The Land Rover Defender 2022 demonstrates that you can have a super-capable off-road vehicle on the trails without being beaten up on the morning commute. This year, Land Rover adds a V8 engine to both the 90 and 110 models, giving the Defender 518 horsepower. For 2022, there will be new trim levels and special editions, including a V8 Carpathian Edition that will serve as the flagship model. The 90 gets new X-Dynamic SE and X-Dynamic HSE trims, while the 110 gets an XS Edition and a slew of additional cosmetic options.
Land Rover is also making its larger 11.4-inch screen (bottom left) available in place of the standard 10-inch screen on the Defender. However, the new, larger screen is substantially taller than the old one, offering 60 percent more screen real estate, according to Land Rover.
A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque is standard on the Defender. A permanent four-wheel-drive system is included, as well as an eight-speed automatic transmission. The 110 gets 17 mpg in the city, 20 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined (the 90 gets 18/21/19), and Land Rover claims it can sprint from zero to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. Both are underwhelming for a premium SUV of this size (think BMW X5), but adequate for a big off-roading SUV.
A turbocharger, an electric supercharger, and a mild-hybrid system are all included in the 3.0-liter inline-six engine, which is available as an option. With 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, the engine is a substantial step up. In the 110, the 0-60 time is 5.8 seconds, while in the 90, it is 5.7 seconds (despite the dimensional differences, the smaller version only weighs 200 pounds less). Fuel efficiency improves marginally to 17 miles per gallon in the city, 22 miles per gallon on the highway, and 19 miles per gallon combined for both body styles.
A 5.0-liter supercharged V8 with 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque is the new V8 option. The eight-speed automatic receives custom transmission settings and can accelerate the Defender 90 from 0 to 60 mph in in 4.9 seconds. The 110 V8's fuel economy is rated at 14 mpg city, 19 mpg highway, and 16 mpg combined. The 90 is essentially same, except it gets 15 mpg in the city.
The 2022 Defender 90 starts at $49,050, including the $1,350 destination charge, which is a $1,600 increase over last year. The Defender 110 is priced at $51,850, which is the same as in 2021. Each comes in a variety of trim levels, with the 110 having one more than the 90. The inline-six engine becomes standard on the X-Dynamic S trim of the 90 and the SE trim of the 110, which is crucial to note. The four-cylinder is used in the base grades below those.
Despite their high price tag, the Defender 90 and 110 are well-equipped. Aside from the air suspension, it has Land Rover's Terrain Response system, automatic-leveling LED headlights, heated power-folding mirrors, "Alpine Lights" (those small skylights in the roof), 18-inch gloss white steel wheels, proximity entry and push-button start, rubber flooring, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shifter, fabric upholstery, eight-way power front seats, 40/20/40-split rear seats, dual-zone climate control, and numerous driver.
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