Major upgrade for the Land Rover Defender in South Africa

Land Rover has made several enhancements to the iconic Defender series in South Africa.

The luxury 4×4, now in its fifth year in South Africa, has received upgrades across the board, applying to its 90, 110, and 130 body styles, including the flagship Octa.

“The latest changes are part of our continuous commitment to make adventures even more satisfying,” said Mark Cameron, Managing Director at Land Rover.

“Fresh design enhancements, new colours and an expanded range of accessories follow Defender’s comprehensive upgrade last year, ensuring our iconic 4×4 is better than ever.”

The updated Defender range is now available to order on the company’s configurator, and prices start at R1,801,100.

New features

The Defender has been given a visual overhaul with new fog lights, headlights with signature detailing, and taillights with “smoked lenses.”

The revamped headlights provide a distinctive new look for the SUV when lit, and the “smoked” rear lights have a darker tint for a cleaner appearance.

The company has also expanded the list of available paint colours with new options like Woolstone Green and Borasco Grey, and the front and rear bumpers can now have a Silicon Silver or Carpathian Grey Satin finish.

The wheels now take the form of 22-inch, seven-spoke diamond turned Dark Grey alloys, which can be had with either a Borasco Grey or Woolstone Green metallic coat.

Every model in the series now features gloss black Defender-branded wheel centre caps, too.

Inside, the 4×4 has been fitted with a larger 13.1-inch infotainment screen, which is stationed above the new dash-mounted gearshift, which was moved for better ergonomics.

The updated centre console includes a sliding section for hiding items out of sight, which has not compromised access to a deeper storage area.

Buyers can also choose to install the optional Signature Suite upgrade, which adds removable side pockets and cable routing to allow occupants to charge their devices without loose wires trailing around the cabin.

Depending on the model, it’s also possible to add a centre “jump seat” for three-abreast seating in the front row.

A major new addition to the Defender family is the option for Adaptive Off-Road Cruise Control, which is an evolution of the brand’s All Terrain Progress Control.

This system allows the driver to set a desired comfort level while tackling tough terrain so they can concentrate on steering while the vehicle adjusts its speed to maintain the chosen comfort setting.

A new camera has also been added to the cabin that tracks the driver to monitor their attention level and plays audio-visual alerts to ensure they are paying attention to the road.

This system can be adjusted or disabled using the driver assistance menu.

On top of all of this, clients can select one of several accessory packs, such as the Explorer Pack, Adventure Pack, and Urban Pack.

Stand-alone accessories, such as the Expedition Roof Rack, Cross Bars, Front Under-shield, and Rear Scuff Plate, are now offered in a dark black finish.

All of these changes apply to the entire Defender lineup, but the range-topping Octa has received a few unique enhancements of its own.

For starters, there are two new colour choices Borasco Grey and Sargasso Blue, which join the existing palette of Charent Grey and Petra Copper.

Customers can still add a Matte Protective Film to their Octa, but there’s also a new Patagonia White Matte Wrap option.

The exterior features a new Textured Graphite finish, which is further enhanced by the car’s matte surface with metallic flake paint.

You’ll also find a new Phosphor Bronze finish on the front and rear bumpers, the bonnet vent inserts, the side fender vent surrounds, and the two-piece bonnet script.

Carbon fibre accents can be applied as an optional extra to both the exterior and interior trim, and there’s an updated selection of tyre and wheel combinations with 20-inch forged alloy rims.

All Land Rover Defender models are sold with a standard 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan, with an additional 8-year/100,000km battery warranty for the P400e hybrid units.

2025 Land Rover Defender Octa