2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Kia Sorento

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with no major exterior styling changes. Its boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood were reminiscent of the original Defender and classic Series Land Rovers. The option for a white contrasting roof and steel wheels added a retro touch. Despite these nostalgic 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 the Defender’s rugged character, featuring a mix of leather upholstery and suede, bare metal, and exposed screws, which made it more suitable for off-road adventures without the worry of ruining a luxurious interior.

The 2022 Kia Sorento, particularly in the X-Line trim, presented a stylish and commanding presence. Rugged bumpers, matte-finish wheels, black lower body cladding, and robust roof rails added to its attractive appearance. The Sorento’s interior exuded quality, with leather upholstery and simulated wood trim on the dashboard. The cabin reflected solid construction, with attention to design detail even in the most affordable models. The Sorento offered a comfortable and luxurious feel, with features like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and second-row captain’s chairs. However, the third-row seat was less accommodating for adults, and the cargo space was limited with all seats in place. The Sorento’s smart power tailgate and ample storage solutions added to its practicality.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, including a base 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a mid-level 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain rated at 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The highlight was the new-for-2022 V8 engine, producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque, capable of accelerating the Defender 90 from zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds, with a top speed of 240 km/h. The V8 model featured an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning for sportier handling. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender’s 4WD system, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 29 centimetres of ground clearance made it a formidable off-roader. It also boasted a 3,500-kilogram towing capacity.

The 2022 Kia Sorento’s standard engine was a 191-horsepower 2.5-litre four-cylinder, which was underwhelming in performance. The more satisfying option was the turbocharged 2.5-litre engine, generating 281 hp and 311 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. This setup allowed the Sorento to accelerate to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds, providing a lively driving experience. The Sorento’s suspension offered a blend of compliance and composure, making it feel more like a sports sedan than an SUV. Fuel consumption was higher than expected, with an average of 11.5 L/100 km during testing. The Sorento’s hybrid and plug-in hybrid options provided better fuel efficiency.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatility with its seating configurations. The two-door Defender 90 had 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access, with limited cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 model provided more options, with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. The three-row model offered 160 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, 743 litres with the third row folded, and 1,826 litres with the second row folded. The two-row version had 786 litres with the rear seats up and 1,875 litres with the seats folded. The interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space, a spacious centre-console storage bin, and optional roof racks and cargo boxes for additional storage.

The 2022 Kia Sorento’s interior was luxurious, with features like heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and second-row captain’s chairs. The third-row seat was less accommodating for adults, with limited legroom and headroom. The Sorento offered 357 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, expandable to 1,274 litres with the third row folded, and 2,139 litres with the second row folded. The smart power tailgate added convenience for loading and unloading.

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 all trims except the base model, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, with a distinctive look, although 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 Kia Sorento offered an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system on lower trims, with a 10.25-inch display on higher trims, featuring navigation, satellite radio, and Kia Connect services. The base system provided wireless smartphone integration, while the larger screen required a cable for connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, though the graphics and colours might not appeal to everyone. The Sorento SX featured a 12-speaker Bose premium surround-sound system, and a wireless phone charger was standard from the LX Premium trim.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with standard driver-assist technologies, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Kia Sorento offered a comprehensive suite of safety features, including a rear-seat reminder system, Junction Assist, and a Blind View Monitor system on the SX trim. Highway Driving Assist provided Level 2 semi-autonomous driving capabilities. The Sorento received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with a four-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA.