Land Rover Defender 110 X-Dynamic HSE P425 V8 Review: The Last Great British Roar

There are fast SUVs, and there are luxury SUVs.

Then there's the Defender V8; which belongs in a different conversation altogether. In an era where every other new launch begins with battery capacities, charging speeds and software updates, the Defender 110 V8 here almost feels… rebellious. It doesn't care about your kilowatt-hours, nor does it apologise for its thirst.

And, it certainly doesn't pretend to be anything other than what it is: An unapologetically British brute with impeccable manners. This last line here is best read in your best cockney accent…

Anyway, that alone makes it desirable. Why so? Well, deep down we all know cars like this are disappearing.

The Inside Story

Step inside and you'll quickly understand why the Defender has such enduring appeal.

Unlike many luxury SUVs chasing minimalist fashion, the Defender still celebrates functionality. The dashboard is wonderfully honest: Hard-wearing plastics meet beautifully stitched leather, metal-look structural beams remain proudly exposed. Everything feels engineered, rather than decorated. Rightly so, for something that carries the Land Rover badge.

Some might call parts of the cabin utilitarian; but I'd call it reassuring. Twenty years from now, while glossy piano-black trim elsewhere has become a fingerprint-covered scratch magnet, I suspect this interior will still look remarkably fresh.

The updated cabin also receives a larger 13.1-inch Pivi Pro touchscreen, bringing sharper graphics and improved usability without sacrificing physical controls where they still matter.

Practicality remains one of its greatest strengths too. The third row won't replace an MPV, but it's wonderfully useful when nephews, nieces or unexpected passengers suddenly appear during festive gatherings.

Back there, nobody feels banished either. Glass roof panels over the rear, together with the expansive panoramic roof up front, flood the cabin with natural light. Even those occupying the last row never experience that cave-like feeling common in seven-seat SUVs.

Aesthetically Speaking

Land Rover has wisely resisted the temptation to over-style the Defender. It was already one of the most recognisable silhouettes on the road, so the facelift merely sharpens what was already handsome.

Look closely at the headlights and you'll notice the biggest difference - previously, the signature LED graphics featured hollow rectangular light elements, giving the Defender a slightly more industrial appearance. The new Matrix LEDs now have those rectangles filled in, making the signature more substantial and technically sophisticated. It's cleaner, richer and somehow more premium without shouting about it.

The rear receives an even subtler treatment. Before, the taillights sat slightly recessed into the bodywork; now they're flush-mounted with smoked lenses, giving the entire rear fascia a neater, more contemporary finish. It's one of those changes you probably won't notice immediately - until you park an older Defender beside it. Then you’ll realise the facelift suddenly looks cleaner, tighter and considerably more premium.

Thankfully though, Land Rover hasn't messed with the proportions. It still looks like it could drive through a rainforest, tow the Istana and then valet park outside Raffles Hotel without feeling remotely out of place. That's the Defender magic.

Under The Hood

Lift the bonnet and you'll find something that deserves a standing ovation: A 5.0-litre supercharged V8.

Not turbocharged, not electrified and definitely not assisted by batteries - just eight beautifully angry cylinders force-fed by a supercharger, producing 419 bhp and 550 Nm of torque, enough to hit 100 km/h from standstill in around 5.8 seconds.

Figures alone don't tell the story though. What makes this engine unforgettable isn't simply how quickly it accelerates; it's how alive it feels. Every prod of the throttle is answered instantly, the supercharger whines beneath the soundtrack while the exhaust answers with a deep bass rumble that somehow manages to sound cultured but menacing at the same time.

No, this isn't synthetic noise piped through speakers - this is proper combustion theatre. And knowing this magnificent V8 is living on borrowed time only makes every kilometre feel more precious.

Driving It

I'll admit something: I spent an utterly ridiculous amount of time driving this Defender around Singapore. No destination, errands or purpose; just looping the PIE, MCE, CTE, TPE and especially the KPE well past my bedtime.

Why? Because the tunnel transforms the Defender into its own concert hall.

Drop a gear, ease into the throttle and let the V8 fill the tunnel walls. Then do it again. And again.

Somewhere during that aimless midnight drive, Bruno Mars' “God Was Showing Off” came on through the Meridian audio system; it was put on repeat. The pairing simply made sense - the song, the road, and that rumbling V8.

Sometimes, cars create moments you never planned for. This Defender delivered plenty.

The Meridian sound system deserves its own applause too. Every vocal sit perfectly centred, bass notes arrive with authority but never overwhelm, while tiny musical details emerge, you'd swear never existed before. It's less like listening to music and more like occupying the best seat in a private cinema.

Here's one other thing that surprised me most: Despite its sheer size, this 2.4-tonne Defender never feels cumbersome.

Adaptive air suspension smooths broken roads with remarkable composure before gliding across the Benjamin Sheares expansion joints almost effortlessly.

Hours behind the wheel simply disappear. The seats remain superb, wind noise is minimal, visibility is commanding; you climb out after munching on kilometres of roads feeling like you've driven only half that distance.

Yes, it'll happily climb mountains. But honestly? It's equally brilliant devouring the North-South Highway on the way to Cameron Highlands and Penang.

In A Nutshell

Some cars are bought with spreadsheets, while others are bought with the heart. The Defender 110 V8, I dare say, belongs firmly in the latter.

The Defender isn't perfect; it drinks fuel with the enthusiasm of someone enjoying free-flow champagne. It's enormous in our multi-storey car parks. And logic will constantly remind you that a plug-in hybrid or EV makes infinitely more financial sense in Singapore today.

Logic, however, has never once made anyone fall in love with a car.

This Defender does - every time you press that starter button, every time the supercharged V8 clears its throat, every time the exhaust reverberates through a tunnel and every time you catch yourself taking the unnecessarily long route home, you're reminded that driving was never meant to be merely efficient.

It was meant to make you feel something.

And long after the last naturally aspirated engines, superchargers and charismatic V8s have disappeared into history books, I suspect this Defender will be remembered not simply as one of Land Rover's finest - this will be remembered as one of the last truly great British automotive love letters before silence became the new soundtrack.

God save the V8 Defender.

The Defender can be driven in three different selectable heights, according to different driving conditions:

At the lowest ride height, for multi story carpark access and easy passenger loading.

This is the standard driving height.

The tallest ride height, perfect for off-roading adventures.

Photos by Azfar Hashim (@azfar.talks)

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