2023 Volkswagen ID.4 vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

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 functional and stylish. The Defender 90 V8 test car demonstrated a blend of luxury and practicality, making it suitable for off-road adventures without the worry of damaging an overly delicate interior.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 underwent subtle styling changes, including a gloss black front bumper trim and a more squared-off rear bumper design to enhance aerodynamics. New wheel designs and colors, along with a light-up rear VW logo, were introduced. While the ID.4 was easily distinguishable as an EV compared to VW’s gasoline models, it lacked the traditional SUV profile and ground clearance, which might have been a drawback for some buyers. Built on VW’s MEB platform, the ID.4 shared its modularity with other EVs, allowing for a variety of models. The interior carried over the minimalist design and quality feel from VW’s gasoline cars, with leatherette upholstery made partly from recycled fibers. The base ID.4 Standard model offered a similar experience to the higher-level ID.4 Pro S, aside from a manual driver’s seat, making it a practical choice for those seeking an affordable EV with a touch of luxury.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a range of 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, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The highlight was the new-for-2022 V8 engine, generating 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 featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 model included 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 effectively and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender also boasted an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity, surpassing many similarly sized luxury SUVs.

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 offered a new 62-kWh battery pack for the base Standard and S models, available only with rear-wheel drive (RWD). The Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus models retained the 82-kWh pack, with options for RWD or all-wheel drive (AWD). Single-motor RWD models produced 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, while dual-motor AWD models increased output to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft, achieving zero to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The smaller battery pack reduced curb weight by 240 pounds, enhancing acceleration and handling. The ID.4 provided a comfortable and refined driving experience, though it allowed too much body roll for truly engaging handling on twisty roads. Regenerative braking was present, but VW opted for a more traditional driving experience, stopping short of one-pedal driving. The ID.4 was a practical choice for long drives, offering a familiar experience for EV newcomers.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were surprisingly comfortable in the Defender 90 test vehicle. However, accessing them was challenging due to the two-door design, and cargo space was limited. The four-door Defender 110 model offered more versatility, with 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 and 51.7 cubic feet with them 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 Volkswagen ID.4 excelled in interior space, offering more front-seat and rear-seat legroom than competitors like the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Nissan Leaf. It provided 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 64.2 cubic feet with them folded. While it fell short of gasoline crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 in terms of interior space, it was a practical choice among affordable EVs. The ID.4 also offered towing capabilities, with a quoted capacity of 2,200 pounds for RWD models and 2,700 pounds for AWD models. Interior updates for 2023 included a conventional lid for the center console, improved phone storage, and three-zone climate control with rear-seat controls and heated outboard rear seats.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came equipped with the 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, though 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, enhancing the off-roading experience with side and front camera views.

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID.4 standardized the 12.0-inch touchscreen across all models, replacing the previous 10.0-inch screen on lower trims. Software updates improved responsiveness, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remained standard. The user experience included sharp graphics, smartphone-like icons, and natural-language voice recognition. However, the haptic touchpads on the dashboard and steering wheel were less intuitive, lacking physical feedback. The ID.Light system provided ambient lighting and navigation cues, though it was easily overlooked during normal driving.

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

The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with top scores in frontal and side crash tests. While IIHS ratings for the 2023 model were not published, the 2022 model earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating. The ID.4 included standard driver-assist features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, and VW’s Travel Assist 2.0. New for 2023 were Park Assist Plus, an automated lane-change feature, and a 360-degree camera system.