2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2023 BMW X7

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with no major exterior changes, maintaining its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that harkened back to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. The option for a white contrasting roof and steel wheels added a retro touch. Despite these nostalgic elements, the Defender's design was thoroughly modern, featuring rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The modern Defender was significantly larger than its predecessor, offering more interior space and better ergonomics. The interior design emphasized the Defender’s rugged character, with a mix of leather and suede upholstery, bare metal, and exposed screws, creating a look that was both practical and stylish.

In contrast, the 2023 BMW X7 underwent a mid-cycle makeover, adopting a bolder design inspired by the redesigned BMW 7 Series sedan. The most noticeable change was at the front, with LED accent lights replacing the previous headlights, and the actual headlights tucked underneath. The oversized kidney grille remained a polarizing feature, and the new styling was expected to be just as controversial. The sides and rear of the X7 remained largely unchanged, offering two design themes: the chrome-trimmed Design Pure Excellence model and the dark-finished M Sport. Inside, the X7 received a refresh with a curved glass housing for the digital instrument panel and central infotainment touchscreen, a more elemental dashboard design, and a new toggle switch-like gear selector. The interior materials were of high quality, with supple leather upholstery and a new Sensafin synthetic substitute, although the glossy wood and carbon fiber trim choices were less favorable due to harsh reflections.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three 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 new-for-2022 V8 engine delivered 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 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. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimal noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender also boasted an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2023 BMW X7 lineup began with the base xDrive40i model, featuring a new 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine and 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. The X7 M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 engine with a similar hybrid system, delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Despite its nearly 6,000-pound weight, the X7 handled well, with potent acceleration from the V8 and adequate power from the six-cylinder. The brake pedal was soft, suitable for a large luxury SUV, and body roll was well managed. The X7 offered a blend of performance and comfort, with a slightly firmer ride compared to other luxury SUVs, reflecting BMW's focus on driver engagement.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatility with its seating configurations. The two-door Defender 90 had 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access, with limited cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 model came in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models provided 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions offered 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up, increasing to 51.7 cubic feet when folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious center-console storage bin. Optional features included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2023 BMW X7 excelled in providing ample space, with the second-row seats accommodating taller passengers and enhancing the airy feeling with a large sunroof and windows. Accessing the third row required some time as the power-operated middle row moved out of the way, but it offered adequate head- and legroom for average-sized adults. Behind the third row, there was 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 48.6 cubic feet with the third row stowed and 90.4 cubic feet with the middle seats folded. The X7 featured a split tailgate and a button to lower the suspension for easier loading. Front-seat passengers had adequate space for personal items, with a large covered bin in the center console and well-sized cupholders.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with the 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, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and menu layouts, although 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, which was particularly useful for off-roading.

The 2023 BMW X7 featured the latest iDrive infotainment system, which was less intuitive than previous iterations. Many physical buttons were eliminated, with functions moved to the infotainment screen, making simple tasks like adjusting seat settings more complicated. Voice commands were available but took time to process and interrupted audio playback. While voice controls were useful for navigation and texting, the lack of physical buttons for frequently used features was a drawback.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist features such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 BMW X7 offered a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, and automatic high beams. The M60i trim added a surround-view camera system, with options for adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward cross-traffic alerts, and a semi-automated parking function. The highway driving assist feature was particularly effective in reducing driver fatigue on long trips.