2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

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. The interior design emphasized rugged character without seeming cheesy, featuring a mix of leather upholstery and suede, bare metal, and exposed screws, which made it look ready to handle mud and dirt better than traditional all-leather interiors.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Defender outsold the Land Rover Discovery by more than four to one, thanks to its boxy design reminiscent of the old LR4. The Defender's design was all about the corners, with a square-jawed face, rectangular hood and doors, and an abruptly chopped tail. Tasteful accents like the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the sides of the roof, and body-color square separating the side glass were friendly nods to the original 1980s Defender. The Defender was available in three body styles: 90 (short two-door), 110 (medium-length four-door), and 130 (extended-length four-door), offering unmatched flexibility in seating configurations. The interior stuck to a strict mission of function and durability, with most surfaces coated in rubbers and plastics designed to wick moisture and resist stains, maintaining the Defender's hardcore character.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The V8 could get 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 models 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 effectively blocked noise from the massive 22-inch tires. The Defender also had an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender continued to impress off-road, with its uncanny grip, incredible wheel articulation, and generous clearance. However, on-road performance was less stellar, with excessive body roll, slow and imprecise steering, and noticeable wind noise. The V8 engine, producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, moved the Defender with alacrity, but the vehicle's soft and top-heavy nature made it feel like a commercial fishing trawler with a speedboat engine. The six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, providing plenty of power without penalizing fuel economy. The four-cylinder engine, with 296 hp and 295 lb-ft, was less impressive for highway speeds. The V8 returned poor fuel economy ratings of 14/19/16 mpg, while the six-cylinder was more efficient at 18/23/20 mpg.

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 bit of a chore, and they didn't leave much room for cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 model was available 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 interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled as an everyday SUV, offering unmatched seating configurations. The Defender 90 with the jump seat could seat six, while the 110 had an optional third row with two extra seats, and the 130 had a standard third row for up to eight seats. The 130 had 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row and second row folded, but only 14 cubic feet with all rows upright. The 90 had 16 cubic feet of cargo space and 58 with the rear seats folded, while the four-door 110 had 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 79 with them folded. Buyers could equip their Defenders with off-road or all-season tires, a metal roof rack, a console refrigerator, a heated windshield, a pressurized water rinse system, power-deployable side steps, a brush bar for the grille, and a winch.

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 every trim level except the base model, and 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 that was particularly useful for off-roading.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro, with a standard 10-inch screen and an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen. Both screens were quick and simple to operate, with the larger screen offering greater legibility. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation. Higher trims added heated 12-way power seats with leather, a Meridian stereo, fog lights, surround sound, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, auto high beams, and cooled front seats. The X trim came with air suspension, a locking rear differential, an upgraded Terrain Response 2 system, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and a rearview mirror with a camera display.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist tech, including 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 not unusual for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. agencies but scored five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. It came with six airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking as standard. Optional safety features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, 360-degree camera system, and automatic steering when reversing a trailer.