Land Rover’s Latest Top-of-Line Defender Update Is Going to Be Debated by Fans for Years

Britain’s definitive off-roader gains some and loses some.

Front view of an olive green Land Rover Defender with illuminated headlights on rocky terrain.

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Land Rover just rolled out some new updates for its signature off-roader, though one has us and fans scratching our heads. Like many other vehicle updates, it consists of some changes to the color palette, equipment levels and even additional variants.

Such updates sometimes include revisions to the powertrains, which typically result in more power. But this time around, Land Rover ended up taking some of the horses out of the stable…

Suffice it to say, it wasn’t quite what we were expecting.

The Defender OCTA makes do with fewer ponies

Green Land Rover Defender driving through water splashing around its front wheels under a cloudy sky. — Despite making do with fewer horses under the hood, the Defender OCTA is still the most badass Defender ever.

Among the long list of changes to the Defender lineup for 2027, one truly stuck out to us. It mainly involves the top-spec Defender OCTA, a vehicle we’re absolutely head over heels for here at GP.

According to the spec sheet, the updated OCTA not only comes with some equipment changes and color updates, but also with less power under the hood.

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Thankfully, there’s still plenty, as the OCTA retains its original BMW M-sourced “S68” twin-turbo V8. However, now, it punches out 533 horsepower rather than the original version’s 626.

Torque remains the same at 553 pound-feet of twist. But almost 100 fewer horses amount to quite a deficit. And the results are quite apparent, with the OCTA’s 0-60 mph sprint rising to 4.2 seconds from 3.8.

Green and black off-road SUV climbing a rocky hill under a cloudy sky. — The Defender OCTA still retains all of its original equipment, including the BMW-sourced twin-turbo V8.

The reason? Land Rover didn’t officially disclose what specific changes and decisions led to the power reduction.

But if we were to speculate, it could be emissions- or fuel-economy-related (or even both). To compensate, Land Rover did say its engineers reworked the OCTA’s exhaust system for a more pronounced exhaust note.

No more AJ-V8

White Land Rover Defender SUV with black roof and spare tire mounted on the rear, parked on a concrete driveway with greenery above. — Sadly, the standard Defender 90 and 130 lose their V8 option.

Another major powertrain adjustment also occurs with the rest of the Defender lineup. Once again, it involves a swipe at the V8.

Land Rover sadly also discontinued the use of its tried-and-true AJ-V8 for the standard Defender 90 and 130 models. Before this update, the British automaker pleased power-hungry enthusiasts by offering the old supercharged 5.0-liter V8 in those specific Defender variants.

But that is no longer the case and global buyers will now have to make do with the regular Defender P380’s 3.0-liter turbo- and supercharged mild-hybrid inline-six.

Black modern SUV parked on a concrete driveway with green plants and vines on a stone wall. — Other lineup revisions add a new Vertex trim for all Defender bodies.

Not that that’s a bad thing, as it still pumps out a healthy 375 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. That inline-six also underwent revisions, so it now produces 20 fewer horsepower than the old P400 variant it replaces.

For North American-spec cars, the Defender gains a new P300 model featuring the same 3.0-liter inline-six. It replaces the old P300’s 2.0-liter turbo-four.

More colors galore, new factory accessories and a new Vertex trim

Black Land Rover Defender SUV parked on a concrete driveway next to a building with hanging greenery. — The Defender’s standard powertrain, the 3.0-liter inline-six, also undergoes some notable updates.

Outside of the sad powertrain updates, Land Rover introduced a new Vertex variant for all three Defender bodies. It adds beefier front and rear bumper covers and a more pronounced grille for a more intimidating appearance.

The Vertex variant also paints the Defender’s lower plastic protective cladding in the same color as the rest of the body, along with piano gloss black trim bit, yellow-painted brake calipers and fancy new 22-inch wheels. The Vertex joins the Defender lineup next to the X trim.

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Rounding out the list of updates is a new collection of factory upgrades and accessories, all so that one can start building their ultimate off-roader or overlander right from the dealer.

Such includes a new factory-backed Expedition Roof Light system, a Tail Door Gear Carrier and an optional rear spoiler for a racier look.

Availability and pricing

Land Rover didn’t specify pricing for the updated 2027 Defender lineup just yet. But we expect that information to surface as we near the dealer launch dates later this year.

White Land Rover Defender with black roof and wheels parked on a concrete platform near a stone wall with greenery.

2027 Land Rover Defender

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About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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