Defender OCTA has been named ‘Best Off‑Roader’ at the 2025 Top Gear Awards, cementing its status as the ultimate expression of all‑terrain mastery. This latest honour joins a growing list of industry accolades, underscoring OCTA’s position as the benchmark for extreme performance and luxury.
In its debut year, OCTA has redefined what’s possible for an off‑road vehicle. Engineered without compromise, it combines unrivalled capability with exhilarating performance, powered by a 4.4‑litre Twin Turbo mild‑hybrid V8 delivering 635PS and 0–60mph in just 3.8 seconds. OCTA is not only the fastest and most powerful Defender ever built – it is the most capable.
Top Gear’s expert judges praised OCTA for its next‑level off‑road prowess, enabled by Terrain Response 2® and the exclusive OCTA Mode, which transforms challenging terrain into pure driving exhilaration. Its hydraulically interlinked 6D Dynamics suspension sets new standards for control and comfort, whether conquering rugged landscapes or carving through high‑speed rally stages.
This recognition follows an unprecedented development programme, including more than 13,960 additional tests to push OCTA beyond conventional limits. Every element was honed to deliver uncompromising strength, precision and confidence – on any surface, in any condition.
To receive this award in OCTA’s first year of sales is a powerful endorsement of our vision for Defender. OCTA is a modern‑day hero – unstoppable, uncompromising, and engineered to dominate the extremes.
Amy Gibson
UK Brand Director, Defender
The Top Gear Awards celebrate automotive excellence across the globe. For Defender OCTA, this accolade is more than recognition – it is proof of a new era of tough luxury, where capability meets performance without limits.
The Defender OCTA looks fantastic, feels quality and manages to have a really appealing sense of fun without tripping over into contrived nonsense. It also has a thumping 4.4‑litre twin turbo V8 that performs brilliantly. Point it along something akin to a rally stage and it’s magic – soaking up yumps, powering sideways out of every turn and feeling like an all‑powerful conquering force.
Jethro Bovingdon
Contributing Editor, Top Gear