2023 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its iconic design, with no major exterior changes. Its boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare wheel, and flat hood paid homage to the original Defender and classic Series Land Rovers. The option for a white contrasting roof and steel wheels enhanced its retro appeal. 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 ruggedness with bare metal and exposed screws, complemented by metal trim and a mix of leather and suede upholstery, making it suitable for off-road adventures without worrying about interior damage.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder, redesigned for 2022, carried over with minimal changes, except for the Rock Creek trim. Its futuristic headlights and angular C-pillar combined traditional and modern design elements, ensuring its relevance for years. The cabin featured clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both visually appealing and practical. The Pathfinder offered various trims, each with distinct features. The Rock Creek trim stood out with its off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and water-repellent interior, designed for both trail and winter conditions. The SL trim added advanced driving aids, while the SL Premium and Platinum trims offered luxury features like a Bose audio system and second-row captain chairs. Overall, the Pathfinder's design and features catered to a wide range of preferences and needs.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains, starting with a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The mid-level option was a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The highlight was the new-for-2022 V8 engine, generating 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. All models featured a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The V8 model included an electronic active rear differential and unique 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 its 22-inch tires. It offered a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms and excelled in off-road conditions with features like the Terrain Response 2 system and All-Terrain Progress Control.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek trim had a slightly tuned version, delivering 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. Power was transmitted through a nine-speed automatic transmission to standard all-wheel drive. The Rock Creek trim featured a taller suspension with off-road shocks, enhancing its off-road capability. While the off-road tires provided a rougher ride on highways, they offered comfort on trails. The Pathfinder's engine was smooth and quiet, with a rotary drive mode dial offering various settings, including an All-Terrain mode in the Rock Creek. The Pathfinder's standard towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms, with the Rock Creek and other trims (except the base model) capable of towing up to 2,720 kilograms. The Pathfinder's off-road features, like the downhill crawl assist, made it suitable for occasional trail adventures.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered versatile interior configurations. The two-door Defender 90 had 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, providing limited cargo space but maintaining classic styling and off-road agility. The four-door Defender 110 was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models 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. Two-row versions provided 786 litres with the rear seats up and 1,875 litres with them folded. The Defender's interior emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a spacious centre-console storage bin. Optional roof racks and cargo boxes enhanced its cargo-carrying capabilities.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder provided up to 2,279 litres of cargo space with the second and third rows folded. With the second row in use, it offered 1,274 litres, and 470 litres with all seats upright. The first two rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for short trips. The Platinum trim featured second-row captain's chairs with a removable centre console. The Pathfinder had 12 cupholders and four bottle holders, along with numerous cubbies and compartments for storage. The Rock Creek trim's tubular roof racks could hold up to 100 kilograms, offering practical cargo solutions. However, the close proximity of the roof rack to the roof made snow removal challenging.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with the 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. An 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The interface was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and menu layouts, though the screen required a firm touch. A surround-view camera system was standard, with optional features like a 14-speaker Meridian audio system and head-up display. The side camera views aided in off-roading, while the front view helped spot obstacles.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The SL, SL Premium, and Platinum trims had a larger 9-inch touchscreen. The system was easy to use, with logical menu layouts and real buttons and dials. While some might find the graphics dated, the system's usability was a strong point. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, voice recognition, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims added features like wireless device charging and additional USB ports. While not cutting-edge, the Pathfinder's tech kept devices charged and connected.

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 some non-luxury SUVs offered more standard features, Land Rover's approach was consistent with other luxury brands. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was common for luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including forward and reverse automatic emergency braking, collision warning, pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. ProPilot Assist, with lane centring and adaptive cruise control, was also standard. Higher trims added features like front parking sensors, a 360-degree parking monitor, and traffic-sign recognition. The Pathfinder was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, though the NHTSA had not completed a full suite of crash tests for the 2023 model.