Land Rover Defender V8 Facelift Review

This doesn't feel right. With countries around the world manoeuvring to secure their fuel stockpiles following the crisis in the Middle East, simply cruising around town in this 5.0-litre V8 Defender feels just outright irresponsible.

And yet, every night that I had this Defender, I couldn't help but find myself pining for just one more drive.

It really is that great a car.

This updated Defender gets redesigned head lights, while its taillights now sit flush against its body

Oh my

Let's get the formalities out of the way first. We have already driven numerous iterations of the Defender, but this car is returning to us as the model has been recently updated. And I think it's worth pointing them out because they aren't immediately apparent. 

So, for starters, the car now sports redesigned head lights (the rectangular LED elements are now filled in rather than hollow), while the taillights now sit flush to the car's body and now come in a dark tinted finish. The Land Rover logo that sits at the side of the car's grille also now comes set against a black background.

Finally, Land Rover states that the car has also received redesigned front and rear bumpers, but for the life of me I can't see exactly how the ones on this car are different from those that came on the car from before.

And frankly, I'm not bothered by this one bit. I have always found the boxy silhouette and design features of the previous car irresistible, so the fact that this latest iteration strays so little from its predecessor can only be a good thing.

The cabin of this updated Defender also gets a larger infotainment system and a new driver attention monitoring system

She's outrageous

Step within and the changes are just as hard to detect. This Defender's infotainment screen has now been upgraded, so it's now a 13.1‑inch item - only a touch larger than the 11.4-inch one the came in the car from before - and still sporting a user interface that should not be alien to anyone who has been in a recent product from Land Rover.

And before I forget, this car now comes with a new driver attention monitoring system, so a small aperture that houses the camera array for the safety system now sits at the top of the steering wheel column. Otherwise, it all should be familiar to any driver of a modern Defender.

Except that's not the only thing that more vintage fans of the brand should be familiar with. Under the bonnet of this car also sits the firm's storied 5.0-litre supercharged unit - making this Defender quite likely the last car to make use of this engine as the firm is seeing its V8-powered models now making use of a new BMW-sourced 4.4-litre engine.

And it is a beast of an engine.

The supercharged 5.0-litre V8 makes light work of this Defender's 2,481kg weight and delivers some pleasant vocals to boot

I want one

Defenders have always been well loved for their rugged versatility, but pick yours with this engine and you'll change the character of the car quite a fair bit: Think less in terms of practical farmland transportation and take the role instead of the operator of a tall, brash, and absurd SUV.

Give the throttle of this Defender a good hard push and you'll be bolted about with nothing short of snappy acceleration. Sure, there are plenty of cars out there that will propel you forward with even greater verve, and the numbers don't lie - this car posts a century sprint time of 5.8 seconds, which isn't particularly impressive in an age of electric high-performance SUVs.

But of course, none of these will be able to match the aural titillation of that V8 burble and that supercharger whine, or the sheer thrill that comes from simply being pushed into your seat as you watch the needle fly across that tachometer.

Those in the second row get benefit from the car's four-zone air-conditioning system and get access to their own USB ports while those in the third row get additional light from these safari windows

And its performance isn't just blunted by its 2,481kg total weight. Its tall body also means that you'll want to slow down for corners and sweeping turns alike. Body pitch, dive, and roll are all present (not that you should expect them to be dialled out), so carrying significant speed through any turn feels more like a test of the driver's nerves than one of the car's capabilities.

And I wouldn't want it any other way. If you opted for this engine, it's absurdity you're chasing right?

Still, I must point out that I found the steering to be pleasantly linear and accurate (a great boon when you're in such a big car regardless of what speed you're going). And for those who imagine themselves with the restraint necessary to adopt a civil turn of speed, ride pliancy is great, and the Defender's boxy shape and large mirrors mean it's easy to figure out where the extremities of this car lie.

And of course, the car's tall seating position and the commanding view you're offered out onto the road is something that only a few other cars will be able to deliver. Oh, and be sure to set aside quite a bit of dough to satiate this Defender's thirst: It will drink at a rate of 7.2km/L even when you're being gentle.

Fold down the third row of seats and space for cargo reaches a generous total of 916 litres. There's a handy three-pin power point here as well!

I need one

So, should you get one?

In an ideal world where money (both for fuel and the car itself) is no issue, sure. This V8 Defender combines startling pace alongside more than enough space for your passengers and the capability to bring plenty of gear along for longer trips up north. That it also looks irresistibly handsome and offers a unique driving experience only add to its undeniable appeal.

But if its utter absurdity you're after, take note that there's also a new 'OCTA' variant of the Defender, now also available here complete with a 626bhp twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 alongside a host of suspension upgrades and a meaner exterior still.

Looking for a capable and handsome off-roader? This updated Defender could be just what you need

If you still do opt to go with this supercharged 5.0-litre variant, you can at least take heart in the fact that you're likely to be driving off in one of the very last cars to come equipped with this characterful engine.

And of course, for the sensibly minded, there's also a variant equipped with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder, which we have always found to not only deliver sufficient power but also comes with a more demure character that these two, which arguably better suits the all-round versatility of the Defender's body a bit better.

All I know is that I'll be having plenty of restless nights wishing I was still behind the wheel regardless of which I pick.

Be sure to catch our reviews of these other off-road machines:

The Jeep Wrangler is brimming with riotous and rugged machismo

The Mercedes-Benz G580 pairs attention-grabbing looks and imposing presence

The Suzuki Jimny charms with its rugged design