. He guided me on the proper off-road settings (mud and ruts) and when to use the downhill control setting. He also performed "spotter" duties, keeping an eye on my wheels, mirrors and the trail to help me stay centered in the trench-like trail, guiding me to keep up momentum on hill climbs and to guide me through what little water was still left on the course, which was very little thanks to a dry summer.With all the settings in place for our drive, all I had to do was proceed with caution and keep an eye on my mirrors and the side-view camera image on the center screen, which I did. Part of the challenge for me is not to be *corrected* by the pro driver, or, heaven forbid, have to turn the wheel over to him to get out of a mess. Where Octa Shines: Cutting An Impossible TrailOn the narrow and muddy trail in the Land Rover Defender Octa – Credit: Scotty ReissMuch of the day was spent sweating deeply cut trails, muddy trenches that were just a hair wider than the Defender itself, leaving me feeling grateful for the side view cameras and side view mirrors. You can't afford to make a mistake; should you drag a fender or wheel too deeply into the wall of the trench, you'd have to be rescued; the walls of the trench were so high I'm not sure I could have opened the car door.AdvertisementAdvertisementFeeling the Defender plow through several inches of mud, the kind you'd never consider walking in for fear of losing a shoe, was powerful. Feeling it climb that muddy hill with confidence, even while you're hesitant on the accelerator, giving it gas then easing off because you don't want to dig in, was to feel the engine chuckle as it kicked into "I got this" mode. The Defender Octa did everything I asked of it with incredible ease.Then, Going All OctaOn the open trail in the Land Rover Defender Octa; I'm driving and Kimatni Rawlins is photobombing me – Credit: Scotty ReissOur trail took us to a clearing set up with various testing trails; there, Land Rover offered us lunch, a lovely open-air affair that let us bask in the sun and summer breeze. But just past our picnic spot was a fenced track area; we could hear the Octa revving and tearing out on a high-speed trail course. I ate quickly so I could get in line for my turn. The point of this exercise was to let the pro driver take the wheel and demonstrate what the Octa is capable of. My instructor, Martin, clearly relishes this part of the day; he was practically giddy for it, and I was probably his 8th (but not last) ride-along of the day. Once we were buckled and ready to go, Martin put it in Octa mode and let it rip. The Octa took off like a shot and soon we were kicking up dust at 60 MPH or more, dashing around cones, sliding through wide circles and giggling the whole way. Driving a powerful SUV on a race course will do that. Bucket List Item ✔️The rear of the Land Rover Defender Octa shows its wider wheels pronounced fenders – Credit: Scotty ReissThere are two things this job has allowed me to collect: drives on famous tracks and off-roading in legendary SUVs. For me, this second category is all about understanding what the off-roader, from casual ski weekender to die-hard mudder, wants and needs to be able to live that life. AdvertisementAdvertisementSo getting behind the wheel of the Defender Octa was a real treat. That it's optimal for trail riding makes it even more so; that's what it's intended to do. But it can do all the things, from crawling rocks and climbing mountains to zooming across the savannas, and do it in supreme style and comfort, making it worthy of its Octa name and pinnacle place in the Land Rover family.
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