Defender Octa Tackles Raptor and Ineos in Off-Road Showdown

Land Rover Defender Octa Faces Off Against Tuned Rivals

The ultimate off-road machine? That’s the question we set out to answer when pitting the brand-new, high-performance Land Rover Defender Octa against a souped-up Ford Ranger Raptor and a modified Ineos Grenadier.

These aren’t your average SUVs; they’re built to conquer tough terrain, but which one reigns supreme when the going gets seriously rough? We put them through a series of challenges to find out.

Power and Price: The Contenders

Leading the charge is the Land Rover Defender Octa. This beast packs a serious punch with its 4.4-liter V8 engine, borrowed from BMW, churning out 635 horsepower and 750 Nm of torque. It’s equipped with an 8-speed automatic gearbox, locking center and rear differentials, and upgraded suspension.

However, all this capability comes at a hefty price: £160,000. It also weighs in at a substantial 2.5 tons.

Next up is the Ineos Grenadier, prepared by Buzz Overland. This one has been kitted out with rally-spec suspension and its 3-liter straight-six BMW engine has been tuned to deliver 450 horsepower and 680 Nm of torque.

While it uses factory tires and only has a locking center differential, it still matches the Defender’s 2.5-ton weight. Impressively, this fully prepped Grenadier comes in at a much more accessible £100,000.

Rounding out the trio is the Ford Ranger Raptor, modified by Rhino Metal Works. It features lifted suspension, upgraded shocks, and aftermarket wheels and tires, making it the only vehicle not on factory rubber. Its 3-liter twin-turbo V6 has been boosted to 420 horsepower and over 600 Nm of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic gearbox.

This Raptor also boasts front and rear locking differentials. Weighing in around 2.5 tons, it’s the most affordable option, valued at about £60,000 as tested. Interestingly, the cost of the prepared Ranger Raptor plus the Grenadier equals the price of the Defender Octa.

Challenge 1: Uphill Drag Race

The first test was a straightforward uphill drag race. The Defender Octa, with its immense power, was expected to dominate. However, the tight course meant maneuverability was key.

The Ranger Raptor, driven by the reviewer, took an early lead, with the Ineos Grenadier closely following. The Defender Octa struggled to find a clear path, ultimately coming in last.

This surprising result gave the Ford Ranger Raptor 3 points, the Ineos Grenadier 2 points, and the Land Rover Defender Octa 1 point. The scores were tight, setting the stage for the next challenge.

Challenge 2: Wooded Maneuverability Course

Next, the vehicles tackled a tricky wooded course designed to test agility and traction. The Defender Octa, despite having its ‘Octa’ mode turned off and set to ‘mud and rut’, managed a respectable time of 27.85 seconds, even with its road tires.

The Ineos Grenadier, driven by a professional off-road driver, Alex, initially set a blistering pace of 20.9 seconds, but was forced to re-run due to a course infraction. His second attempt was even faster at 20.76 seconds.

The Ford Ranger Raptor, driven by the reviewer, struggled with nervousness and navigating the course, finishing in 24.74 seconds. This round awarded 3 points to the Ineos Grenadier, 2 points to the Land Rover Defender Octa, and 1 point to the Ford Ranger Raptor. The Ineos took the lead in the overall standings with 5 points, followed by the Ford with 4, and the Land Rover with 3.

Challenge 3: Articulation and Ground Clearance

This challenge involved driving up and down a series of steps, focusing on chassis articulation, ground clearance, and control rather than speed. The Ranger Raptor, with its lifted suspension, made good progress but encountered a rock that prevented it from completing the tricky descent. The Defender Octa, with its impressive ground clearance and locking differentials, managed the difficult descent without a scratch, earning bonus points.

The Ineos Grenadier also successfully navigated the steps, with its driver opting for the more challenging descent. Ultimately, the Ineos Grenadier was awarded 3 points for its performance, the Land Rover Defender Octa received 2 points, and the Ford Ranger Raptor got 1 point. The Ineos Grenadier extended its lead to 8 points, with the Ford and Land Rover tied at 5 points each.

Challenge 4: Straight-Line Drag Race

A good old-fashioned dirt drag race tested raw power and traction. After a quick sound comparison, the three vehicles lined up.

In a surprising turn of events, the Ford Ranger Raptor took victory in the first drag race, beating the more powerful Defender Octa. The second race also saw the Raptor win, with the Defender Octa coming in second again.

This round awarded 3 points to the Ford Ranger Raptor, 2 points to the Defender Octa, and 1 point to the Ineos Grenadier. The Ford jumped into second place overall with 8 points, while the Ineos maintained its lead with 9 points. The Defender Octa remained in third with 5 points.

Challenge 5: Rock Crawl

The rock crawl segment tested smooth, steady control. The Ineos Grenadier performed surprisingly well, demonstrating good capability despite not being its primary forte.

The Defender Octa, with its ample ground clearance and sophisticated electronics, also made light work of the course. The Ranger Raptor, hampered by its road tires, struggled more but managed to complete the course.

Due to the close competition and similar performances across the board, all three vehicles received 2 points for this challenge. The Ineos Grenadier maintained its lead with 11 points, the Ford Ranger Raptor moved into second with 10 points, and the Land Rover Defender Octa was in third with 7 points.

Challenge 6: Steep Incline Finale

The final and most demanding challenge was a steep, rocky, and slippery incline. Drivers had to start from a standstill and drive to the top without rolling back.

The Ineos Grenadier successfully conquered the incline, securing 3 points. The Defender Octa also made it to the top, earning 2 points.

The Ford Ranger Raptor, unfortunately, spun its wheels and rolled back, disqualifying it from this challenge and earning zero points. This result meant the Ineos Grenadier won the overall competition with 13 points. The Land Rover Defender Octa finished second with 9 points, and the Ford Ranger Raptor came in third with 10 points, after having a point deducted for an earlier infraction.

Verdict: The Ineos Grenadier Reigns Supreme

While the Land Rover Defender Octa showcases incredible power and luxury, its high price and performance on certain challenges didn’t translate to an overall win. The Ford Ranger Raptor proved itself a capable and more affordable contender, especially with its modifications.

However, it was the Ineos Grenadier, with its blend of rugged capability, intelligent preparation, and excellent value, that emerged victorious. It demonstrated that with the right tuning and driver skill, a less expensive, purpose-built off-roader can outperform its pricier counterparts in extreme conditions.

Source: Are expensive off-roaders POINTLESS? (YouTube)