It’s something approaching a bi-annual event for us to drive a model powered by Jaguar Land Rover’s elderly-but-iconic 5.0-litre supercharged V8 and say it’s probably the last time we’ll review a new model powered by this engine.
Meet the Land Rover Defender 425 Edition, a new model powered by… oh, you know.
It is a more relevant discussion this time, because Defender is indeed moving on from the 5.0 in some ways. The new extreme, extremely expensive $309,900 Defender Octa super-off-roady thing features a BMW-sourced 4.4-litre V8, also used by current-generation Range Rovers. In turn, this 5.0 has had a bit of a detune; perhaps the end is in sight after all.
Octa is relevant for another reason. It’s surely part of the inspiration for the 425 Edition, which introduces a bit of rally-raid style to the regular Defender. It boasts chunkier Goodyear Wrangler all-terrain tyres, monstrously thick “classic” mudflaps, a motorsporty “110” decal and matte panel on the bonnet, big side steps, exposed rear recovery eyes and lots of rubber lining around the cabin.
There’s also a bunch of stuff more generally relevant to the 2025-model Defenders, including shiny exterior finishes and “Resist” upholstery, which is more sustainable than leather, harder-wearing… and still feels very nice. Proximity locking/unlocking is another feature relatively new to Land Rover.
The 425 Edition introduces a bit of rally-raid style to the regular Land Rover Defender.
JLR’s 5.0-litre supercharged V8 is legendary for its rorty nature. But in the Defender, it’s actually quite subdued: there’s a bit of rumble at startup, but then it’s very well behaved as you trundle through the suburbs.
It’s been toned down a bit since the last Defender V8, the P525 (that’s metric horsepower, or 386kW). A necessary response to help reduce Land Rover's overall emissions in Europe, apparently; this P425 (313kW) still has a lot of power, though.
This powertrain’s got character without being silly, which is probably something you could say of the whole 425 Edition package.
Exercise the right foot on the open road and you definitely get some thunder and the old-school whine of the supercharger, but it’s never overwhelming. Nothing like the same engine in the old Range Rover Sport or still-current Jaguar F-Type (both being leery SVR products, of course).
The 425 engine has lost the Dynamic mode of the previous 525, so you can’t qet the same instant spit-and-crackle when you want it. But it does still have Sport to sharpen things up. That’s all good; this powertrain’s got character without being silly, which is probably something you could say of the whole 425 Edition package.
Being a bit more of a gravel express hasn’t dulled the Defender’s luxury ambience.
Defender is definitely a 4x4 rather than a crossover; the chassis can feel a bit ponderous when you demand quick on-road responses. But there’s a long-standing, uniquely Land Rover dynamic character that this Defender continues: it’s heavy, rolls quite a bit and requires time to change course on winding roads, but it’s also astonishingly composed and grippy when it counts. It leans over, then hangs on with incredible tenacity. Even on those chunky all-terrain tyres, it’s really impressive and has a unique feel that gets under your skin.
Being a bit more of a gravel express hasn’t dulled the Defender’s luxury ambience. There are 12-way heated power seats with memory settings up front, configurable cabin lighting, a classier-looking cross-beam (that structural slab in front of the front passenger) in Dark Grey Powder Coat and even a refrigerated centre-console box for the ice tea.
Defender has JLR’s latest Pivi Pro infotainment system on a sensibly sized 11.4-inch screen; it’s elegant to look at, full of great features (including lots of 4x4-specific displays) and quick to respond. At least within its native environment.
The wireless phone projection is another story. During our initial test period, Android Auto fired up successfully about half the time; otherwise it either failed to show completely or would indicate it was connected, but refused to display the projection screen. Unpair, pair again and it usually worked; but who wants to do that on every startup?
After four days we gave up, simply plugged into the USB-C port with an old-school cable and yes, success. Well mostly; it also failed once at that.
At the risk of sounding like all we care about is connectivity (well, actually…), we had even more trouble with another Pivi Pro Land Rover product straight afterwards. And there are a few internet threads devoted to this issue, so it’s not just us.
On the whole, the 425 Edition is a powerfully appealing package that gives the familiar Defender a cheeky let’s-do-gravel-skids character tweak. You can have in this 110, the short-wheelbase 90 (which is awesome, $175,000) or the extended 130 (which makes less sense, but hey, up to you, $190,000).
It all matches the dual-nature ethos of Defender perfectly: a luxury SUV that happens to rest on a platform capable of amazing things off-tarmac.The 425 Edition extras make it a bit easier to exploit the latter. And/or look cool.
How much is the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition?
This 110 version is priced at $180,000, but you can also have a 90 for $175,000 or the stretched 130 for $190,000.
What are the key statistics for the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition?
The 5.0-litre supercharged V8 makes 313kW/550Nm. There’s an 8-speed automatic transmission with full-time AWD and low range 4WD for off-roading.
Is the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition efficient?
JLR’s legendary V8 is not known for its frugality: the official figure of 14.2l/100km looks high by modern standards, although we actually averaged 13.9l/100km during our test-week, with a mix of urban and open-road driving. Not a bad real-world figure for an SUV like this.
Is the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition good to drive?
A bit 4x4-fussy in urban driving, but deeply impressive on the open road once you get used to the size and weight. It has a unique dynamic character that you can really enjoy, and of course it’s acknowledged as an epic 4x4 machine.
Is the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition practical?
A hard-core 4x4 it may be, but Defender also provides very luxurious and spacious transport. The rubber mats on the 425 Edition make it especially durable, including full lining in the boot; the tailgate is a trad side-hinged job, but it has power-close.
What do we like about the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition?
A nicely judged package of accessories that fit with the Defender’s fashion-status, but also make it a whole lot easier to use off tarmac, or in rural areas. The V8 is still full of character and it’s surprisingly adept on-road.
What don’t we like about the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition?
It’s a wide, heavy car and you feel it driving around town. Shame the Dynamic mode of the previous model (along with some power and torque) has gone. And the flaky phone projection is infuriating.
What kind of person would the Land Rover Defender 110 425 Edition suit?
It’s probably going to be a Land Rover fan, but also somebody who wants a combination of useful and durable accessories that protect and enhance the car when you’re off the beaten track. And also somebody who can afford to run it.