2022 Land Rover Defender vs 2023 Genesis GV70

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with no major exterior changes, maintaining its distinctive boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood reminiscent of the original version. The option for a white contrasting roof and steel wheels added a retro touch. Despite these nostalgic elements, the Defender was a modern vehicle with rounded corners for improved aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave it a unique personality. The larger size of the modern Defender provided more interior space and better ergonomics compared to the original, 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 metal trim on the steering wheel. The mix of leather and suede upholstery in the high-end Defender 90 V8 model suggested durability, making it suitable for off-road adventures without worrying about interior damage.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 shared styling cues with the G70 compact luxury sedan, particularly above the belt-line, with split-bar headlights and a strong chrome line that visually connected it to its sedan counterpart. The chrome bar hinted at a coupe-like SUV design without sacrificing versatility. Inside, the GV70's cabin was luxurious, with high-quality materials and excellent fit and finish. The design was both contemporary and classic, featuring climate controls integrated into a curving bezel and a touchscreen that rose organically from the dash. The GV70's dash included a full touchscreen, a rotary dial, and button controls in the centre console. The physical rollers for volume and tuning were a practical touch, contrasting with the touch capacitive controls of some competitors. The GV70 was available in multiple trims with various powertrains, including a 2.5T and 3.5T, and an Electrified GV70 with a single trim level. The Electrified GV70 impressed with its luxury credentials, featuring cream-coloured seats with quilt stitching and a high-contrast design with black leather on the dash.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains, including a new V8 engine for 2022. The base model featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The mid-level option was a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain, producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. All models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The 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, with a top speed of 240 km/h. The V8 model included 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 off-road prowess was supported by a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 29 centimetres of ground clearance with optional air suspension. It also had a 3,500-kilogram towing capacity.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 engine with 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The turbo-four provided ample power for most driving situations, while the V6 offered extra performance for enthusiasts. The GV70 balanced comfort and handling, allowing for confident cornering and a smooth ride. The Electrified GV70 featured a 77.4-kWh battery pack powering two electric motors, producing a combined 429 horsepower and 516 lb-ft of torque. A Boost button increased output to 483 horsepower for short bursts. The electric GV70 had a range of 383 kilometres and supported DC fast charging, replenishing the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 18 minutes. The electric version prioritized comfort over sportiness, with well-rounded handling.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90 model. The four-door Defender 110 model provided more versatility, with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models had 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. Two-row versions offered 786 litres with the rear seats up and 1,875 litres with the rear seats folded. The Defender's interior emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious 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 2023 Genesis GV70 provided 1,611 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 818 litres with the rear seats in use, which was above average for the compact luxury SUV segment. The GV70 featured a hands-free power liftgate, large cupholders in the centre console, and a helpful tray with a retractable lid. Front-seat occupants could easily find a comfortable seating position, but rear-seat legroom was tighter, requiring front-row occupants to adjust their seats. The rear bench reclined for added comfort.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard Pivi Pro infotainment system featuring 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, and an 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The interface was user-friendly, with distinctive graphics and menu layouts, though the screen required a firm touch to respond. A surround-view camera system was standard, with optional features including a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and head-up display.

The 2023 Genesis GV70 featured a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The touchscreen was easy to use, with large icons and logical menu navigation. The GV70 also included a rotary dial and helpful buttons in the centre console, though the proximity of the rotary dial to the vehicle's rotary shifter could cause confusion. Standard features included four USB ports, wireless device charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a nine-speaker stereo system. Available features included ambient lighting, a digital instrument panel, a Lexicon 18-speaker audio system, and the Genesis digital key.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered standard driver-assist technology, including lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter, 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 2023 Genesis GV70 came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, driver attention monitoring, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and highway driving assist with lane-keeping assist. The 2.5T Advance Plus added a blind-spot camera system and a 360-degree parking camera system, while the Prestige grade included reverse automatic emergency braking. The Electrified GV70 included much of this equipment as standard. The GV70 received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.