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The supercharged Defender V8 and the twin-turbo Defender OCTA share a V8 and little else. This guide compares their power, capability and body styles, explains why the 2026 model year matters for the V8, and matches each one to life in North Dallas and North Texas.
Choose the Defender V8 if you want V8 sound and pace in a regular Defender at a more attainable price, and choose a 2026-model-year Defender V8, because the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 leaves the US Defender lineup for model year 2027. Choose the Defender OCTA if you want the most capable Defender Land Rover builds: 626 hp, up to 39.6 inches of wading depth, up to 12.7 inches of ground clearance and 6D Dynamics suspension. For 2027, the OCTA becomes the only V8 Defender.
| Measure | Defender V8 (2026) | Defender OCTA |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | Supercharged 5.0-liter V8 | 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 mild hybrid |
| Output | 518 hpDefender 110 V8, per Kelley Blue Book | 626 hp553 lb-ft |
| Body styles | Defender 90, 110 and 130 | One body, built on the Defender 110 |
| Maximum wading depth | 35.4 in with air suspension | Up to 39.6 in |
| Model years | 2026 is the last in the US | Continues for 2027 as the only V8 Defender |
Sources: landroverusa.com Defender OCTA and Defender 110 pages; Land Rover wading-depth chart; Kelley Blue Book and The Fast Lane Car 2027 Defender coverage (July 2026); Kelley Blue Book 2026 Defender 110 specifications for V8 output.
As of October 2026, Land Rover has dropped the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 from the US Defender lineup for model year 2027, and every 2027 Defender 110 trim other than the OCTA uses a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine. That makes the 2026 model year the last for a regular Defender with a V8, and the last chance at V8 power in a Defender 90 or 130. Our Defender 90 vs 110 vs 130 comparison helps choose the body length first.
Sources: landroverusa.com 2027 Defender 110 trims; Kelley Blue Book and The Fast Lane Car 2027 Defender coverage, July 2026.
The Defender V8 is the better choice when
The OCTA is the better choice when
| Your week | Defender V8 (2026) | Defender OCTA |
|---|---|---|
| Daily Dallas North Tollway commute | V8 pace in a choice of 90, 110 or 130 bodies | 626 hp and 3.8 seconds to 60 mph, with hardware built for terrain the Tollway never asks for |
| Towing a boat to Lewisville Lake or Lake Texoma | 8,200 lbWith a braked trailer | 8,200 lbWith a braked trailer |
| Family seating | Up to eight seats in a Defender 130 V8 | Five seats in the 110-based OCTA |
Both V8s carry the same towing rating, so for lake weekends the decision comes down to body length and how much off-road capability you will use. Our guide to the best Land Rover for towing a boat to North Texas lakes covers Texas trailer-brake rules and a ramp-day routine.
Towing: landroverusa.com Defender OCTA and Defender 110 pages. Maximum towing requires a braked trailer.
From Land Rover’s Defender OCTA standard specification. 6D Dynamics is the OCTA’s own; the driveline and towing hardware are shared with other Defenders.
See Defender V8 and OCTA availability at Land Rover Frisco, or configure your own.
In the US, yes. For model year 2027, the supercharged 5.0-liter V8 leaves the Defender lineup, and the OCTA, with its 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, becomes the only V8 Defender.
The OCTA makes 626 hp and 553 lb-ft. Kelley Blue Book lists the 2026 Defender 110 V8 at 518 hp.
For mostly road driving around North Dallas, the Defender V8 delivers the V8 experience in a choice of body lengths. The OCTA suits buyers who want maximum off-road capability, with up to 39.6 inches of wading depth and up to 12.7 inches of ground clearance.
No. The OCTA is offered in one body, built on the Defender 110. A V8 in a Defender 90 or 130 means a 2026 Defender V8.