2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive design, reminiscent of its original version with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood. Despite these classic elements, it embraced modern design with rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The larger size of the modern Defender improved interior space and ergonomics, offering more headroom and legroom compared to the original. The interior design emphasized ruggedness with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by a mix of leather and suede upholstery, making it suitable for off-road adventures without worrying about ruining the interior.

In contrast, the 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold statement with its unapologetic size and distinct styling elements. The massive grille, LED daytime running lights, and taillights were scaled to match its size, giving it a locomotive-like front end. The Escalade offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with bright or darkened exterior trims. Sharing its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs, the Escalade maintained its luxury appeal despite its truck-like underpinnings. The interior boasted leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, but lacked a cohesive design theme, with some cheap-looking plastic bits detracting from its luxury status.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains, including a new V8 engine. The base model featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, while the mid-level option was a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The new V8 engine delivered 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission with standard four-wheel drive. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities with features like a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a standard 6.2-litre gasoline V8 with 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive in Canada. The gasoline engine had a maximum towing capacity of 3,629 kilograms, slightly more than the diesel. Despite its truck-like construction, the Escalade's ride felt unsettled, with vibrations from pavement imperfections affecting cabin comfort. The Escalade lacked off-road capabilities compared to its GM cousins, making it less suitable for rugged terrains.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile interior configurations with 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. The two-door Defender 90 had limited cargo space, but the four-door Defender 110 provided more options, including two-row and three-row configurations. The Defender 110 offered up to 1,875 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space and a centre-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and side-mounted cargo boxes.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a spacious cabin. It offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with standard second-row captain’s chairs and a power split-folding third-row bench seat. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, offering up to 3,426 litres with all rear seats folded. However, the raised centre console provided limited storage space, and the front seats felt similar to those in GM cousins. Cadillac included dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation, enhancing functionality.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on most trims, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, though the screen required a firm touch to respond. A surround-view camera system was standard, with optional features like a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and head-up display.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising three screens: a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch trip-computer screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot were standard. The display integrated well with the dashboard, and physical toggles for climate control were retained. However, the carousel format for radio stations and the rotary controller were less intuitive. The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and it offered advanced features like night vision and augmented-reality navigation.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist features, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was optional. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the Defender, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade included standard driver-assistance technology such as cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. Higher trims offered blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Super Cruise, a sophisticated driver-assist system, was available on most trims, providing hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways. Safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the Escalade.