2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Kia Telluride

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 improved interior space and 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 driving position was more comfortable than the original, with better headroom and legroom. The high-end Defender 90 V8 test car even had a mix of materials that seemed more practical for off-road use, unlike the more luxurious Range Rover interiors that one might hesitate to dirty.

The 2022 Kia Telluride boasted a muscular design with balanced proportions and trendy blacked-out wheels and trim. For 2022, Kia made only minor changes to the grille pattern and added new badges. The Telluride was available in LX, S, EX, and SX trims, with prices ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, plus a $1,225 destination charge. Our SX test vehicle, equipped with AWD and the SX Prestige Package, totaled $48,325.

The Telluride's interior was upscale and logically arranged, though the glossy plastic in the lower half of the cabin looked cheap, especially in the SX Prestige with its Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner. For 2022, Kia added numerous new standard features, including a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, Highway Driving Assist, and navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve. The S trim also gained a standard wireless smartphone charger.

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. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The new-for-2022 V8 engine produced 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.

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 comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender's off-road prowess included a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with the optional air suspension. It also had an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 Kia Telluride featured a 291-horsepower 3.8-liter V6 engine with 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. AWD models had a Lock mode that evenly split power delivery to the front and rear axles. The Telluride offered eight inches of ground clearance but limited wheel articulation, making it better suited for less challenging off-road conditions. It performed well in snow and on muddy roads during past tests.

On dry pavement, the Telluride's brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control system and selectable driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport) contributed to a satisfying driving experience. The SX trim's 20-inch wheels and 245/50 tires provided good grip, and the ride quality was smooth. The Telluride excelled on long-distance drives, aided by the Highway Driving Assist technology. During testing, the Telluride SX AWD achieved 21.1 mpg, close to the EPA estimate of 21 mpg in combined driving. The Telluride's towing capacity was 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 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 offered 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 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 interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard, a spacious center-console storage bin, and optional roof racks and cargo boxes.

The 2022 Kia Telluride balanced form and function with an upscale, organized interior. Thoughtful details included functional grab handles, overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, rear smartphone storage pouches, USB ports in the front seatbacks, and accessible rear cupholders. Dual-zone automatic climate control served front-seat occupants, while a single-zone panel served the rear. The EX and SX trims featured real leather, with the SX Prestige package adding premium Nappa leather upholstery and a simulated suede headliner.

All three rows of seats were comfortable for adults, though the third row was less preferred. The Telluride offered plenty of storage space, with 21 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet. The hands-free power liftgate and flat load floor made it easy to haul large items.

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, 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 Kia Telluride featured a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and voice recognition technology. However, the Telluride lost wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, requiring a wired connection. USB charging ports were available in all three rows, with airline-style ports in the front seatbacks. A wireless smartphone charging pad was standard in all trims except the LX.

Kia Connect, a connected services platform, was standard and included a free one-year trial. It offered features like 911 Connect, safe teen driving alerts, remote engine start, cabin climate pre-conditioning, Find My Car, and smart speaker integration. The Telluride also had standard Quiet Mode and Driver Talk functions, a 10-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system, head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist features like 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 Telluride came with numerous standard driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies under Kia Drive Wise. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control with curve speed reduction. The Telluride also featured Highway Driving Assist, Smart Cruise Control-Curve, Safe Exit Assist, and Blind-Spot View Monitor technology.

In NHTSA crash tests, the Telluride earned a five-star overall rating, with four stars for frontal-impact protection for the driver and front passenger. The IIHS awarded the Telluride its "Top Safety Pick" designation.