2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Kia Sorento

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 the 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 interior featured a mix of leather upholstery and suede, exposed screws, and bare metal, which added to its rugged appeal. The high-end Defender 90 V8 test car had a comfortable driving position with good outward visibility, generous headroom, and legroom. The interior design was practical, with large storage spaces and easy-to-reach controls, making it a functional yet stylish choice for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, especially with the X-Line treatment, had a stylish and rugged appearance. The X-Line package added rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels, black lower body cladding, a lifted suspension, and robust roof rails, giving the Sorento a serious presence. Our test vehicle, equipped with the X-Line package, featured extra-cost Wolf Gray paint, Rust-colored leather, floor mats, and a cargo net, bringing the total MSRP to $45,310, including the $1,215 destination charge.

The Sorento's interior exuded quality, with leather upholstery and simulated wood trim on the dashboard. The cabin reflected rock-solid construction, with nothing feeling flimsy. The Sorento's keen sense of interior style and practical storage solutions made it a great choice for families. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable and designed with kids in mind, while the third-row seat was best suited for occasional use. The Sorento offered a "smart" power tailgate for easy loading and ample cargo space when the third-row seats were folded down.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrain options. The base model featured 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 Defender models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case.

The V8 model 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 comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender's 4WD system, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance made it a capable off-roader. It also had an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's standard engine was a 191-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which took almost 9.5 seconds to accelerate the 3,715-pound SUV to 60 mph. The more satisfying turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generated 281 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Sorento to accelerate to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds. This engine was paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission and offered a torque-vectoring AWD system.

The Sorento's turbo engine provided a surge of torque and a snappy transmission, making it feel energetic. The SX Prestige X-Line model featured 20-inch alloy wheels and 255/45 Continental CrossContact LX Sport tires, with a suspension tuned for an excellent blend of compliance and composure. The Sorento handled well on winding roads and provided a comfortable ride. The X-Line package increased ground clearance to 8.2 inches, but the suspension lift was more for show than serious off-roading. The Sorento SX Prestige X-Line's fuel economy was rated at 24 mpg in combined driving by the EPA, but our test vehicle averaged 20.7 mpg.

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 model. 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, a spacious center-console storage bin, and optional refrigeration. The Defender also offered optional basket-style roof racks and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2022 Kia Sorento's interior felt luxurious, with a 14-way power driver's seat, 10-way power front passenger seat, and heated and ventilated front seats in the SX Prestige X-Line model. The second-row captain's chairs were comfortable and designed with kids in mind, with cupholders, USB charging ports, rear air conditioning vents, and dual storage pockets. The third-row seat was best suited for occasional use, as it lacked legroom and headroom for adults.

The Sorento offered 12.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the third-row seats in place, 38.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded, and 75.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The "smart" power tailgate made loading easier when your arms were full.

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, but 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 for off-roading.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, except for the base LX trim, featured a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen display with navigation, satellite radio, Kia Connect services, and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The base infotainment system offered wireless smartphone integration, while the 10.25-inch version required a cable. The infotainment system was intuitive, but the font style, graphics, and colors might not appeal to everyone. The SX Prestige X-Line model had a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system and wireless smartphone charging starting with EX trim.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech such as 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.

The 2022 Kia Sorento came with Kia Drive Wise, which varied by trim level. Our test vehicle had features like a rear-seat reminder system, Junction Assist, Blind View Monitor, Intelligent Speed Limit Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. The IIHS named the Sorento a Top Safety Pick, with the highest rating for LED headlights on the SX and SX Prestige trims. The NHTSA gave the Sorento a four-star overall crash-test rating.