2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

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 retro elements, the Defender boasted a modern design with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The larger size of the modern Defender translated into more interior space and better ergonomics, offering generous headroom and legroom, and a comfortable driving position with good visibility. 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 interior damage.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a classic two-door or a more practical four-door body style. Buyers could select from various powertrains, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, or a plug-in hybrid. The Wrangler came in four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions available. The High Tide model, based on the four-door Sport S trim, featured LED exterior lighting, a body-colour hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, and a Gorilla Glass windshield upgrade. Despite its rugged appeal, the Wrangler's interior was basic, with a focus on durability rather than luxury, and it included practical features like floor drain plugs for easy cleaning.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains, starting with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The mid-level option was a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The highlight was the new V8 engine, delivering 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, propelling the Defender 90 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The Defender excelled in on-road comfort, with a suspension that absorbed bumps effectively and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. Off-road, it lived up to Land Rover's reputation with features like a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 29 cm of ground clearance.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler, equipped with a 3.6-litre V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, produced 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. Fuel consumption was higher than expected, averaging 14.0 L/100 km over a week of driving. The Wrangler's driving experience was unique, with a rough-and-tumble feel, loud cabin noise, and touchy brakes. However, it offered an immersive experience, especially with the top open and doors removed, allowing drivers to connect with their surroundings. The Wrangler's off-road capabilities were a highlight, providing a sense of freedom and adventure.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile seating configurations, with the two-door Defender 90 featuring 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats. While accessing the rear seats was challenging, they provided decent comfort and could be folded for more cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 model offered two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations, with cargo space ranging from 160 litres to 1,875 litres, depending on the seat arrangement. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space and a spacious centre-console storage bin. Optional features included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler's raised suspension made entry and exit challenging, especially for shorter individuals. The seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery, and the driving position was close to the steering wheel and dashboard. Visibility varied, with some areas offering excellent views while others were compromised. Rear-seat passengers faced similar entry and exit difficulties but enjoyed agreeable accommodations once inside. Cargo space in the Wrangler Unlimited was 898 litres behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,050 litres with the rear seat folded. Storage options were limited, with netting on door panels and a small centre console box.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured the standard 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 all trims except the base model, 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 Jeep Wrangler, based on the Sport S trim, had a 7-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth connectivity and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The optional Uconnect infotainment system offered upgrades like satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system. Despite the smaller screen, the Wrangler provided essential tech features, including remote engine starting, satellite radio, and a passive keyless entry system. The Cold Weather Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was optional. While some non-luxury SUVs offered more standard features, the Defender's safety equipment was in line with other luxury brands. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the Defender.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler included the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group, adding features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and automatic emergency braking. However, the Wrangler's crash-test ratings were less impressive, with a three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and Marginal ratings from the IIHS. Safety features were optional, and the Wrangler required careful driving due to its tippy nature.