2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive exterior styling, reminiscent of the original version with its boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood. Despite these classic callbacks, the Defender boasted a thoroughly modern design with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The modern Defender was larger than its predecessor, offering more interior space and better ergonomics. The interior design emphasized the Defender's rugged character, featuring a mix of leather upholstery and suede, bare metal, and exposed screws, which made it suitable for off-road adventures without the worry of ruining the interior.

In contrast, the 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar exuded class and elegance, with a design that announced wealth and taste. The Velar's exterior was a sporty package with a long wheelbase, short overhangs, and a trapezoidal roof, all unmistakably Range Rover. The Velar's design included subtle adjustments like a sloping roof and wide shoulder crease, creating a blocky yet streamlined appearance. The interior was equally slick, with high-quality materials and a polished black center stack. However, the Velar's design choices, such as the lack of a discrete parking brake control, highlighted a trend of redesigning critical controls for the sake of aesthetics.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a range of 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.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar shared its chassis with the Jaguar F-Pace, offering a lower center of gravity and lighter weight for improved handling and braking. The base engine was a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four producing 247 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Velar's optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt mild-hybrid system was available in two states of tune, with the R-Dynamic HSE offering 395 hp and 405 lb-ft. While the Velar's mission as a street Rover compromised its off-road capability, it provided a smoother ride with optional air suspension and adaptive dampers.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile interior configurations, with the two-door Defender 90 featuring 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. The four-door Defender 110 was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Cargo space varied, with the two-row version offering 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with them folded. The Defender's interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious center-console storage bin.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar, while stylish, had a tighter interior compared to midsize SUVs, with limited headroom and visibility. Cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 49 cubic feet with them folded. The Velar's design choices, such as the lack of a discrete parking brake control, highlighted a trend of redesigning critical controls for aesthetics. The Pivi Pro infotainment system improved the interface, but the Velar's interior design choices sometimes compromised functionality.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the standard Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. An 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing the Defender's off-road capabilities.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar's Pivi Pro infotainment system simplified the layout with fewer icons and more logical arrangements. The system included features like a voice assistant, PM2.5 air filter, and a heated windshield. The navigation system offered advanced features like identifying frequent routes and suggesting traffic detours. The Velar's instrument panel could show full-width maps and reconfigure displays, but the driving assist display lacked detail compared to competitors.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist tech, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the Defender, which was not unusual for luxury brands.

The 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Velar scored well in the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) with a five-star rating. Standard driving assists included forward emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and traffic sign recognition. Optional features included 360-degree cameras and adaptive cruise control with steering assist.