2022 Land Rover Defender

　　

2022 Land Rover Defender Review

byRonald MontoyaSenior Consumer Advice Editor & Content Strategy

　　Ronald Montoya has worked in the automotive industry since 2008. He has written over a thousand car related articles and bought and sold over 100 vehicles over the course of his career. Ronald is a senior consumer advice editor and content strategy at zzdcar and has also contributed to the Associated Press. He has also been featured on ABC, NBC and NPR on a number of car shopping topics. He got his start in the auto industry by taking a part-time job at a car dealership, where he worked in the service and accounting department.

　　Combining classic Land Rover styling, a luxurious interior and enviable off-road performance, the new Land Rover Defender has quickly become one of our higher-ranked midsize luxury SUVs. But Land Rover isn't content to sit back and bask in its success — the automaker is introducing a host of updates for the 2022 Defender.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 P300 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.78 per gallon for premium unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$244/mo  for Defender 90 P300

　　Defender 90 P300

　　90 P300 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $47,700 MSRP110 P300 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $50,500 MSRP90 P300 S 2dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) - $51,100 MSRP110 P300 S 4dr SUV AWD (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 8A) (Most Popular) - $54,000 MSRP90 P400 X-Dynamic S 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $59,500 MSRP110 P400 SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $65,100 MSRP90 P400 X-Dynamic SE 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $65,100 MSRP110 P400 X-Dynamic SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $68,000 MSRP90 P400 X-Dynamic HSE 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $69,600 MSRP110 P400 XS Edition 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $71,900 MSRP110 P400 X-Dynamic HSE 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $72,500 MSRP90 P400 X 2dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $83,500 MSRP110 P400 X 4dr SUV AWD (3.0L 6cyl Twincharger gas/electric mild hybrid 8A) - $86,000 MSRP90 P525 V8 2dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $102,200 MSRP110 P525 V8 4dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $105,400 MSRP90 P525 V8 Carpathian Edition 2dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $109,000 MSRP110 P525 V8 Carpathian Edition 4dr SUV AWD (5.0L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $112,200 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Headlining the changes for the 2022 Land Rover Defender is the addition of a supercharged V8. Available in both two-door (Defender 90) and four-door (Defender 110) body styles, the eight-cylinder produces an impressive 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. It should endow the Defender with muscular acceleration and make it a worthy rival to V8-powered German SUVs or even the new V8-powered Jeep Wrangler.

　　A handful of new trim levels also offer Defender buyers a deeper level of customization. The XS Edition effectively replaces the 2020 model's First Edition trim, which ticked nearly every option box and added a few details not found on any other model. There's also the new range-topping Carpathian Edition that starts with the V8 engine and includes a custom-look gray paint scheme as well as a limited-edition Trophy Edition inspired by another limited edition of the classic Defender SUV (the Works V8 Trophy).

　　Overall, we think the Defender is a solid pick for a midsize luxury SUV, and especially so if you want one with genuine off-road capability and lots of ways to customize it. Check out our Expert Rating below to get our team's full analysis of its performance, comfort and more.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　7.8

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the Defender drive? Strong off-road capability typically comes at the expense of on-road handling and steering precision. But that isn't the case here. The Defender drives just like a luxury SUV should, and its transmission provides smooth and often imperceptible gear changes. The brakes are easy to control for smooth stops around town.

　　As for acceleration, we clocked a 0-60 mph sprint of 6.7 seconds for the Defender 110 and 6.2 seconds for the Defender 90 when equipped with the inline six-cylinder engine. That's plenty quick for an off-road-oriented SUV. Still, with 395 hp, you might expect a little more. Weight might be a culprit — our test Defenders weighed in at a portly 5,207 and 5,571 pounds for the two-door 90 and four-door 110, respectively.

　　

Comfort

8.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Defender? The Defender travels down the road with the refinement you'd expect of a luxury-priced Land Rover. The interior remains quiet and relatively free from road vibrations even when riding on the optional 20-inch wheels and all-terrain tires. In terms of ride quality, our test vehicle was on the firm side when going over bumps and road imperfections, but it was likely the result of those larger, heavier wheels (18-inch wheels are standard).

　　The driver's seat provides a wide range of adjustment. Heating and ventilation are optional. The climate system is able to maintain a comfortable temperature, though you might need to dial in a slightly lower target temperature and fiddle with the vents to get the airflow you want.

　　Continue reading zzdcar Expert Rating below