2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with no major exterior changes, maintaining its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood reminiscent of the original version. The option for a white contrasting roof and steel wheels added a retro touch. Despite these nostalgic elements, the Defender's design was thoroughly modern, featuring rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The modern Defender was significantly larger than its predecessor, offering more interior space and improved ergonomics. The interior design emphasized ruggedness with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by metal trim on the steering wheel. The mix of leather and suede upholstery in the high-end Defender 90 V8 test car suggested durability, making it suitable for off-road adventures without worrying about interior damage.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while inheriting some styling elements from other Genesis models, boasted a unique appearance. It featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that leaned more towards a fastback than an SUV. The ribbed detailing added a muscular profile, combining SUV bulk with sleek, car-like elements. The Sport Prestige models had unique styling features, including a model-specific front fascia with big vents, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark-finished chrome trim. The rear bumper housed giant round exhaust outlets, adding to its sporty character. Inside, the GV70 had an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing's cross-section, with minimalistic design elements like a perched touchscreen and hidden air vents. The interior offered a variety of color options, and the Sport Prestige test car featured luxurious Nappa leather upholstery with suede inserts.

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 new-for-2022 V8 engine delivered 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 model included an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning for sportier handling. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender's off-road prowess was supported by features like a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with optional air suspension. It also boasted an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 came with a base 2.5-liter turbo-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generated 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty intentions. The Sport+ drive mode sharpened throttle response and held high revs for quick overtakes, but the chassis felt big and heavy, lacking the sharpness of competitors like the Acura RDX, BMW X3, or Porsche Macan. The steering was adequate but not precise enough for spirited driving, and the exhaust sound was not particularly pleasant. The GV70 excelled in highway cruising, though the ride was firm with 21-inch wheels, and it lacked the solidity expected from a luxury vehicle.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90. The four-door Defender 110 model provided more versatility, with 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, 35.4 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 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 Defender's interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and side-mounted cargo boxes.

The 2022 Genesis GV70's interior space was mid-pack for the segment, offering front-seat headroom comparable to a Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class and back-seat headroom similar to a BMW X3. Cargo space measured 28.9 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 56.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, placing it in the middle ground between competitors. The interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets, but included a covered storage cubby for phones with USB ports. The Sport Prestige test car featured heavily bolstered front seats with heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions, though some controls were buried in touchscreen menus.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard 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, 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, which was particularly useful for off-roading.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The tile-based layout and crisp graphics made it user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality with pinch-and-zoom capabilities. Higher trims included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 featured a digital-key option, allowing drivers to use a smartphone instead of a key fob, and a fingerprint scanner for starting the car. Genesis Connected Services included a radar-based rear-seat monitor and remote activation of the 360-degree camera system, along with other features like driver profiles and valet mode.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adaptation. 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 Genesis GV70 came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and Highway Driving Assist with automated lane centering. It also featured eight airbags, including a front-center airbag. Optional features included Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality and navigation-based adaptive cruise control. While crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available, the GV70's safety tech impressed with smooth control inputs, though lane-centering struggled with sharp curves.