22 July 2021
Review

The Land Rover Defender V8 is back. Until the 1990s a woofly big petrol engine was a staple in the Defender range but, barring a few special editions since, it has been largely absent from Land Rover's most versatile vehicle.

Now, though, in this new Defender, the V8 is back. The new V8 Defender can be had in short or long wheelbase, 90 or 110, forms. And in either way, performance is strong. The V8 is a 5.0-litre supercharged unit making 518bhp and 461lb ft, which is good for 0-62mph in 4.9sec and a 149mph top speed.

What it's less good for, perhaps unsurprisingly, is sipping only a little fuel. This is a 19.3mpg, 330g/km car. And it's quite expensive, costing from at least £98,575.

But maybe, just maybe, the appeal of a big, lustful V8 makes it worth it? Join Matt Prior as he finds out.

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Zapetero 8 August 2021

This cette is where Landrover are compLeteLy wrong. V8 supercharged ? Most car companies now have eg 1.5 Litre SUVs which are hybrid, as weLL. How many farmers can afford to run un v8 supercharged Landrover, or construction Managers ?

MyBiz 30 July 2021

That was awesome! I love the design and performance! 

 

jer 26 July 2021
@Stephen... Selling a handful of these will l make no difference to the climate crisis. One more Amazon delivery van produces with use produces far more co2. I have a petrol car that I use sparingly but offset with a house that is supremely energy efficient. Do people that live in say Victorian homes that use lots of energy receive the same criticism?