2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Lexus GX

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 the original, 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 without seeming cheesy. The high-end Defender 90 V8 test car had a mix of materials that looked durable enough to handle mud and dirt. Unlike the Range Rover, the Defender's interior seemed ready for off-road adventures without the worry of ruining luxurious finishes.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition, evaluated in Black Onyx, eradicated almost all chrome from its exterior, transforming the SUV into a rolling black hole. However, it took less than 24 hours for a windy afternoon to coat the Lexus with a layer of brown dust, making it look drab and old. The GX's design, despite updates like the signature Lexus spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights, still looked dated, reminiscent of the first-generation 2002 GX 470.

Inside, the GX's cabin quality was undeniable, with smooth, silky refinement and a quiet ride, only interrupted by the faint roar of the standard V8 engine. The GX 460 was available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, with prices ranging from $56,700 to $66,210. The Black Line Special Edition, based on the GX 460 Premium, started at $60,535. Despite its age, the GX's interior themes remained similar to the original, offering a blend of comfort and quality.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains. Base models 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, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive (4WD) 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. However, the Defender 90 V8 felt less poised than the six-cylinder model, bringing unwanted drama to cornering. Despite this, the Defender was impressively comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the massive 22-inch tires. The Defender's off-road capabilities were also impressive, with a 4WD system, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. The optional Terrain Response 2 system and All-Terrain Progress Control further enhanced its off-road prowess. The Defender also boasted an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with a base curb weight of 5,126 pounds, featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque at 3,500 rpm. This powertrain, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system, allowed the GX to tow up to 6,500 pounds. The GX's 0-60 mph time was a leisurely 7.8 seconds, and its drag coefficient was a relatively high 0.35, contributing to an EPA fuel economy estimate of 16 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the GX returned 16.8 mpg.

The GX's Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) helped maximize wheel articulation off-road while reducing excessive body motions on pavement. Despite its age, the GX remained surprisingly agreeable to drive, with refined ride and handling. However, the slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal detracted from the overall driving experience. The Off-Road Package, available with the Luxury trim, added features like Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, skid plates, improved drivetrain cooling, and off-road cameras.

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 a chore, and cargo space was limited. The four-door Defender 110 model, available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, offered more cargo space. 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.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered an elevated driving position from a 10-way power-adjustable seat with clear outward visibility. The GX's tall, narrow, and short design made it easy to maneuver in various situations. The test vehicle's seats were comfortable, with interior padding in all the right places. However, the placement of the stereo and off-roading controls led to frequent mix-ups.

The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner. The front seats were heated and ventilated, the back seats were heated, and the model offered triple-zone automatic climate control. However, entering the rear seat was tricky due to narrow door openings. The third-row seat was challenging to access and uncomfortable for adults, with limited rear crush space in case of a rear-end collision.

The GX's cargo space was limited, with 11.6 cubic feet behind the third-row seat, 46.7 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with the second-row seat folded. The side-swinging tailgate further complicated loading, especially in tight spaces.

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, and an 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The interface was user-friendly, with good 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.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 featured a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The GX also had a CD player, a Lexus app, and Lexus Enform connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround-sound audio system was available but not included in the test vehicle. The placement of the stereo controls below the off-roading controls was inconvenient, and the stereo knobs were harder to grasp and turn. The infotainment display offered a dual-screen view, and the voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. Lexus also made Intuitive Parking Assist standard for 2022, with optional surround-view and terrain-view cameras.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech 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, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Lexus GX, despite its age, came with Lexus Safety System+, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The GX also had blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling. However, it lacked some advanced safety technologies found in competitors, such as lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and active blind-spot intervention.