2022 BMW X3 vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, reminiscent of its predecessors with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood. These elements tied it visually to the original Defender and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these nostalgic touches, the Defender boasted a modern design with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that added a distinct personality. The larger size of the modern Defender translated into more interior space and better ergonomics, offering generous headroom and legroom, and a comfortable driving position with good visibility. The interior design emphasized ruggedness with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by leather and suede upholstery, making it suitable for off-road adventures without worrying about interior damage.

In contrast, the 2022 BMW X3 featured a revised exterior design with a slightly more aggressive stance. The kidney grille was larger, but not overly so, and the adaptive full LED headlights were slimmer, accommodating new vertical air intakes and a redesigned front bumper. The rear showcased new taillights with a black surround and pincer claw-shaped brake light LEDs, along with larger exhaust tips and a new bumper. The X3 offered nine exterior finishes, including new metallic colors like Brooklyn Grey and Tanzanite Blue II. The interior was clean and efficient, with dark oak wood trim, power-adjustable front Sport seats, and a panoramic moonroof. The X3's interior color choices varied by material and model, with options for both SensaTec and genuine leather upholstery.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains, starting with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The mid-level option was a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The highlight was the new-for-2022 V8 engine, delivering 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, with features like a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. It also offered an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 BMW X3 came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine for the sDrive30i and xDrive30i models, producing 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The X3 M40i featured a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, generating 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The M40i accelerated from zero to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. The X3's fuel economy varied, with the sDrive30i achieving 23 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined, while the xDrive30i offered 21 mpg city, 28 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The M40i was rated at 21 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. The X3 provided a balanced driving experience, with the M40i offering more dynamic performance and a sportier feel.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile interior configurations, with the two-door Defender 90 featuring 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. While accessing the rear seats was challenging, they provided decent comfort and could be folded for more cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 offered two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions offered 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious center-console storage bin.

The 2022 BMW X3 provided ample space for five passengers, with a 40/20/40-split rear seat configuration. The cargo area was spacious enough to accommodate backpacks and additional luggage. The X3 featured a power tailgate with an optional hands-free opening. The SensaTec faux-leather seats were comfortable, with the upgraded Vernasca leather offering more softness. The X3's sport seats provided good support, and the redesigned center console improved accessibility to touchpoints. The standard infotainment system included a 10.25-inch screen, with an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen available. The interior layout was user-friendly, with push-button and rocker-style controls for climate and audio functions.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and menu layouts. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the off-road experience with side and front camera views.

The 2022 BMW X3 featured BMW Live Cockpit Plus with iDrive 7 telematics, including a 5.1-inch color display instrument panel and a 10.25-inch infotainment screen. Standard features included navigation, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility, Amazon Alexa integration, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Live Cockpit Professional enlarged both screens to 12.3 inches, offering a fully-digital experience. The X3's infotainment system was customizable, with multiple control options, including steering wheel-mounted controls, voice activation, and the iDrive controller. The standard sound system included 12 speakers, with an optional Harman Kardon surround sound system available for M40i models.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist features, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with a speed-limit adapter. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the Defender, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2022 BMW X3 received a five-star crash safety rating from the NHTSA. While IIHS ratings for the 2022 model were not available, the 2018 X3 was named a Top Safety Pick+. The X3 included standard safety features such as adaptive LED headlights, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, active blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional packages added features like parking assistance, a 360-degree camera view, and advanced driver-assistance systems.