2023 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a wide range of models, from the base version priced at $33,745 to the top-tier King Ranch at $54,495, excluding a $1,495 destination charge. The lineup included the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trims, with the new ST-Line adding a sporty flair to the XLT. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured 4WD, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, bringing the MSRP to $59,880. Despite its high price, the King Ranch's visual differences from other trims were minimal, save for its emblems, 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets. The Explorer's design, based on a rear-drive platform, showcased a long hood, short front overhang, and a tapering greenhouse, giving it a sporty, athletic look. Inside, the King Ranch boasted exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. However, the cabin's mix of quality and questionable materials sometimes detracted from its near $60,000 price tag.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender, outselling the Discovery by more than four to one, retained the boxy design reminiscent of the old LR4. Its industrial design emphasized corners, with a square-jawed face, rectangular hood and doors, and a chopped tail. Accents like the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof, and the body-color square separating the side glass paid homage to the original 1980s Defender. The Defender came in three body styles: the two-door 90, the medium-length four-door 110, and the extended-length four-door 130. The X trim featured a two-tone hood and front fascia, while the V8 model was entirely blacked out. Inside, the Defender prioritized function and durability, with rubbers and plastics designed to resist moisture and stains. Despite its high price, the interior felt basic and barren, with exposed screws and plain-looking air vents. However, the build quality and fit were excellent, maintaining the Defender's hardcore character.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive (RWD), with four-wheel drive (4WD) available. This engine provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving and a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds. The Explorer Limited had an optional hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine, generating a combined 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, towing up to 5,000 lbs, and returning up to 27 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid came with RWD or 4WD and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard on the ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, produced 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,600 lbs and a maximum gas mileage of 21 mpg in combined driving. Our King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg. The Explorer's ride felt robust and capable, with the King Ranch handling off-road terrain well despite its 7.9 inches of ground clearance. The Timberline models offered even better off-road capabilities with 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road, with its air suspension providing ample clearance and the Terrain Response 2 system adapting the vehicle's powertrain and chassis to various surfaces. The Defender's permanent 4WD and differential locking capabilities ensured exceptional grip and wheel articulation. However, on-road performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow and imprecise steering, and noticeable wind noise. The V8 engine, producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, offered thrilling acceleration, while the six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, delivered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, was less powerful and better suited for local driving. The mild-hybrid inline-six provided a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, with ratings of 18/23/20 mpg. The V8, however, had poor fuel economy ratings of 14/19/16 mpg.

The 2022 Ford Explorer provided ample comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. However, the third-row seat was best suited for children due to the Explorer's rear-drive platform, low rear roofline, and tapered tail. The King Ranch trim featured triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, suitable for long-distance driving, while the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. The third-row seat, however, was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom. Practical storage space within the cabin was limited, with missed opportunities for additional storage in the front door armrests and dashboard. The King Ranch had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered unmatched seating configurations, with the two-door 90 seating six with an optional jump seat, and the 110 and 130 models offering optional third rows. The 130 could seat up to eight passengers, with a separate moonroof, air vents, cupholders, USB ports, and armrests for third-row occupants. The Defender's large glass areas, including "alpine lights," provided excellent visibility. The 130 had a panoramic moonroof and rear moonroof, while the 90 and 110 offered a folding power fabric roof. Cargo space varied by model, with the 130 offering 77 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, the 90 providing 58 cubic feet, and the 110 offering 79 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Defender could be equipped with off-road or all-season tires, a metal roof rack, a console refrigerator, a heated windshield, a pressurized water rinse system, power-deployable side steps, a brush bar, and a winch.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen or a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The smaller screen was well integrated, while the larger screen appeared as an afterthought. Our test vehicle had the full menu of Sync 3 technology, including FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch also had wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 3 system's voice recognition was lacking, often failing to recognize destinations and requiring multiple attempts to find local establishments. The King Ranch also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0, which could autonomously park the Explorer.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro, Land Rover’s newest software. The standard 10-inch screen was well integrated, while the optional 11.4-inch touchscreen provided greater legibility. Both screens were quick and simple to operate, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation as standard features. The base Defender 110 had manual fabric seats and a basic stereo, while the Defender S featured heated 12-way power seats with leather and a Meridian stereo. Higher trims added features like fog lights, surround sound, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, auto high beams, and cooled front seats. The X trim included air suspension, a locking rear differential, an upgraded Terrain Response 2 system, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a rearview mirror with a camera display. Additional options included a cabin air purifier and configurable ambient lighting.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and had not yet been fully rated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 2022. Ford equipped every Explorer with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also had a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions. Overall, the Co-Pilot360 and Co-Pilot360 Assist+ systems operated smoothly and accurately, though the lane-centering assist system occasionally shut off on sharper bends and curves.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. The Defender came with six airbags, which was fewer than expected, lacking front knee airbags and rear side thorax airbags. Standard safety features included lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included a digital instrument panel with full-screen maps, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. The Defender also offered automatic steering when reversing a trailer, though a self-steering highway assist was not available.