2024 Land Rover Defender vs 2023 Volvo XC90

The 2023 Volvo XC90 marked a significant departure from Volvo's past boxy designs. The front end of the XC90 appeared stout and solid without being overly flashy, and the grille was assertive yet not too large. The recognizable “Thor’s Hammer” headlights added a modern touch, distinguishing it from the older, more utilitarian Volvos. The XC90’s dimensions and shape still leaned toward rectilinear, but it was far from the toaster-like designs of the past. The Platinum Gray paint with brown undertones added richness and depth, although Volvo’s color palette remained somewhat conservative.

Inside, the XC90’s design was elegant and minimalist. The steering wheel featured two-tone leather and a three-spoke design, complemented by luxurious materials like metal Bowers and Wilkins speaker covers, an Orrefors crystal shift knob, and Nappa leather upholstery. The interior offered a clean look with wood deco inlays and minimal physical controls, contributing to a serene and sophisticated cabin environment.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender combined a classic, boxy profile with modern features like angular headlights, creating a visual link to other Land Rover models. However, the interior was more rugged and adventure-ready, with soft-touch materials enhancing its durability. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offered in various trims.

Our test vehicle, the Defender 110 S, featured the County visual package with white wheels and vintage graphics, adding a nostalgic touch. Standard features included 19-inch alloy wheels, power-adjustable and heated front seats, partial leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control, a panoramic glass roof, and a heated steering wheel. The X-Dynamic SE trim added 20-inch alloy wheels and distinctive styling touches, while the X trim included a digital rearview mirror camera and partial Windsor leather upholstery. The Carpathian Edition and Outbound trim offered unique features and styling, catering to different preferences.

For the 2023 model year, the Volvo XC90 introduced new B5 and B6 engines with mild-hybrid technology, replacing the older T5 and T6 engines. The B5 engine, with a turbocharger and a 48-volt mild-hybrid system, produced 247 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The B6 powertrain, featuring both a supercharger and a turbocharger, delivered 295 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. These mild-hybrid systems improved fuel efficiency and smoothness, although the gains were minimal.

The XC90’s driving experience was enjoyable and reserved, with quick acceleration and a responsive eight-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle handled well, with minimal roll through corners despite its bulky dimensions. The brakes provided a solid pedal feel, and road and wind noise were well-insulated. The XC90’s simplicity in driving dynamics, with limited customizable modes, appealed to some drivers but might have felt underwhelming to others.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered several powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, delivering 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The Defender also had two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 engine options, with the P500 making 493 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, and the P525 producing 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque.

The Defender’s off-road capabilities were impressive, especially with features like the adaptive air suspension system, Terrain Response 2 system, electronic differential, and all-terrain progress control. The P400 test model provided ample power for highway speeds and passing maneuvers, although there was a slight lurch at low speeds. Overall, the on-road ride was pleasant, with minimal body roll given the vehicle’s off-road prowess.

The 2023 Volvo XC90’s interior was peaceful and pleasant, but Scandinavian minimalism led to some space and storage frustrations. There was limited cubby space for smaller items, and the lack of a dedicated space for a cell phone was inconvenient. The second row was comfortable and spacious, but adjusting the seats was challenging. The XC90 offered a standard second-row bench seat for seven-passenger seating, with an option to delete the middle seat for captain’s chairs and six-passenger seating, although this required an upgrade to the B6 engine.

Cargo space was decent, with 12.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 41.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 65.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, this fell short compared to competitors like the Audi Q7, Infiniti QX60, Genesis GV80, and Acura MDX. The XC90 drove like a smaller car than typical three-row SUVs, contributing to its appeal.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a blend of luxury and functionality, with soft-touch materials, grip handles, rubberized floors, and numerous cargo compartments. The multifunctional climate control dials required an additional button press to switch between adjusting the temperature and fan speed, which was a minor drawback. The seats provided an upright and supportive feel, enhancing the driving experience.

Seating capacity ranged from five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 had an optional third row with two seats, while the Defender 130 had three seats in the third row, bringing the seating capacity to eight. However, the third row was best suited for children, and the second row could slide forward for more legroom. Cargo capacity varied by model, with the Defender 130 offering the most space, followed by the Defender 110 and the two-door Defender 90.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 featured a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment display running Google OS, the first standard infotainment system of its kind. Google OS integrated Google Maps, Spotify, NPR, and Google Assistant, enhancing the user experience with natural-language recognition. However, many key functions were filed away within the touchscreen interface, leading to some frustration. The minimalist design inside the XC90 meant fewer physical buttons, which could be inconvenient for adjusting certain features.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a 12.3-inch fully digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen. The touchscreen, though smaller compared to other systems, was refreshingly simple and suited the Defender’s utilitarian persona. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo system. The straightforward setup and home buttons on the left and right rails made it easy to navigate features like Apple CarPlay.

The 2023 Volvo XC90 was well-regarded for its safety features, carrying a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and being named a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in 2022. Standard safety tech included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and Pilot Assist technology, which helped maintain distance and lane position from a standstill to highway speed.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came with an extensive list of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Other standard safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. The lane-departure and lane-keeping assist features were a bit touchy but could be deactivated. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.