What is the difference between a Land Rover Defender Octa and a Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT
The popularity of luxury performance SUVs with V8 engines is a fascinating blend of cultural, economic, and technological factors. Few of these vehicles are left, with OEMs opting for electrified hybrids. The thrum of V8 isn't gone yet, and we check out the Octa and Turbo GT eight-cylinder machines.
Luxury performance SUVs with V8 engines blend high-end comfort, advanced technology, and thrilling performance. These vehicles cater to enthusiasts who want the practicality of an SUV without sacrificing speed, handling, or opulence.
Related: Defender Octa driven!
These vehicles offer incredible performance for their size, comfort, and daily usability, but are expensive to buy and equally costly to run. Many manufacturers are also phasing out these monsters in favour of hybridised machinery. We look at two of the last performance SUVs you can still get and see which model offers the best value for money.
Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT (2022) Review
Drivetrain
| Land Rover Range Rover Defender 110 Octa Edition One | Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT | |
| Engine | 4.4-litre V8 turbo petrol | 4.0-litre V8 turbo petrol |
| Transmission | 8 Speed Auto | 8 Speed Auto TipTronic |
| Power Figures | 467kW / 800Nm | 485kW / 850Nm |
The Octa may have the extra displacement in its turbocharged V8, but the Porsche extracts more power from its mill.
Fuel Consumption
| Land Rover Range Rover Defender 110 Octa Edition one | Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT | |
| Claimed fuel consumption | 13.5 L/100km | 11.9 L/ 100km |
| Tank Size (litres) | 90 | 90 |
| Claimed distance on a full tank | 667km | 756km |
| Top Speed | 250km/h | 305km/h |
Those extra few cc's mean that the Octa is slightly thirstier than the Turbo GT. The Porsche goes a little further and faster than the Range Rover.
Safety
| Land Rover Range Rover Defender 110 Octa Edition one | Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT | |
| ABS | Yes | Yes |
| Stability Control | Yes | Yes |
| Hill hold assist | Yes | Yes |
| Tyre Pressure Monitoring | No | Yes |
| Camera | Front and Rear | Front and Rear |
| PDC (Park Distance Control) | Front and Rear | Front and Rear |
| Airbags | 6 | 8 (Opt 10) |
| Cruise control | Adaptive | Adaptive |
| Lane Keep Assist | Yes | Yes |
| HUD (Heads Up Display) | Yes | Yes |
| Keyless Entry | Yes | Yes |
| LED Lighting | Matrix LED | Matrix LED |
The Octa and Turbo GT are equally matched in terms of safety and standard kit, with the only difference being the number of airbags in the Porsche.
Practicality
| Land Rover Range Rover Defender 110 Octa Edition One | Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT | |
| Load space (litres) | 786 - 1 875 | 538-576-1 486 |
| Towing capacity, braked/unbraked | 750kg unbraked / 3 500kg braked | 750 unbraked/ 3 500kg braked |
| Seating | 5 adults (partial cloth + leather upholstery) | 5 adults (sports seats in front - leather upholstery) |
| Sunroof | Sliding panoramic | Panoramic |
The Octa wins here with more space and a more practical approach. Both are capable of towing, mind.
Pricing
| Land Rover Range Rover Defender 110 Octa Edition One | R 3 749 100 | Porsche Cayenne Turbo GT | R 4 506 000 |
| Land Rover Range Rover Defender 110 Octa | R 3 499 100 | ||
Land Rover offers a 5-year / 100 000 km warranty and a 5-year / 100,000 km maintenance plan, while Porsche provides a 2-year / Unlimited km vehicle warranty and a 3-year / 100 000 km (5-year optional) maintenance plan.
Verdict
The Range Rover Octa represents an interesting proposition with its huge dollops of power, luxury and off-road ability in equal amounts, but the Cayenne is the machine we would take home. It delivers more power, is more frugal, and has a slightly higher safety option, though it does come at a premium. Test drive both to see which model suits your lifestyle better.
