Some cars impress with their performance. Others with their presence. The Defender 110 V8 manages to do both. This version of the iconic off-roader combines the rugged appeal of a traditional 4x4 with the brute force of a supercharged V8 engine. The result is an SUV that feels just as at home on a muddy mountain trail as it does cruising on the highway.

I got the opportunity to drive what many believe is the king of the SUVs: the Land Rover Defender. Over the years, the Land Rover…