2022 Land Rover Defender 90 V-8 First Drive: Ridiculous Fun
Our 2021 Best SUV delivers outstanding performance and a shorter wheelbase in the United States.
It's no secret that we are fans of the Land Rover Defender in general. We named it our 2021 SUV of the Year after examining all the criteria for our criteria, a win which comes on the back of the I-6 Defender 110, the long wheelbase model that first arrived in America. Since then, the lineup has expanded to include two doors, a shorter wheelbase of 90, as well as a V-8 engine (plus a four-cylinder turbo). And believe me, for pure entertainment, there is no better Defender than the one that combines the maximum number of cylinders available with the fewest number of doors.
How Does the Defender V-8 Ride?
Arriving for the 2022 model year, the mighty V-8 stuffed under the Defender's hood is a supercharged 5.0-liter monster that makes 518 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to an eight-speed automatic and four-wheel drive. According to Land Rover, the Defender 90 V-8 can hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds, while its top speed is limited to 149 mph.
The craziest part is that this is an off-road capable SUV—not a performance-oriented model. But on the road, the 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 V-8 feels like it was born to please those who like to drive fast. It handles straight line driving and handles twisty roads with ease. One reason: Due to the added power (123 horsepower and 55 lb-ft of torque over the supercharged and turbocharged 3.0-liter Defender inline-six), engineers added stiffer bushings and larger anti-roll bars to improve body control. .
And, yes, when you turn a corner, there's some familiar Land Rover body roll, but the Defender V-8 leans only once, picking up a set quickly and without drama. No matter how fast the corners are, it still feels embedded and calm. Activate Dynamic mode, which is accessible via the terrain management system, and you get higher throttle response, stiffer suspension setup and torque vectoring via the new electronically active differential. This must be a time of heightened fun. The transmission drops off quickly and will hold the gear when needed, while a paddle shifter is attached if you want to pick your own ratio. Power is sent to all four wheels with smooth linearity, the supercharged V-8 provides a powerful boost even as road speeds increase.
Thanks to the air suspension and tuning expertise of Land Rover engineers, driving on city streets is truly comfortable. 90s short wheelbase. No vibrations get into the cabin, and bumps and damaged pavement are all erased. Steering is a bit heavier than the non-V-8 model, but it also provides better feedback from the road.
Of course, to go with extra power, Land Rover also made stronger brakes. The V-8's blue front brake calipers and 15-inch front rotors easily set it apart from the rest of the Defender, and they stay behind the larger 22-inch wheels. The brakes are strong, progressive and very effective in
