In an automotive landscape dominated by noise and emissions regulations, any individual car that comes equipped with a big supercharged V8 unsullied by any form of electrification should be celebrated. All the more so if it is attached to a modern interpretation of an iconic, large, go-anywhere 4×4.

The L663 Defender comes with a few different engine options—locally, buyers can choose between a 2.0-litre PHEV, a 4.4-litre BMW-sourced twin-turbocharged V8 (in the Octa), or the middle-of-the-road option as featured in this review.

Which, logically, should have been JLR’s 3.0-litre inline-six. But it isn’t, as they’ve chosen for said mid-spec car to come equipped with a 5.0-litre supercharged V8, the same unit that you’d find fitted to a wide range of really rapid Jaguars.

So, here’s the question—is a large, undeniably old-school V8 what a modern Defender needs? Or does the AJ133 take away from the Defender experience? The answer is that it really depends.

Defender V8 Exterior – Design and Exterior Upgrades

We’ve had the opportunity to sample the 2.0-litre PHEV version of the new Defender earlier on too. In the context of that particular car, the powertrain has been fitted to a special, limited-run variant of the Defender built to celebrate the Trophy competition.

The Defender V8 here is your bog standard L663 Defender, complete with its mid-cycle nip-and-tuck. Well, as standard as a car with a 420 bhp supercharged 5.0 litre V8 can be. It does away with some of the extras that its Trophy press car sibling has – no roof racks or knobbly off-road tyres here, but the facelift bits are all present.

This means you have the same flush rear taillights (a functional change, you can find out the reason why in our Defender Trophy article), revised headlights and JLR’s clever reimagination of an off-roaders’ checker-board pattern on the various trim panels.

The very subtle changes are really all the Defender needs. We feel like it is already a modern icon, and one that really doesn’t need a huge refresh to remain relevant. Subtle updates for usability improvements and minor refreshes sure. But a thorough overhaul? Not what a Defender needs.

Defender V8 Interior – Where Rugged Utility Meets Modern Luxury

Modern Defenders are truly masters at balancing ruggedness with luxury. In areas that’d see plenty of abuse from terrain and the elements, you get hard-wearing materials that are easy to clean and to maintain, but areas that you come into regular contact with have all been trimmed in some kind of soft-touch material.

On the tech front there have also been some updates. You now get a 13.1-inch touchscreen that sits proud of the dashboard. On it is the latest version of JLR’s Pivi Pro system, and thankfully Defender didn’t feel the need to migrate more controls onto said panel. Instead, your drive modes and climate control still rely on a practical combination of buttons and knobs.

As the Defender is quite literally a box-on-wheels, cabin space is excellent. Occupants enjoy copious amounts of head, leg, and knee room, keeping fatigue at bay even on longer drives. Should you venture off-road, chunky grab handles cleverly built into common touchpoints ensure your passengers have a place to hold on.

The sheer amount of glass and squared-off corners also means you can easily gauge the position of each corner of the vehicle. As a result, despite its initially intimidating size, you can confidently manoeuvre it through the tightest spots—especially with the help of the excellent 360-degree camera system.

Defender V8 Driving Impressions – Power, Dynamics, and Real-World Drive

We’ve sampled the 2.0-litre inline-4 PHEV in the Trophy, so how does this fire-breathing, supercharged V8 compare? The most immediate difference is the sound. When you push on that start button, the engine emits a deep growl, clearly asserting its presence to everyone and everything nearby.

(We’ve embedded a video of some Defender V8 sounds for your enjoyment.)

As you depress the accelerator pedal, you are greeted with a seemingly endless tower of torque, and the car effortlessly pulls even if you intentionally put it in the wrong gear. It actually garners a scary amount of momentum in a relatively short span of time – JLR quotes a 0 – 100km/h time of just 6.2 seconds, which is insanely rapid for a 2.6-ton machine.

Don’t expect this to be the sharpest handling vehicle, as it is a high-riding and very hefty off-roader after all. But it has good road manners, and the road-centric tyres mean it is more refined than its Trophy cousin.

The only drawback is its fuel economy when you are really giving it full beans. We saw figures as low as 4 km/l, though most owners are likely to see consumptions averaging from about 8 – 10 km/l when driven sensibly in the real-world. Not great when compared to your average commuter car, but acceptable when you consider what the Defender V8 actually is.

Defender V8 – Old-School Power Meets Modern Luxury

The Defender V8 is a defiant, glorious outlier in today’s landscape of emissions-focused vehicles. Its 5.0-litre supercharged engine delivers a visceral experience that even the torquiest of modern hybrids cannot replicate. Whilst fuel efficiency is a secondary concern, the sheer character and performance of this power train offer an emotional reward that justifies its thirst.

Inside, the Defender remains a masterclass in functional luxury. The new 13.1-inch Pivi Pro screen refines the experience without diluting its iconic identity. The spacious, boxy design pairs hard-wearing materials with intuitive tech, whilst advanced camera systems make this large SUV surprisingly easy to manoeuvre in both urban environments and rugged terrain.

Ultimately, the Defender V8 is a triumphant celebration of old-school performance. It may not be the sharpest handler or the most economical, but for those who value road presence, utility, and the raw thrill of a traditional V8, it stands as an unmatched powerhouse. It proves that the classic, uncompromising 4×4 formula remains as relevant and desirable as ever.

We properly put the new Defender through its paces in Taiwan earlier in 2026! – click here to read more!