2023 Land Rover Defender vs 2023 BMW X7

The 2023 Land Rover Defender was a standout in its class, outselling the Land Rover Discovery by a significant margin. Its boxy design, reminiscent of the old LR4, appealed to customers who favored its classic Land Rover aesthetic over the Discovery's more Ford-like appearance. The Defender's design was characterized by its square-jawed face, rectangular hood, and doors set parallel to the ground, with a tail that was abruptly chopped, defining a classic truck look. The few body fittings that deviated from 90-degree angles were at steep inclines, such as the windshield and lower front bumper. Tasteful accents, like the dome and faux-metal step plates on the hood, skylights along the roof, and body-color square separating the side glass, paid homage to the original 1980s Defender. The Defender was available in three body styles: 90, 110, and 130, offering a range of choices unmatched by other SUVs.

In contrast, the 2023 BMW X7 received a mid-cycle makeover, adopting a bolder design inspired by the redesigned BMW 7 Series sedan. The most significant change was the front end, featuring LED accent lights and a recessed headlight design, which was polarizing due to its oversized kidney grille. While the new styling aimed for a bolder presence, it came at the expense of grace and cohesiveness. The sides and rear of the X7 remained largely unchanged, offering a sense of familiarity. The interior saw a refresh with a curved glass housing for the digital instrument panel and central infotainment touchscreen, along with a more elemental dashboard design. The X7's interior materials were of high quality, with supple leather upholstery and a new Sensafin synthetic substitute, though some trim choices caused harsh reflections. Overall, the X7's interior revisions gave it a modern and elegant appearance.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road, with its uncanny grip, incredible wheel articulation, and generous clearance. Its air suspension allowed it to tackle almost any path, though most owners would not fully utilize its Terrain Response 2 system. On-road, the Defender's performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow steering, and noticeable wind noise. The turbocharged inline-six and supercharged V8 engines provided ample power, with the V8 delivering 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The six-cylinder engine, part of a 48-volt mild hybrid powertrain, offered 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, while the turbocharged four-cylinder engine was less powerful at 296 hp and 295 lb-ft. Fuel economy varied, with the V8 returning 14/19/16 mpg, the six-cylinder 18/23/20, and the four-cylinder 17/20/18.

The 2023 BMW X7 lineup started with the base xDrive40i model, featuring a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a 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 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 performance from the six-cylinder. The brake pedal was soft, and handling was limited by the X7's weight and ride height, but it remained composed and instilled confidence. The ride was slightly firmer than some luxury SUVs, reflecting BMW's focus on driver engagement.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered exceptional versatility as an everyday SUV, with unmatched seating configurations. The Defender 90 could seat six with a jump seat, while the 110 offered an optional third row, and the 130 had a standard third row for up to eight seats. The Defender's large glass areas, including alpine lights, provided excellent visibility. Cargo space varied by model, with the 130 offering 77 cubic feet with seats folded, the 90 providing 58 cubic feet, and the 110 offering up to 79 cubic feet. The Defender also featured a range of practical options, including off-road tires, a metal roof rack, a console refrigerator, and more.

The 2023 BMW X7 provided ample space, with the second-row seats accommodating taller passengers and a large sunroof enhancing the airy feel. Accessing the third row required some time due to the power-operated middle row, but it offered adequate head- and legroom for average-sized adults. Cargo space behind the third row was 12.8 cubic feet, expanding to 48.6 cubic feet with the third row stowed and 90.4 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The X7 featured a split tailgate and a button to lower the suspension for easier loading. Front-seat passengers had adequate storage space, with a large covered bin, cupholders, and door pockets.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender featured two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro, with a standard 10-inch screen and an optional 11.4-inch screen. Both screens were quick and easy to operate, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice assistant, connected apps, and navigation as standard. The Defender S added heated 12-way power seats with leather and a Meridian stereo, while the X-Dynamic SE and X trims offered additional features like air suspension, a locking rear differential, and a head-up display.

The 2023 BMW X7 came with the latest iDrive infotainment system, which had a more complex menu structure and fewer physical buttons. Basic functions like temperature adjustments and audio controls were straightforward, but more advanced features required navigating through the infotainment screen. Voice commands were available but could be slow to process. The X7's infotainment system was less intuitive than previous iterations, and more physical buttons would have been appreciated.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received 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 features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2023 BMW X7 had not been tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it offered a comprehensive list of safety features. Standard features included frontal collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and adaptive headlights. The M60i trim added a surround-view camera system, with options for adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a highway driving assist feature. All safety features performed well during testing, with no false alarms or unpredictable responses.