We met early in the morning at RCLUB in Toronto, loading up gear and caffeine before pointing a Defender 130 toward the U.S. border. This was my first time making the drive into the Hudson Valley, and while I’ve spent plenty of time behind the wheel of my own Defender 110 X, this trip already felt like something a bit different. The 2025 Land Rover Defender Octa might’ve had something to do with that, but more on that later.
I’d heard about Destination Defender before—just enough to know it was a weekend-long gathering of owners and enthusiasts, but I wasn’t entirely sure what I was walking into. That uncertainty, combined with the unfamiliar road and a familiar yet totally different machine surrounding me, made the whole experience feel like a bit like diving a new reef with the same mask I’ve had since my first breath underwater. Despite owning a Defender for the past 18 months, this was my first look at what this brand’s community really feels like at its zenith.
After crossing into New York State, we swapped into the new Defender Octa—a move that, frankly, raised my already high expectations. The route took us through the Finger Lakes, a stretch of winding roads and rolling hills that turned out to be a pretty decent test bed for what’s now the most powerful and performance-focused Defender ever built from the factory.
The Defender Octa is, in many ways, the apex of what a Defender can be. It shares its 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 with the BMW X5 M. Some stuffy British purists might raise an eyebrow at that German heart, but the result is nothing short of transformative. With 626 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque at your disposal, the Octa doesn’t just move—it surges. There’s an immediacy to its throttle response that redefines what a Defender feels like behind the wheel, especially when compared to the more composed, if sometimes laggy demeanour of the turbocharged inline-six in the 110.
But the story isn’t just under the hood. It’s in the details. The cabin retains that industrial-chic vibe we’ve come to expect, but there are subtle touches that elevate the experience. Bronze metallic accents on the shifter, climate controls, and door pulls tell you that this isn’t just a more powerful Defender; it’s a more considered one. The seats deserve their own mention—deeply bolstered with optional adjustable back wings, they offer a sense of sportiness without veering into a track-day cosplay. Their only real quirk is that lumbar and bolster adjustments are tucked into the infotainment, rather than on the seat itself. A minor ergonomic miss in an otherwise flawless interior.
And then there’s the integrated “Sound & Feel” system, which pipes low-frequency feedback directly through the seat. At first, it’s a bit disorienting, and invoked that same cringe I felt up my spine the first time I ground a gear in a manual transmission. But over long hauls, it makes an unexpected difference in fatigue. It’s the kind of tech you didn’t know you needed until you’ve experienced it. Then you kind of miss it in every other car.
Equally impressive is the 6D Dynamic Suspension. Flip the Defender Octa into its namesake mode and the system firms up dramatically, reducing body roll and sharpening road feel. Yet when you dial things back into Comfort or Auto, it delivers a much smoother ride, but never disconnected. It’s clear Land Rover intended the Defender Octa not as a gimmick, but as a legitimate halo model that stretches the platform in a new direction.
Arriving at the Destination Defender grounds, I was struck by how unpretentious everything felt. Despite the marquee banners, stages, scattered vehicle displays, and the obvious investment Land Rover poured into the event, the tone wasn’t about exclusivity. It was about community, and that community was as diverse as it was engaged. Families, solo overlanders, longtime Land Rover loyalists, and first-time buyers all mingling while enjoying off-road courses, canoeing, slacklining, camping, and live music.
A highlight of the weekend was the gala for the Defender Service Awards. This is Land Rover’s initiative to recognize small charities and non-profits across North America. Winners receive a custom Defender 130 with purpose-built factory accessories and wrapped in a custom-designed livery for their organization. Seeing these organizations’ stories, and hearing from those at their helms, reframed for me what a vehicle brand can mean. But I think it’s important to realize that over 25 vehicles and $1,000,000 donated since 2021 aren’t just prizes. These are tools for change.
Another major moment was the announcement of Sara Price as the third Defender Factory driver for the upcoming 2026 Dakar Rally. Her presence throughout the weekend, engaging with attendees and sharing her journey from racing motocross from eight years old, to being the third-ever woman to win a stage at the Dakar added an aspirational dimension to the event.
As far as car events go, Destination Defender stands out as one that truly builds a connection between owners, enthusiasts, and the community. The weekend isn’t just about the vehicles—they’re simply a starting point for conversations and connections that centre around adventure, purpose, and giving back to the places we call home. That proved true over and over again. Unlike many other automotive gatherings plagued by posturing and exclusivity, Destination Defender fostered openness. Conversations came easy. Strangers became trail buddies. I watched people trade dog treats, trail stories, and Instagram handles in the span of a few minutes. It wasn’t about showing off—it was about showing up.
Driving the 2025 Land Rover Defender Octa several hundred kilometres from home and soaking in everything Destination Defender had to offer felt like stepping into the evolving identity of the brand. And while there certainly is controversy surrounding their sibling Jaguar’s rebrand, it’s clear that when it comes to Defender, Land Rover is building a narrative that connects luxury with utility, heritage with innovation, and most importantly—vehicles with people who are creating positive changes in their home communities.
