In some circles, the desire (and ability) to shell out increasingly gigantic amounts of cash to get the most super-upgraded and macho-awesome SUV possible is not as absurd as it sounds.

And with that ethos in mind — as we discovered that even the super-boxy Mercedes-Benz G-wagen now starts at $154,000 — the moderately outrageous, all-new 2026 Land Rover Defender 110 Octa trim almost makes sense.

For a base price of $158,300, this heavily upgraded and do-anything edition of the mid-sized, current-model Defender is a testament to testosterone. You’ve got oversized tires, a matte protective wrap on its Sargasso Blue paint job and a growling, 626-horsepower BMW-sourced 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V-8 engine to throw it into orbit. Hey, it’s even a hybrid, which might qualify you for special parking somewhere, too. 

The Octa (think Dr. Octopus, weirdo hip-hop star Dr. Octagon, or, actually, the octagon shape of a diamond) is interesting in that it takes what is not necessarily the largest or most capacious SUV on the market – or even in the Land Rover/Range Rover family – and elevates it to intense levels of performance, and some additional interior comfort.

Consider that you can still get a much more basic, two-door Defender 90 for about $61,000, or the nearly identical standard-issue 110 for $65,000. The Octa’s nearly $100K premium does add a gigantic list of specialized upgrades and the rather remarkable power output (3.8 seconds from 0-60, too).

Outside, it’s a super-sharp although somewhat low-key affair with the matte wrap serving to both hide and highlight the vehicle (I noticed every single Land and Range Rover in LA had an ever darker paint/wrap job than this). A darkened grille, black body and mirror trim (plus a full mirror-black trim on the rear gate) and those giant, beautiful, maybe Spider-Man-inspired 20-inch wheels all give it a lot of presence. Also, a single bronze tow hook up front, because, why not?

Central to Octa’s silliness is a new setting on the seemingly endless array of terrain modes called, of course, Octa Mode, which activates some red lighting and provides a combination of power and off-road grip. Or, because it’s a 6,000-pound SUV riding on 33-inch mud tires, they’ve also included a launch mode and a lap timer for your … track days? (Yes, the very same Octa was thrown around the Nürburgring race course to demonstrate its high-speed, on-road manners, just as it’s been sent out on the Dakar and FIA World Rally Raid events to show its off-road talents). It’ll also wade 3.3 feet of water without any stupid-looking snorkel required.

In real life, the on-road part might be a little overstated; I had a brief, just-off-the-transport-truck weekend with the Octa in early July and despite its revised suspension and active dampers, it’s a pretty hefty vehicle to drive on pavement with those gigantic, nubby tires.

I did a very basic romp out to the base of the Mosquito Pass road in Alma to get a feel for its rocks-and-ruts capability, and was very impressed by its ability to eat up potholes and still stay on track (doing so as quickly as you’d like). The damper system does an excellent job of limiting jostle, pitch and roll both on and off-road; I didn’t feel like trying out any really sharp curves to examine the upper limits.

The physical changes include a 1.1-inch lift in ride height (9.6 at its lowest level and 12.7 when electronically lifted) and 2.7 extra inches of width; Brembo brakes have also been added to help tamp down all of that enthusiasm.

Inside, a series of more upscale treatments help soften what I have previously described as the Defender’s moon buggy interior – open bins, an almost modular-looking console and armrests, plus the joystick-inspired shift knob and. In Octa’s rendering, there’s lots of that new-fangled chopped carbon fiber trim (it looks like patches), especially all over the backs of the front seats, plus leather highlights everywhere. Mine added performance seats that also get Land Rover’s Body and Soul tech, which features built-in speakers that are loud and impactful enough that they can be used therapeutically, in addition to potentially deafening you. 

I especially liked the air quality sensor on the 13.1-inch touchscreen, which demonstrated how bad the air was during our earlier wildfire days; there’s a cabin air purification system as well.  

Space remains middle-of-the-pack, better than the truncated 90 and not as safari-cruiser-sized as the 130, with 78.8 cubic feet with the second-row seats down. In the far rear, you still get tiny windows in the ceiling, ideal for stargazing while you head out camping in your $160,000 truck.