2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Volvo XC90

Volvo had come a long way from its boxy cars and wagons of the past decades. The brand maintained its family-friendly, safety-oriented image while moving upscale, nearing the luxury class. After Ford sold Volvo to China's Zhejiang Geely Holding in 2010, the company underwent a significant transformation, developing new vehicle platforms from scratch. The original XC90, launched in 2003, received updates until 2015. The 2016 model marked the debut of the current XC90, Volvo's flagship SUV, built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform. The 2022 XC90 had a striking stance and sleek profile, with a body that seemed ready to launch forward. Its long roofline and pronounced wheel arches emphasized athleticism, while the snub nose and upright grille paid homage to the classic 245 wagon. The interior, described as "Scandinavian Modern" and "Swedish Luxury," featured natural wood and metal trim, a sliding wood tambor cover on the center console, and a clear crystal gear selector handle. Volvo offered both Nappa leather and a "tailored wool blend" upholstery, with the latter being a sustainable option. The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood, visually tying it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. While the exterior design remained largely unchanged, the modern Defender featured rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights for a unique look. The larger size of the modern Defender improved interior space and ergonomics. The interior design of the Defender emphasized its rugged character, with bare metal and exposed screws in the door, along with metal trim for the steering wheel. The high-end Defender 90 V8 test car featured a mix of leather upholstery and suede, designed to handle mud and dirt better than traditional all-leather interiors. The Defender's interior was functional and comfortable, with a more generous headroom and legroom compared to the original version.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains. The T5 model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The T6 model had a supercharged and turbocharged version of the same engine, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft. The T8 model combined a supercharged/turbocharged gasoline engine with an electric motor, producing a combined 455 hp and 523 lb-ft of torque. The T5 models were front-wheel drive (FWD) with available all-wheel drive (AWD), while the T6 and T8 models were AWD only. All XC90 models used a conventional eight-speed automatic transmission. The XC90 engines required Premium (91-octane) gasoline. The EPA estimated the T5 FWD models to achieve 21 mpg city/30 mpg highway/25 mpg combined, while the T5 AWD models achieved 20 mpg city/28 mpg highway/23 mpg combined. The T6 AWD models were rated at 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined. The T8 model had a 27 mpg combined rating on gas and 55 MPGe with an 18-mile EV range. The extended range variant had a 26 mpg combined gasoline rating, a 66 MPGe rating, and an EV range of up to 36 miles. Charging the battery from empty to fully charged took about five hours at 240 volts (Level 2). The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains. The base model had 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 produced 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, allowing the Defender 90 to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, with a top speed of 149 mph. All Defender models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive (4WD) 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. However, the Defender 90 V8 felt less poised than the six-cylinder model during cornering. 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's boxy shape made it less susceptible to crosswinds compared to a Jeep Wrangler. The Defender's off-road capabilities included a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with the optional air suspension. The optional Terrain Response 2 system and All-Terrain Progress Control further enhanced its off-road performance. The Defender had a maximum towing capacity of 8,201 pounds.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 was available in six-passenger and seven-passenger configurations, with either captain's chairs and a center console or three-across seating in the second row. The third row was accessible with a one-handed slide and fold of the second row, suitable for kids but not ideal for adults due to limited legroom and thigh support. The XC90 offered 15.9 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 85.7 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. The XC90 could tow between 4,000 and 5,000 pounds, depending on the configuration and powertrain. The interior featured ample storage space, comfortable seating, and a standard laminated panoramic moonroof. The air-conditioning system performed well during a heat wave, providing a comfortable environment. The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90 model. The four-door Defender 110 model offered two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. The three-row models had 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 versions had 18.1 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Defender's interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard, a spacious center-console storage bin, and optional refrigeration. The Defender also offered an optional basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 featured the Sensus infotainment system, with a nine-inch diagonal, portrait-oriented touchscreen interface. The system supported familiar smartphone gestures but was occasionally glitchy and slow to respond. The system worked better with Apple CarPlay, and the XC90 also supported Android Auto. The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel offered easy configuration and customization. The $1,650 Advanced package included a head-up display, a 360-degree surround view camera system, and an advanced air cleaner. The XC90 came with standard Harman Kardon Premium Sound, with an optional $3,200 Bowers & Wilkins upgrade. The vehicle included two front USB-A ports, two rear USB-C ports, a WiFi hotspot, and the Volvo Care smartphone app. 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. An 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The user interface was well-designed, but the screen required a strong touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was useful for off-roading.

The 2022 Volvo XC90 continued Volvo's commitment to safety, with features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking assist, rain-sensing wipers, slippery road alert, lane-keeping aid, adaptive cruise control, oncoming lane mitigation, and road-sign recognition. The Pilot Assist system combined several safety features for highway driving assistance. The XC90 received the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the Defender, which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.