2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive exterior styling, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that visually tied it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro callbacks, the design was thoroughly modern, featuring rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave the Defender a unique personality. The modern Defender was also much larger than its predecessor, offering more interior space and improved ergonomics.

Inside, the Defender balanced rugged character with modern comfort. The upright driving position of the original was replaced with a more comfortable setup that still provided good outward visibility. The interior design included bare metal and exposed screws for a rugged look, complemented by leather and suede upholstery that seemed more practical for off-road use. Even high-end models like the Defender 90 V8 mixed luxury with functionality, making it a vehicle you wouldn't hesitate to take off-road.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler required buyers to choose between a classic two-door or a more practical four-door model. Engine options included a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, and a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The turbo-four and V6 engines came standard with a six-speed manual transmission, with an eight-speed automatic as an upgrade. Four-wheel drive was standard, but multiple systems were available depending on the trim level.

The Wrangler came in four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions. Our test vehicle was the new High Tide special edition, based on the Wrangler Unlimited Sport S trim. It featured LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, a Gorilla Glass windshield, and High Tide or Beach hood decals. The High Tide also included the Xtreme Recon package, which added a 1.5-inch suspension lift, 17-inch beadlock-capable wheels, 35-inch BF Goodrich T/A KO2 tires, and a 4.56 rear axle ratio.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains. The base model had 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 produced 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, allowing the Defender 90 to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 149 mph. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and had standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case.

The V8 model also featured 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 impressively comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender also had a maximum towing capacity of 8,201 pounds, more than many similarly sized luxury SUVs.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide had a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission was a mandatory $4,000 option on the High Tide. The test vehicle also had the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. According to the EPA, the Wrangler Unlimited with the eTorque V6 should get 21 mpg in combined driving, but the Xtreme Recon Package modifications reduced this to an average of 16.8 mpg over a week of driving.

Driving a Wrangler was a unique and immersive experience, engaging all senses. The vehicle's rough-and-tumble nature, combined with its off-road capabilities, made it a favorite among enthusiasts. However, it required frequent stops at gas stations and had a noisy cabin, vague steering, and a rough ride. Despite these drawbacks, the Wrangler's character and capabilities made it a beloved off-roader.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were surprisingly comfortable in the Defender 90 test vehicle. However, accessing them was challenging, and they didn't leave much room for cargo. The four-door Defender 110 model was available in 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 had 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 massive center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes that mounted to the side pillars.

Getting into and out of the 2022 Jeep Wrangler was challenging, especially with the High Tide's raised suspension. The manual height adjuster for the driver's seat required regular re-adjustment. The Wrangler's seats were comfortable, and the cloth upholstery looked durable. The driving position was close to the steering wheel, dashboard, and windshield, requiring some acclimation time.

Visibility was a mixed bag, with excellent views in some areas and compromised views in others. Rear-seat passengers faced the same entry and exit difficulties as those in the front. Storage options were limited, with netting on the lower door panels, a small tray on the dashboard, and a small but deep center console box. The tailgate, with its heavy 35-inch wheel, required careful handling when opening on hills or when parallel parked. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

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. An 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The interface was user-friendly, with good graphics and menu layouts, although the screen required a strong poke 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 side camera views helped with obstacle navigation, while the front view was great for spotting rocks or tree stumps.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on Sport S trim, had relatively basic infotainment technology. It featured a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system offered upgrades like satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system, but the test vehicle didn't have these.

Despite its basic setup, the Wrangler High Tide included remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, and single-zone automatic climate control with a new air filtration system. The Cold Weather Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, extending the open-air driving season.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist tech, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide included both the Safety Group and the Advanced Safety Group. The Safety Group added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Advanced Safety Group included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The Wrangler's safety ratings were less impressive. The NHTSA gave it a three-star rating for rollover resistance, and the IIHS rated it Marginal for protection in the left front small overlap crash-test and the new side-impact test. Headlight performance was rated Poor for standard lights and Marginal for LED upgrades.