Just like the year 2021, the 2022 Land Rover Defender X will not be the top-level trip of the Defender series, it will fall behind the new top V8 Carpathian Edition. Defender X is available in two body styles: the two-door Defender 90 X and the four-door Defender 110 X. Out of the three powertrain options, the 2022 Defender X will be powered by a standard 3.0-L, turbocharged inline-6 gas engine 9 (code name: P400). However, as optional, the Land Rover will pack the Vehicle with the new 5.0-L supercharged V8 (code name: P525). As usual, Land Rover will pack the Defender X with all the standard as well as the optional features of the lower trims.

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It doesn’t matter how much one is spending while considering a luxury off-roader and if you are considering one of the defenders then go for the best trim Defender 110 X V8. No one cares how much fuel economy a luxury mi-size off-roading SUV claims, the one thing that matters is the performance, the driving dynamics, and how luxurious a car is. The 2022 Defender 110 X V8 happens to be offering all these things with all the features that you can dream of at the price tag of $106,750.

2022 Land Rover Defender X Release Date

The 2022 Land Rover Defender series has been live on the Land Rover official website for quite some time and one can choose their favorite defender from the lot and can even customize it with the available multiple optional features as per the requirements. The series now has a new trim level the Defender Carpathian Edition with a new powerful supercharged V8 which packs all the features of the lower trims.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender X is already mounted with a powerful P400, 3.0-liter turbocharged I-6 gas engine combined with an electric motor, which produced an amazing power of 395 hp and 406lb-ft of torque with the help of the ZF-sourced 8-speed torque converter automatic transmission. But for the next year, Land Rover Defender X has announced a more powerful 5.0-liter, supercharged V8 gas engine that churns out an overwhelming 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque.

The 2022 Defender X will also run on a 4WD drive system with the brake actuated limited-slip differential, an electronic transfer case with the automatic locking rear differential, and the hybrid electric motor. With the standard 3.0-L, turbo I-6 the vehicle can accelerate decently from standstill to 60mph within 5.7 seconds which is pretty good timing for an off-roading SUV, whereas the vehicle sprints the quarter-mile distance in 14.4 seconds. This luxury off-roader can also tow up to 8,201 pounds of weight with the standard powerhouse.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 has the most powerful powertrain in the competition, it also bears the 64 lb-ft of more torque than the Land Rover Defender X and these figures certainly speak out in the 0 to 60 acceleration timing and the quarter-mile sprint. Ford Bronco on the other hand has the smallest displacement engine but its 10-speed automatic takes its performance figures close enough to the Defender X. In the end it doesn’t matter which got better performance, for an off-roader how much it can tow is the most important thing and here the Defender takes the crown for having the max towing ability of 8,201 pounds.

We can’t expect much fuel efficiency from a gas-guzzler off-roading vehicle and one who is opting for this luxury mid-size off-roading SUV won’t even care about how efficient the vehicle is, but still, the 2022 version of Defender X is as efficient as the current 2021 model. It claims a decent 17 mpg in the city driving, a good 22 mpg on the straight highways, and 19 mpg under the combined conditions; these fuel figures are only valid for on-road conditions. The 2022 Defender X also gets 23.4 gallons of the fuel tank which certainly takes the vehicle’s range to 444 miles under the combined conditions.

The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 pays the price for the extra performance than the rivals by its non-efficient engine but Land Rover Defender X with its slightly less acceleration and quarter-mile results claims a far better economy of 19 mpg in the combined conditions. Ford Bronco Wildtrak also averages at 18 mpg which is a decent number as per its engine but its least capable 20.5 gallons of fuel is a letdown. Defender X uses its fuel wisely with the biggest in the segment 23.4 gallons of a fuel tank and extends the overall combined range to 444 miles.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender can’t get more luxury from inside the cabin, the Defender X comes with a standard occupancy for 5 people but an optional jump seat can be fitted between the front two seats of Defender 90 X that increase the occupancy up to 6 and in Defender 110 X a seven-seater option is also available with two seats in the third row. The cabin remains silent and air suspension does perform well to offer a smooth ride over the bumpy roads.

The tall roof design makes the egress and ingresses easy for the tall passengers which also offers massive headroom & legroom in the front and rear-row seats. The steering is powered with tilt & telescopic function but it still gets in the way of a tall driver. Land Rover has loaded the cabin with plenty of driver and passenger convenience tech such as dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way adjustable driver & passenger seats, numerous grab handles, drive-mode selectors, soft leather upholstery touch all around the cabin, and heated & ventilated seats.

All three vehicles come with standard seating for 5 people and they also possess an approximately equal amount of headroom in front and rear row seats. Defender X excels in shoulder room in both front and rear row but in the front row, Ford Bronco has the largest legroom with the second-best shoulder room amongst the rivals. Defender X maintains its consistency and is the spacious one in the rear compartment in the competition. Whereas Jeep Wrangler seems to lack space in every aspect. Although Ford has the biggest boot but Defender isn’t much behind. Some highlights of interior features are:

• Power & USB sockets on both first & rear row 
• Panoramic sunroof
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• Heated & ventilated
• Keyless ignition
• Tilt & telescopic steering
• Steering mounted audio & cruise controls
• Electrochromatic IRVM
• Leather & Simulated alloy steering wheel
• 10-way power driver & passenger seats
• Rear ventilation ducts

How intuitive is the infotainment system?

The infotainment system of Land Rover Defender X would not disappoint you, the new version of Defender X has the same 10-inch touchscreen system which can be upgraded to the larger 11.4-inch touchscreen at an additional cost of $140.

The infotainment screen is loaded with an updated Land Rover Pivi Pro interface and with that, it has a quick response to the touch with the additional advantage of OTA updates. All the infotainment features of the 2022 Defender X are:

• 10-inch infotainment screen
• 15-Speaker Meridian surround sound system
• Apple CarPlay & Android Auto smartphone connectivity
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Wireless charging pad
• 11.4-inch optional touchscreen display
• Wifi-hotspot
• USB & AUX input
• AM/FM stereo
• Satellite radio
• Rearview camera
• Steering mounted audio controls
• Ambient cabin lighting
• 3D surround Camera

The 2022 Defender X is the second-best trim of the Defender series, all the defenders come in two different body styles: the two-door Defender 90 and the four-door Defender 110. The 2022 version has more refinement and the adjustable air suspension takes the ride quality to another level. Exterior retains the signature boxy design of the Defender, 20-inch black colored alloy wheels enhance the mid-size SUV stance.

The front end of the Defender X simple yet eye-catching design language. A massive black colored rectangular grille and the mean-looking automatic LED headlights with the circular LED DRLs to cover the whole front area. On the side profile, the lower body cladding and wheel arches are all body-colored which maintains the sober look. To make it stand out more from the other trims, Land Rover has offered the black contrast roof & rails.

The Land Rover Defender X is lighter than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392. Defender X seems to be the biggest in every aspect of the exterior dimensions than its rivals but it falls behind the Jeep Wrangler in terms of ground clearance. The Defender X might be the lightest vehicle but due to its bigger dimensions, it is not easy to maneuver this off-roader in tight traffic conditions. On the other side, Ford is dancing between the other two rivals but in the end, it handles much better than its rivals. Some highlights of the exterior features are:

• 20-inch Black alloy wheels
• All season tires
• 4-Wheel independent suspension
• Front & Rear stabilizer bar
• Hands-free entry
• Heated & power-folding ORVMs
• Universal remote transmitter
• Front & rear parking sensors
• LED head & taillights
• Black contrast roof & hood
• Adjustable air suspension
• Electronic active differential
• Body-colored lower body cladding & wheel arches

Safety ratings for the 2022 Land Rover Defender series aren’t available at the moment but for a brand like Land Rover, the safety of the occupants matters the most and a brand like these has started the trend of safe automobiles. To counter all these attributes Land Rover has loaded the vehicle with an ample amount of basic as well as advanced safety technology, such as blind-spot monitoring, lane departure warning, forward collision mitigation, dusk-sensing headlights, remote anti-theft alarm, pre-collision safety system, tire pressure monitoring system and much more. All the 2022 Defender X safety features can be seen below:

• Four-wheel disc brakes 
• Adaptive cruise control
• Adaptive air-suspension system
• Antilock braking system with EBD
• Traction control
• Electronic stability control
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• LED head & taillights
• Auto delay off headlamps
• Two front & three rear headrests
• Child safety anchors
• LED DRLs
• Emergency braking system
• Brake assist
• Remote anti-theft alarm
• Self-leveling headlights
• Rear door child safety locks
• Front & rear head airbags
• Forward collision mitigation
• Lane-keeping system
• Blind-spot monitoring 
• 360-degree camera system

Land Rover Defender X Vs Ford Bronco Wildtrak

The Ford Bronco surely doesn’t radiate any luxury vibes but it is a vehicle to go on the off-roads with and enjoy the weekends without any worries of expensive damage. Bronco gives a mean sort of look and with those massive chunky tires the vehicle doesn’t look like a mid-size off-roader, but it rather maintains its stance like a truck. It is much more spacious in front-row seats than the Defender 110 and with approximately the corresponding performance figures the vehicle also maintains its fuel efficiency. The 2022 version of Bronco will not bring any major changes and due to its reasonable price tag, it makes much more sense for budget buyers.

Land Rover Defender X Vs Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392

The Jeep Rubicon 392 still retains the original military jeep design from the world war -II era. The wrangler is the complete opposite of the Land Rover Defender X, it offers you rugged vibes and is able to handle much rougher terrain. The wrangler was originally made for the family people who wanted to enjoy casual off-roading with the family in their free time, but the modern era has taken over the old generation and integrated it with the much-advanced technology. No matter how advanced, fast and tough the Wrangler gets, it still won’t be able to beat the luxurious cabin, refined driving dynamics, and over-the-top towing ability of the Land Rover Defender.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender X is a great pick as an off-roader but it’s simply not just a rugged off-roading vehicle. It falls in the category of luxury off-roading and hence not suggested for the average guy who needs a rugged & tough vehicle for weekend fun with his family and friends. The base trim of Defender might be cheaper than the top-level trim but customers have to sacrifice the signature features and tech of the Land Rover. Though it is highly recommended for those, who just want to live a luxury life without any care of maintenance and services.