Decently substantial facelift for 26MY
Mudding
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 238
Likes: 112
yeah. I noticed that. hope Gap tool can finally fully enable the feature.
Rock Crawling
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 310
Likes: 115
My thoughts.
1) I love the new colors, especially that green. If I were buying today I think I'd choose that no contest.
2) I hate the new 22's, at least here in pictures they look really cheap. Perhaps in all gloss black, and in person / real live pic (not rendered) they'll look better. But either way a downgrade from the current 22" 5 spoke wheels IMO.
3) The flush tail lights are a downgrade IMO. A ton easier to clean but it is loosing some of the details of the defender I loved. It looks more generic now. Not bad, just not as unique.
4) I've studied the picture of the center console with the 'repositioned gear selector' and the 'updated headlight design' and for the life of me I can't see a difference in either.
5) The 13.1" screen is a welcome addition, not enough to want to trade in for it, but nice to have when that time does come.
6) The loss of the holes around the fog lights isn't a deal breaker, but again smoothes things out so much its making me feel like its losing some of the 'details' that made the truck unique. Its not bad, but one of those things that didn't need to be messed with for the sake of saying 'its new'.
7) I do not like the new hood things. It looks decidedly cheap compared to the 'diamond texture' of the exsting one. Perhaps in all gloss black it'll look better.
8) Thank god the V8 remains. I dont have one, but my next defender I'd really like to option with one. So glad to see its not gone (yet).
9) I hate the driver monitoring 'stick on' sensors. If it came with enhanced autonomy, or at least significantly better lane keeping assist, I'd make my peace with it. But otherwise just more crap to break.
10) That blue on the Octa with the satin gold accents just looks amazing. Sadly as its Octa only its outta my budget. I do wish there were at least one more 'funkier' color added to the pallet though, like a burnt orange or a more golden yellow. Doesn't matter because I'd choose that new green in a heart beat either way.
Overall nothing to make me want to run and trade mine in. But I do like most of the additions and the ones I dont care for are certainly not deal breakers.
Dream spec for me.130 with captains, v8, the new green, and the same saddle tan/black interior combo I have now. And I'd have to budget for a decent looking set of aftermarket wheels/tires immediately to get rid of the new 7 spoke 22" design. Anyone got a spare $130k or so? (sheesh).
1) I love the new colors, especially that green. If I were buying today I think I'd choose that no contest.
2) I hate the new 22's, at least here in pictures they look really cheap. Perhaps in all gloss black, and in person / real live pic (not rendered) they'll look better. But either way a downgrade from the current 22" 5 spoke wheels IMO.
3) The flush tail lights are a downgrade IMO. A ton easier to clean but it is loosing some of the details of the defender I loved. It looks more generic now. Not bad, just not as unique.
4) I've studied the picture of the center console with the 'repositioned gear selector' and the 'updated headlight design' and for the life of me I can't see a difference in either.
5) The 13.1" screen is a welcome addition, not enough to want to trade in for it, but nice to have when that time does come.
6) The loss of the holes around the fog lights isn't a deal breaker, but again smoothes things out so much its making me feel like its losing some of the 'details' that made the truck unique. Its not bad, but one of those things that didn't need to be messed with for the sake of saying 'its new'.
7) I do not like the new hood things. It looks decidedly cheap compared to the 'diamond texture' of the exsting one. Perhaps in all gloss black it'll look better.
8) Thank god the V8 remains. I dont have one, but my next defender I'd really like to option with one. So glad to see its not gone (yet).
9) I hate the driver monitoring 'stick on' sensors. If it came with enhanced autonomy, or at least significantly better lane keeping assist, I'd make my peace with it. But otherwise just more crap to break.
10) That blue on the Octa with the satin gold accents just looks amazing. Sadly as its Octa only its outta my budget. I do wish there were at least one more 'funkier' color added to the pallet though, like a burnt orange or a more golden yellow. Doesn't matter because I'd choose that new green in a heart beat either way.
Overall nothing to make me want to run and trade mine in. But I do like most of the additions and the ones I dont care for are certainly not deal breakers.
Dream spec for me.130 with captains, v8, the new green, and the same saddle tan/black interior combo I have now. And I'd have to budget for a decent looking set of aftermarket wheels/tires immediately to get rid of the new 7 spoke 22" design. Anyone got a spare $130k or so? (sheesh).
TReK
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 3,613
From: Kirkland WA
I have it on my MY22 110. It's a bit of fun but far slower than actually parking yourself in a busy street with folks waiting. Not something I'd pay for. It will likely be baked into some optional package.
TReK
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,546
Likes: 3,613
From: Kirkland WA
Hopefully that spy camera will be disable-able in the US where its not required.
I actually really like that green more than the Pangea green. No offense to anyone that has Pangea green but ...It kind of looks like a color you dye an easter egg to me. This new green is bolder - still not as good as a deep hunter green.
I really do think that JLR needs to do something like Jeep does with the Rubicon or Ford does with the Sasquatch - and offer a real substantive (not just flashy fauxroader) offroad package that would take the Defender from the unfortunate mall crawler status in the pop culture to something that gets the needle moved. 18" beadlock-able wheels (regardless of engine type), steel bumpers, winch, sliders, rear AND front lockers and a RAI that isn't for show only, roof rack provided by someone like Rhino or Prinsu...
A man can dream.
I actually really like that green more than the Pangea green. No offense to anyone that has Pangea green but ...It kind of looks like a color you dye an easter egg to me. This new green is bolder - still not as good as a deep hunter green.
I really do think that JLR needs to do something like Jeep does with the Rubicon or Ford does with the Sasquatch - and offer a real substantive (not just flashy fauxroader) offroad package that would take the Defender from the unfortunate mall crawler status in the pop culture to something that gets the needle moved. 18" beadlock-able wheels (regardless of engine type), steel bumpers, winch, sliders, rear AND front lockers and a RAI that isn't for show only, roof rack provided by someone like Rhino or Prinsu...
A man can dream.
Steel bumpers, factory sliders and (an easy to access) winch would be great. It would sell like hot cakes in the USA.
Nope. How about, more 22"s, and glossy trim that will look like a hobo's handbag after a few days on the trail or gritted highway.
It would sell like hot cakes in the USA.
Three Wheeling
Joined: Jan 2025
Posts: 66
Likes: 34
same here. We use it a couple of times a year mainly as a party trick for people who haven't seen that done before.
Mudding
Joined: Feb 2025
Posts: 238
Likes: 112
It's on the article link:
"Defender OCTA, the extreme performance hero, benefits from an exclusive new Sargasso Blue exterior colour and tactile Textured Graphite accents in the latest programme of updates. A Patagonia White Matte Wrap exterior is also planned for Defender OCTA and 5.0‑litre V8 models, available from late 2025."
It looks like Sargasso blue is only additional color and Patagonia white matte wrap. Not sure its white with different shade of matte wrap or new color.
"Defender OCTA, the extreme performance hero, benefits from an exclusive new Sargasso Blue exterior colour and tactile Textured Graphite accents in the latest programme of updates. A Patagonia White Matte Wrap exterior is also planned for Defender OCTA and 5.0‑litre V8 models, available from late 2025."
It looks like Sargasso blue is only additional color and Patagonia white matte wrap. Not sure its white with different shade of matte wrap or new color.
Mudding
Joined: Oct 2023
Posts: 111
Likes: 101
From: SE Washington State
The smoothed out bumper area without little holes around the fog lights was first done on the 2025 OCTA, so for 2026 across all models it is carried to all trims it seems.
The 2025 OCTA has those panels above the rear bumper below the taillights that fill those little pocket where some put additional reverse lights. You'll not in the 2026 MY photos there appears to be another form of trim in that space filling the cavity.
The 2025 OCTA has those panels above the rear bumper below the taillights that fill those little pocket where some put additional reverse lights. You'll not in the 2026 MY photos there appears to be another form of trim in that space filling the cavity.
