Our favorite Land Rover Defender chassis with our favorite JRL engine, what's not to love? We tried very hard to find out...

There’s no point hiding the love for the new Land Rover Defender, we here at Car Journalism have been a fan right from the start. Even bigger fans after driving the 90 derivations and we’ve become groupie-like when the V8 was announced. I’ve been the lucky bastard to review this embodied madness. Madness with a heritage dating back to the 70ties, back then it was also considered absurd to put a V8 in an SUV. So without further ado, let’s dive into the review of this psychodramatic machine: the Land Rover Defender 90 V8 Carpathian Edition.

Screaming high and low

We might all have been screaming like little girls when Land Rover announced this car, yet the brand already had this concoction cooking for a while. A platform, especially these days, doesn’t always offer enough space for a 5 liter V8. Especially the notorious AJ133, which isn’t the youngest and thus smartest shaped V8 around. So from the start of development, Land Rover intended to create this monster Defender. Since then the engineers have been hard at work making this volatile mixture work. Controlling over 500 horsepower in a relatively short-wheel-based SUV enjoyably isn’t an easy feat.

To make the body roll controllable in corners, the engineers came up with reworked anti-roll bars, making them out of solid material and giving them a larger diameter. In addition to the standard 4x4 layout, they slapped a new electronically activated differential onto the rear axle. Not only should this offer more grip, but it also comes with a so-called 'Yaw Controller' for greater dynamic interaction. More on that later.

Sprinkle

Land Rover wants the Defender V8 not only to stand out audibly, but it also felt the need to sprinkle some unique options on their top-tier Defenders. It comes with the new 22" inch 5-spokes as standard, quad exhausts tips, V8-badges, and 'Xenon Blue' brake calipers on the front wheels. Yes, sadly not on all calipers. Upfront those grip onto 20-inch brake discs, offering more than enough stopping power for the 2.546 kilograms this thing weighs.

So what’s the Carpathian thing all about you ask? It’s not something that shows on badges somewhere if that’s what you’re wondering. It’s a trim level complimenting the standard Defender V8 details mentioned earlier. But this trim level is quite an extensive one, one that shapes the interior and exterior. On the outside, this edition gets a grey and black contrasting livery, finished with a protective film. A satin finish one, so only the matte parts enjoy this PU projection. Climb inside the Carpathian Edition and a similar color scheme continues. Just like any Defender V8, you’ll find an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel in there and seats covered in suede/leather. How does it all add up in the real world? Menacing seems like a fitting term but the interior could have used some more contrast as it’s very monotonous in there. What does it cost? In Belgium, this edition trim on a Defender 90 V8 will set you back a minimum of € 136.200.

Sounding as bad as it looks

Spending that much money generates a high level of expectations, but the Defender delivers. Oh boy does the 525hp drivetrain bring out the worst in you! I've had the pleasure of testing many vehicles equipped with JLR's infamous 5-liter engine, but in the Defender 90 its exhaust tips seem to be right next to your ear. Which in fact, almost is the case. Just look at the distance between the door handle and the rear of the car, then imagine an exhaust tip there. An exhaust tip freeing tortured fumes, gasses pummeled by cylinders after being compressed by a supercharger. Even in 'Eco' mode, there's no silencing the beast, while in that drive mode gently pressing the throttle generates a fierce rumble. The Defender 90 V8 sounds menacing all the time, something you'll have to think about if you want to be friends with your neighbors. And there's another downside to the exhaust system: there's no valve button! So if you just want a fiercer rumble without the neck-snapping, you'll have to find yourselves some aftermarket love. And when this car is set to 'Sport", it's as if the gods are fighting. A deep rumble at stationary and bellowing roar at full throttle pierce through the cabin, only to draw your attention towards to pops and bangs when you let off the gas.

And whilst we're on the subject of the car's throttle, it's time to shine a light on a few other things that metal paddle connects to. Albeit directly or indirectly. First in line is the fuel consumption, a figure I couldn't get below 16.5L/100km even when I tried. Does it really matter? It does in CO2-based tax systems because the high consumption rate shows in the emissions (330g/km) too. Just north of Belgium, in The Netherlands, this same car will cost you a massive 229.100 euros. Yes, that's almost two of these cars in Belgium. The second item linked to the throttle is responsiveness. And as ever with this engine, it's addictively instantaneous. Too much when in comfort mode, as taking off smoothly isn't easy to do. Third in this line is the power build-up you're sensing while pressing the paddle, this has to do with the 650 Nm being available from 2500 RPM and up. It feels quicker than it really is, as zero to a hundred is only met in 5.2 seconds. But that mostly has to do with the fact that you have to refuel before you hit a 100.

Container

So you might be wondering if this 2.5 metric tonne car, one that is as tall as it is wide and measures just 4.5 meters in length, doesn't feel like a loaded shipping container when driving it? Surprisingly, it doesn't. It feels quite nimble partly thanks to stiffer suspension bushes. Nimble to the point where you start wondering if Land Rover used black magic on the car. It might roll plenty when cornering fast, but it stays well within comfortable levels of tilting over. The car gives you so much reassurance that it gives you the playful confidence to push it further. And when you do, this sometimes results in the 'yaw controller' activating. That's a system that electronically controls the drift angle of a vehicle. And in the case of the Defender V8, that means the torque vectoring system and rear differential work together to create true slides. This feels scary at first but soon turns very addictive. What does feel unweary, is braking at higher speeds. There's no lack of stopping power, but the car leans heavily forward. Enough to generate some sweaty palms. If I could just change one thing, it's that it would have a drive-mode button on the steering wheel. Now you're forced to use a rotating control unit on the dashboard, which means you're never switching modes quickly.

Carpathian Gem

There's no doubt that the Land Rover Defender 90 V8 is a niche car. A capable 4x4 equipped with an engine that powers SVO's halo performance vehicles isn't everyone's cup of tea. But those who do love a V8 inside this 4.5 meters of British engineering, will be very happy with what Land Rover has managed to create. The cabin offers every creature comforts you'll need and even comes with Pivi Pro 11.4-inch size.

This car excels in delivering thrills but it will also act like a docile dragon when needed. In Carpathian trim it looks menacing inside and out. Land Rover nailed it.

Land Rover Defender 90 V8: Addictive Absurdity