They’ve taken the unstoppable and made it… unflinchingly posh. Land Rover has rolled out the latest iteration of its iconic Defender, and while it still looks like it could cross a lava field to get your oat milk latte, it now does it with more flair, finesse, and a friendly flick of the touchscreen.
The upgraded Defender lineup—spanning the 90, 110, and big-bruiser 130 models—gets a refresh that’s part MI6 gadgetry, part British countryside muscle, and part luxury lodge on wheels. Headlining the changes: a new 13.1-inch infotainment screen so large you may mistake it for a Netflix theatre, redesigned lighting that could guide ships home, and an all-new “Driver Attention Monitor” to gently suggest you might be daydreaming again.
But that’s just the tip of the granite-grey iceberg. Enter Defender Octa—the Schwarzenegger of Land Rovers, but with a design degree and a Spotify playlist. It packs 635 PS of V8-powered bravado, a suspension system with more degrees of freedom than your last group project, and new colour options like Sargasso Blue (yes, that’s a real sea) and Borasco Grey (named after a… silver mine? Sure, why not).
Want your 4×4 wrapped like a haute couture burrito? Later this year, you’ll be able to get it in Patagonia White Matte, a colour inspired by snowy peaks and the collective sighs of influencers.
Meanwhile, the regular Defender isn’t slacking. Flush rear lights, bonnet textures, and new alloy wheel designs make it look like it’s been spending time in a very rugged spa. Interior tweaks include hidden cubbies, cable-routing side pockets, and a centre jump seat option for that middle-seat passenger who really wants to feel like a co-pilot.
But let’s talk tech. For the first time ever, Defender gets Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control—so now, you can bounce over rocks and ruts while sipping tea and casually discussing the merits of tartan upholstery. And if you’re venturing off-grid (or just to Waitrose), the Defender 130 now offers an integrated air compressor because tyre pressures matter, darling.
Land Rover’s Managing Director for Defender, Mark Cameron, summed it up best: “We’re not just refining a vehicle—we’re redefining the very concept of capable luxury.” Translation? You’ll still get mud in your boots—but now they’ll be Italian leather.
So whether you’re an arctic explorer, suburban dreamer, or someone who just likes parking next to G-Wagens and smirking, the 2025 Defender wants you to know it hasn’t just evolved—it’s leveled up.
And yes, it’ll still get you out of a swamp. But now it’ll offer to stream Coldplay while doing it.
