Land Rover is one of the few luxury manufacturers that did not show a decline in sales in Israel this year. In the first half of 2025, 401 Land Rover and Range Rover models were delivered, an increase of 56% compared to the first half of last year.
One of the reasons: The importer, HaMizrach company, managed its inventory more cautiously and did not get stuck with hundreds of unsold cars that it would have to register under its name and sell as used, unlike some competitors.
The Defender OCTA is intended to serve as an extreme version, in performance and off-road capability, for truly deep-pocketed customers. Its V8 engine has 4,400 cc and twin turbochargers, 635 hp and 75 kg·m of torque, is manufactured by BMW, and paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. It also has a mild hybrid system. The numbers: 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds, a top speed of 250 km/h, and combined fuel consumption of 7.4 km per liter. These figures are with the oversized 22-inch tires; one can pay extra to get only 20-inch tires and rims but with an off-road profile (50:50) compared to the larger all-season profile.
Although the model is based on the longer Defender 110, the OCTA does not have 7 seats in three rows like the regular long Defender, but only 5 seats in two rows. Equipment includes an 11.4-inch multimedia screen, electrically adjustable front seats, panoramic roof, wireless phone charging, Meridian sound system with 15 speakers, LED headlights with washers, and more.
At a third of the price:
First drive of the Land Rover Defender S
But the main highlight is off-road capability, with 33-inch wheels instead of 32-inch, a ground clearance of 25 cm (3 cm more than the regular Defender), which increases to 32.3 cm in the raised suspension mode. The approach and departure angles are improved to 40 and 42 degrees respectively, and it can cross water obstacles up to one meter deep.
The active suspension is meant to reduce body movement during acceleration, braking, and cornering, and the axle track width is increased by 6.6 cm to improve grip.
Safety equipment includes emergency braking when driving forwards and backwards, adaptive cruise control, blind spot vehicle warning and prevention of drifting into it, automatic high beams, driver attention warning, and more.
One can choose dedicated driving modes for comfort or dynamic driving, as well as an off-road mode, with adjustments for driving in sand, mud, snow, gravel, and a rock crawl mode.
Prices: While a basic Defender 110 costs NIS 553,000, the OCTA price starts at NIS 1.511 million and reaches NIS 1.67 million in the launch edition, the Edition One.
The pricing places the Defender OCTA directly against the gasoline models of the Mercedes G-Class, which start at NIS 1.55 million.