2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Lexus NX

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 interior featured a mix of leather upholstery and suede, exposed screws, and metal trim, creating a look that seemed ready to handle mud and dirt. The driving position was more comfortable than the original, with better headroom and legroom, while still providing good outward visibility. The Defender’s design made it a vehicle you wouldn’t hesitate to take off-road, unlike more luxurious models.

The 2022 Lexus NX, redesigned and available in four model series, offered a more refined and simplified design. The NX was unmistakably a Lexus with its spindle grille and new block lettering on the tailgate. The new model was longer, wider, and taller, providing more passenger and cargo space. Most NX models featured NuLuxe simulated leather, while the Luxury trim included real leather and open-pore wood trim. The F Sport trim added sporty elements like a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, and 20-inch gloss black wheels.

Inside, the NX aimed for a minimalist look, a departure from the previous model’s button-laden dashboard. The new design integrated many functions into a 14-inch touchscreen, which could be challenging to use quickly. However, physical controls for frequently used functions like stereo volume and temperature adjustment remained. The NX’s interior quality was generally high, though some elements, like the turn signal, felt less premium.

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, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and 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’s off-road prowess was supported by features like 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 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions. The NX 350h had a combined output of 239 horsepower and an EPA-estimated 39 mpg in combined driving. The NX 450h+ was a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) with 302 hp and an estimated 36 miles of pure electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive.

The NX 250 had a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, with front-wheel drive and an optional all-wheel drive. Both the NX 250 and NX 350 offered Normal, Sport, and Eco driving modes, while the NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. The F Sport felt taut and lean on winding roads, while the NX 350 Luxury offered a softer driving character. Lexus estimated 25 mpg in combined driving for the NX 350.

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. The four-door Defender 110 model came 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 the shifter and climate-control knobs placed on a shelf extending from the dashboard, leaving room for a large caged storage space below. The center-console storage bin was one of the largest outside a full-size pickup truck and 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 NX offered more interior room for people and cargo, though it felt more intimate from the driver’s seat. The NX was comfortable, especially with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim provided better bolstering for the front seats. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents, heated cushions, and USB ports. The NX’s panoramic glass sunroof extended over the back seat.

Lexus claimed a 14% increase in cargo space behind the back seat, bringing the figure to 22.7 cubic feet. Folding the back seats down created 46.9 cubic feet of volume. The NX Luxury trim included a nature-inspired Thematic Ambient Illumination system with 14 themes, though this was not tested due to bright testing conditions.

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. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, with a 9.8-inch touchscreen display standard and a 14-inch screen optional. Standard equipment included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and readiness for five connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available as an option.

The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural voice commands, and Lexus included a complimentary three-year trial subscription to its new Drive Connect service. Additional technologies included a digital mirror, a 10-inch head-up display, and User Profiles for storing preferences and settings.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2022 Lexus NX came with the standard Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included features like Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. Additional safety features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, Safe Exit Assist, and Emergency Driving Stop System. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, adaptive front lighting, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking.