2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its renowned and distinctive looks. It had a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that visually linked it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. The retro charm was even accentuated with options like a white contrasting roof and steel wheels. However, the modern Defender also embraced aerodynamic principles with rounded corners and recessed LED headlights, giving it a fresh personality. It was significantly larger than its predecessor, which improved interior space and ergonomics.

Inside, the Defender's design balanced ruggedness and modernity. While many luxury vehicles featured leather, wood, and plastic, the Defender flaunted bare metal and exposed screws in its doors for a unique look, along with metal trim on the steering wheel. The mix of leather and suede upholstery in the high-end Defender 90 V8 was practical for off-road conditions. Unlike the Range Rover, which felt too luxurious for rugged use, the Defender's interior encouraged outdoor adventures without worry.

In contrast, the 2022 Toyota Highlander showcased a modern and somewhat aggressive front-end design. Its flared fender arches and the kick-up of the third-row window tried to create a smaller appearance from the outside but offered plenty of interior space. The Highlander’s cabin was cleverly designed for storage and usability, making it ideal for family use right from its base L trim, which came with essentials like an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and ample USB ports.

The XSE trim of the Highlander stole the show with its bold red leather interior that contrasted its sedate navy blue exterior. This trim added unique exterior styling, ambient interior lighting, and a sport-tuned suspension. The Highlander’s upper trims like Limited and Platinum brought even more luxury features such as heated and ventilated front seats, genuine leather upholstery, a powerful JBL audio system, and additional conveniences like a hands-free power liftgate and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender was powered by three engine options. The base models had a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Mid-level trims were powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six engine with a mild-hybrid system, generating 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The highlight for 2022 was the new V8 engine producing 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque, which could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds, boasting a top speed of 149 mph.

The Defender’s engines were mated to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with standard four-wheel drive (4WD) and a two-speed transfer case. The V8 model came with additional features like an electronic active rear differential and unique tuning for both suspension and transmission for sportier handling. This version, however, felt less poised than the six-cylinder model, creating more drama during cornering. Despite this, the Defender was impressively comfortable on-road, absorbing bumps smoothly and handling crosswinds better than competitors like the Jeep Wrangler.

Off-road, the Defender lived up to Land Rover’s reputation, offering 4WD with low range, impressive ground clearance (up to 11.5 inches with air suspension), and various drive modes for different terrains. It also had a significant towing capacity of 8,201 pounds.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Toyota Highlander housed a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The AWD system included Mud/Sand and Rock modes in addition to the standard drive modes of Sport, Normal, and Eco.

The Highlander’s V6 engine performed better when cruising or accelerating to highway speeds rather than off-the-line acceleration. It produced a satisfying exhaust note during overtakes. Handling was commendable, with reduced body roll and well-weighted steering, especially in the XSE trim with its sport-tuned suspension. Though it could tow up to 5,000 pounds, which was average for its class, its max payload was 1,685 pounds in the FWD L and LE trims.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a variety of configurations for interior space and functionality. The two-door Defender 90 had 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, providing decent rear seat comfort despite the challenging access and limited cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 provided more flexibility with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, offering 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. The two-row version offered 18.1 cubic feet with the seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing competitors like the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited.

Functionality was at the core of the Defender’s interior design. The shifter and climate-control knobs were on a dashboard shelf, freeing up space for a large caged storage area below. The center-console storage bin was notable for its size and the option for refrigeration or a jump seat between the front seats. Land Rover also provided optional exterior cargo solutions like a basket-style roof rack and side-mount cargo boxes.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander excelled with up to 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the second and third rows folded, 48.4 cubic feet with the second row in use, and 16 cubic feet with all seats deployed. Seats could be easily lowered with quick-release latches and raised with pull-straps. Every trim above the base had a power liftgate, with higher trims offering a hands-free option.

The Highlander’s cockpit included an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat right from the base L trim. The front doors had deep cargo pockets, and the center dash provided extra ledges for storage. The center console compartment was spacious, and even the third row had cupholders. The second-row captain’s chairs available in the XSE trim added to the practicality by providing an aisle to the third row and more space between occupants, which was beneficial for family road trips. However, the third-row seating was only practical for short trips, particularly for adults.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came equipped with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. Every trim except the base model included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and there was a new 11.4-inch touchscreen option for 2022. The interface had intuitive graphics and menu layouts, but the touchscreen often required a firm press to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was particularly useful during off-road adventures.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander featured a WiFi hotspot, five USB ports, and an 8-inch touchscreen supporting Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. While lacking wireless CarPlay/Auto, its layout was user-friendly, complemented by hard buttons on either side. The XSE model included a wireless charging pad and both USB and USB-C ports. A 12.3-inch touchscreen was available but less straightforward than the base one. Optional features included a digital instrument panel screen and an 11-speaker JBL premium stereo system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist technologies such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with a speed-limit adapter. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. Luxury brands often exclude certain features from base trims, and the Defender was no exception. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the Defender, which is common among luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander came standard with the Toyota Safety Sense suite, which included forward collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and automatic high beams. All trims above the base L included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features on higher trims included parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a surround-view monitor, head-up display, and adaptive headlights. The lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist systems were notably active, sometimes overly so, especially on winding roads.