Two-car garage? Forget it - the TG award-winning Defender Octa does it all

Why is the Land Rover Defender Octa our Off Roader of the Year? Well, it’s a Defender with a 626bhp V8 that loves to fly through the air. Congratulations and good night.

I need to say more? Hmmm. Well, it’s a Defender. So, it looks fantastic, feels high quality and manages to have a really appealing sense of fun without tripping over into contrived nonsense. And it has a thumping 4.4-litre twin turbo V8 sourced from BMW that performs brilliantly. Land Rover says it’ll crack 0–60mph in 3.8secs.

And the jumps? Well, this might not be an everyday consideration for most of us. Yet the concept of a performance SUV that’s inspired by Rally Raid and the Dakar is a lot more, um, sensible than one focused on lateral g on a racetrack, right? Land Rover has really embraced the idea, too.

The Octa walks the walk with increased ground clearance, approach and departure angles, wading capability and axle articulation. More importantly, the suspension can take incredible punishment at high speed and has a level of composure that’s hard to believe. Point it along something akin to a rally stage and it’s magic – soaking up jumps, powering sideways out of every turn and feeling like an all powerful conquering force. It’s huge fun and a unique, thrilling experience that you could hardly imagine a Defender delivering.

On road, there’s also a surprising level of sophistication. Cross linked hydraulic dampers (McLaren style) help create a supple, easygoing feel but work to reduce roll in corners really effectively. Roll stiffness is up 67 per cent over the standard Defender.

Overall, the Octa is a machine that it’s impossible not to love. It looks mighty, tackles just about any situation with enthusiasm and deft control and, when you just want it to be a car, it’s quiet, luxurious and refined.

Forget the ‘two car garage’ solution. The Octa does it all.