2023 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender showcased a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Although it retained its boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood from the original Defender, it also embraced a thoroughly modern look with rounded corners to enhance aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that provided a distinct personality. The Defender’s twin characters—one rugged and one luxurious—were emphasized by its mix of metal trims and leather upholstery, making it at once rugged and chic. The Defender also boasted a noticeably larger size compared to its predecessor, contributing to improved interior space and ergonomics.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler embodied nostalgia and ruggedness, appearing much like a brick with its straight-line architecture. Jeep remained committed to its iconic design elements, such as the seven-slot grille, round headlights, and old-school hood latches. The Wrangler’s various body options, including two-door and four-door models, added versatility. Notably, the Wrangler’s design allowed for doors to be removed and the windshield to fold down, providing unparalleled open-air experiences. Jeep also introduced new color options like the bold Reign purple and the subtle yet stylish Earl gray with an aquamarine hue. Inside, the Wrangler maintained a practical and straightforward layout, with easy-to-clean materials and manual shifters contributing to its rugged vibe.

For 2022, the Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 5.0-liter V8 producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft. This V8 option catapulted the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in just 4.9 seconds. Land Rover’s ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case ensured excellent performance across all terrains. The V8 variants also included advanced features like an electronic active rear differential, dynamic drive mode, and unique suspension tuning, although the added power sometimes compromised handling. However, the Defender impressed with its on-road comfort and minimal susceptibility to crosswinds, providing a rare blend of off-road prowess and on-road comfort. With up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance and an optional Terrain Response 2 system, the Defender excelled in diverse terrains and could tow up to 8,201 pounds, underscoring its versatility.

The 2023 Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, came with a wide array of powertrains. The standard options included a V6 engine with 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 hp and 295 lb-ft. Both engines offered the choice of an eight-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. For torque enthusiasts, Jeep provided a 3.0-liter Ecodiesel V6 with 260 hp and 442 lb-ft. However, the star performer was the Wrangler Rubicon 392 with a 6.4-liter V8 generating 470 hp and 470 lb-ft, boasting a zero to 60 mph time of 4.5 seconds. Different Wranglers came with various transfer cases such as the Selec-Trac, offering a 2.72 low range, and the Rock-Trac available in the Rubicon, featuring a 4:1 low range for a crawl ratio of 48:1. For those seeking maximum off-road performance, the $3,395 Xtreme Recon package increased the crawl ratio to 58:1. Despite its formidable off-road capabilities, the 392’s on-road performance fell short due to inadequate braking power and vague steering. However, other Wrangler trims had better-suited brakes and more manageable steering.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats across all models, though accessing them in the two-door Defender 90 was challenging and left minimal cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 offered more versatility, available in both two-row and three-row configurations. With all three rows up, the cargo space was limited to 11.4 cubic feet, but folding the second and third rows expanded it to 70.4 cubic feet. In two-row models, cargo space ranged from 18.1 cubic feet with seats up to 51.7 cubic feet with seats folded. These dimensions provided more storage than the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Functionality was emphasized with thoughtfully placed controls on a dashboard shelf, a voluminous center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration, and optional external cargo solutions like a basket-style roof rack and side-mount cargo boxes.

Conversely, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler offered less in terms of cargo capacity, with 72.4 cubic feet available when the rear seats were folded. Front seats were comfortable, especially with options like the cold-weather package available on other trims, not just the 392. However, entering the rear seats of the four-door variants could be cumbersome due to small rear doors. Storage for small items was limited, with a flat dash and tiny glovebox and center consoles. However, the Wrangler’s many roof and door configurations, including the Sky One-Touch power soft top, provided an unmatched level of open-air customization. The Wrangler also excelled in providing ample charging points, with multiple USB-A, USB-C, and 12-volt outlets, as well as a 115-volt outlet.

The Land Rover Defender came standard with a Pivi Pro infotainment system that included a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. Most trims also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. An 11.4-inch touchscreen was optionally available for 2022, although the difference between the two screen sizes was minimal. The interface was intuitive, featuring good graphics and layout, although it required a firm press to operate. Optional tech features like a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system further enhanced usability and off-road visibility with useful side and front camera views.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Wrangler’s tech options were more straightforward. Standard Wranglers came with a 7-inch touchscreen running the Uconnect system, but our tester featured an 8.4-inch screen. The system required some initial acclimatization but ultimately proved intuitive, especially with its off-road pages displaying essential info like power distribution and vehicle pitch and roll. Standard tech included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the Wrangler had forward-facing cameras and auxiliary switches. However, advanced features like a digital key were absent, and over-the-air updates were limited to the Uconnect system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist technologies like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. However, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were only optional. The Defender had not been rated by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is common among luxury vehicles.

Jeep's Wrangler had fewer standard safety features. Only the mandatory rearview camera, electronic roll mitigation, and stability control came standard. Higher trims, like the 392, included additional features such as blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. Customization options allowed drivers to tailor several safety systems to their preferences. The IIHS and NHTSA had mixed ratings for the Wrangler; the IIHS gave Good and Marginal scores, while NHTSA awarded four out of five stars for frontal crash testing and three for rollover, though it had not rated side crashes.