2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the original Ioniq, by establishing itself as a standalone brand focused solely on electric vehicles. This new model showcased a sleek and polished exterior, characterized by minimal character lines and a unique Parametric Pixel design. The Ioniq 5's exterior was a blend of fascinating and frustrating elements, with an abundance of LED pixels integrated into the lighting features, creating a concept car-like appearance. Despite its futuristic design, the Ioniq 5 was a production vehicle available for purchase, featuring aerodynamic wheels and distinctive silver-contrast plastic accents.

Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin offered a stark contrast to its exterior, embracing a "Living Space" design theme that prioritized relaxation and comfort. The interior was available in calming hues and featured sustainable materials, such as stain-resistant cloth seats and recycled fibers. The Ioniq 5 also boasted a "Relaxation" mode for the driver's seat, providing a zero-gravity resting position. The interior design was understated yet functional, with ample passenger space and thoughtful details like a moveable center console and supportive leatherette seats.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic boxy profile and tailgate-mounted spare tire, paying homage to its classic predecessors. While the exterior design remained largely unchanged, it incorporated modern elements like rounded corners and recessed LED headlights, enhancing aerodynamics and giving the Defender a distinct personality. The larger size of the modern Defender translated into improved interior space and ergonomics, offering a more comfortable driving experience compared to the original version.

Inside, the Defender's interior design emphasized ruggedness without sacrificing comfort. The mix of leather upholstery and suede in the high-end Defender 90 V8 test car provided a durable yet stylish look. The interior featured exposed metal and screws, adding to its rugged character, while the steering wheel boasted metal trim. The Defender's interior was designed to handle off-road adventures without compromising on luxury, making it a practical choice for those seeking both style and functionality.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offered a range of powertrains and configurations, catering to different driving preferences. It came in three trims—SE, SEL, and Limited—with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option. The base model, the Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range, featured a single 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor, delivering 168 horsepower and a range of 220 miles. The extended-range variants, available in RWD, boasted a larger 168-kW motor producing 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, with a range of 303 miles. The AWD version, with a dual-motor system, offered 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, though the range dropped to 256 miles.

The Ioniq 5's performance was characterized by its composure and control, particularly in the Limited trim with AWD. It handled elevation changes and highway stretches with ease, offering four drive modes, including Sport mode for added excitement. However, spirited driving could quickly deplete the range. The Ioniq 5 featured paddle shifters for adjusting regenerative braking levels, enhancing the driving experience. The vehicle's quiet cabin, thanks to noise-reducing features, made for a pleasant ride.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a choice of powertrains, including a new V8 engine for 2022. The base models featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque, while the mid-level option was a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The V8 engine, delivering 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, provided exhilarating performance, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The V8 models also featured unique suspension tuning for sportier handling.

Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender offered impressive on-road comfort, with a suspension that absorbed bumps effectively. The vehicle's boxy shape did not compromise its stability in crosswinds, making it a versatile choice for both on-road and off-road adventures. The Defender's 4WD system, along with features like Terrain Response 2 and All-Terrain Progress Control, ensured it lived up to Land Rover's reputation for off-road prowess.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 was built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), designed to maximize interior space and utility. Despite its hatchback appearance, the Ioniq 5 offered a spacious interior, with a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Hyundai Palisade. It provided a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, surpassing competitors like the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4. The Ioniq 5 prioritized passenger comfort, offering 106.5 cubic feet of passenger volume, while the cargo space was slightly smaller at 27.2 cubic feet.

The interior design focused on comfort and functionality, with soft touchpoints and a moveable center console. The leatherette seats were supportive and comfortable, catering to both slim and larger drivers. The Ioniq 5's interior was designed to provide a relaxing and enjoyable driving experience, with thoughtful features like a modern take on the retro front bench seat.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile seating configurations, with the Defender 90 featuring 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. While accessing the rear seats in the two-door model was challenging, they were surprisingly comfortable. The four-door Defender 110 provided more cargo space, with up to 70.4 cubic feet available when the seats were folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large center-console storage bin and optional refrigeration.

The Defender's interior was designed to accommodate both passengers and cargo, with features like an optional basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes for additional storage. The shifter and climate-control knobs were conveniently placed, making them easy to reach from the driver's seat. The Defender's interior design balanced ruggedness with practicality, making it a suitable choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 was equipped with advanced technology, including a high-voltage, energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80 percent battery capacity in just 18 minutes, and could charge other devices or vehicles. The Ioniq 5 offered a digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, and over-the-air updates. The 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegantly designed and featured an anti-glare coating for easy readability.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on most trims, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, though the screen required a firm touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system for off-roading.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came with Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) that included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and collision avoidance. Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system, was also standard. The Ioniq 5 featured a head-up display with augmented reality overlays, though it could be distracting. While safety ratings were not yet available, Hyundai's track record suggested high marks were likely.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available, which was common for luxury vehicles.