2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Toyota 4Runner

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive design, echoing its heritage with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood reminiscent of the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro elements, the Defender boasted a thoroughly modern design with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that added a unique personality. The modern Defender was significantly larger than its predecessor, offering enhanced interior space and ergonomics. Inside, the Defender balanced rugged character with luxury, featuring a mix of leather and suede upholstery, exposed metal, and screws for a unique aesthetic. The interior was designed to handle off-road conditions without compromising on comfort, making it a practical choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner maintained its rugged roots, tracing back to the SUV craze of the 1980s. Unlike many modern SUVs that evolved into car-based platforms, the 4Runner stayed true to its truck-based construction, sharing underpinnings with the Toyota Tacoma pickup. This design choice allowed the 4Runner to cater to off-road enthusiasts, offering a high ride height, boxy proportions, and a sharply angled front bumper for tackling obstacles. Inside, the 4Runner's design was functional but dated, with a dash layout reminiscent of the late 2000s. The 4Runner was available in various trims, each offering unique features like push-button start, remote keyless entry, and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 4Runner's interior was practical, with ample cargo space and a power-sliding rear window, but lacked the modernity and efficiency found in newer SUVs.

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 producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The highlight was the new-for-2022 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 off-road conditions, with features like an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and Terrain Response 2 system. It also offered a 3,500-kilogram towing capacity, making it a versatile choice for both on-road and off-road adventures.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came with a single 4.0-litre V6 engine, producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque. While reliable, this engine felt underwhelming in most driving situations, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with low range. The 4Runner's ride was harsh and cumbersome on paved roads, with noticeable body roll and a jostling experience over bumps. However, off-road, the 4Runner shone, with its suspension absorbing rough terrain effortlessly. The TRD Pro and TRD Off-Road models featured Crawl Control and a locking differential, enhancing their off-road capabilities. The 4Runner's towing capacity was up to 2,268 kilograms, which was modest compared to compact pickups but more than most car-based crossovers.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile interior 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 additional cargo space. The four-door Defender 110 offered more flexibility, with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Cargo space varied, with three-row models offering 160 litres with all seats in place, expanding to 1,826 litres with seats folded. The Defender's interior 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 Toyota 4Runner provided a maximum of 2,540 litres of cargo capacity in the two-row version, with 1,337 litres available with the second-row seats in use. The three-row model offered slightly less space, with 2,514 litres maximum and 254 litres behind the rear seats. The 4Runner lacked a power rear liftgate but featured a power-open/close rear window for easy access. While the interior was not as spacious or efficient as newer SUVs, it offered practical storage solutions and ample room for gear.

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 distinctive graphics and menu layouts, though the screen required a firm touch to operate. Standard features included a surround-view camera system, with optional upgrades like a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and head-up display.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, surrounded by hard buttons and dials for easy operation. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, SiriusXM satellite radio, and multiple USB ports. While lacking advanced features like a head-up display, the system was straightforward and relied on tactile controls, making it suitable for off-road driving. Optional upgrades included navigation and a 15-speaker JBL premium audio system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist features like lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control was optional. While the Defender lacked safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, this was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2022 Toyota 4Runner featured the Toyota Safety Sense suite, with standard forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and lane-departure warning. The 4Runner earned four out of five stars in NHTSA frontal and side-impact testing, and three stars for rollover testing. It was backed by a five-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty.