The 2022 Land Rover Defender V8 Fires Back at the Rubicon 392
Wow, it’s the perfect time to go fast in an SUV! First, the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 made its debut with V8 power, but now the 2022 Land Rover Defender V8 is here. Can the Land Rover Defender outmuscle the wrangler?
The 2022 Land Rover Defender gains V8 power
It hasn’t been too long since the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 came out. It has a 6.4-liter V8 with 470 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It served as a way to outmuscle the new Ford Bronco, but now a new rival is on the block.
The 2022 Land Rover Defender will be available this spring with a 5.0-liter V8 supercharged engine that pumps out 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. But does this extra muscle make the Defender better than the Wrangler?
According to Car and Driver, the 2022 Defender V8 is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. It also touts a top speed of 149 mph. But the Rubicon 392 is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 4.6 seconds.
The Land Rover Defender V8 vs. the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392
To be clear, the two-door Land Rover Defender 90 model is the model that’s expected to reach 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. The four-door Defender 110 might be a little slower. But the Rubicon 392 is only available in the four-door Wrangler, so the 2022 Land Rover Defender provides more options.
The Rubicon 392 can tow up to 3,500 lb, but the towing specs for the Land Rover Defender V8 haven’t been released yet. Auto Blog mentions that it won’t be surprising if its towing capacity drops below 5,000 lb, but it could tow up to 7,500 lb. The I-6 powered Defender can tow up to 7,500 lb.
With the rumbling V8 Defender, you get standard 22-inch wheels with blue front brake calipers and 15-inch rotors. You can also opt for 20-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires. The Rubicon 392 comes with 33-inch all-terrain tires and is an inch taller than the standard Rubicon.
Plus, the Defender V8 gets a standard electronic rear differential, a returned yaw controller, larger anti-roll bars, and a new Dynamic mode in the Terrain Response drive mode. It stiffens the suspension and sharpens the throttle response.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 has Dana 44 axles, electronic locking differentials, Fox shocks, an electronic front sway-bar disconnect for max articulation, and a 3.73 final-drive ratio. It also has a more robust chassis with additional steel, upgraded front upper control arms, and cast iron steering knuckles.
Land Rover Defender and Rubicon 392 features
The 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is expected to begin around $60,000, while the 2022 Land Rover Defender V8 will start at about $85,000 for the two-door 90 and $90,000 for the four-door 110 model.
In the Defender V8, a 10.0-inch touchscreen is standard, but you can upgrade to the 11.4-inch screen. Also, wireless charging is standard. The Rubicon 392 comes with an 8.4-inch screen and Jeep Off-Roading Pages. This displayed information about the pitch and roll, GPS coordinates, and power distribution.
Both SUVs are available with tons of accessories. Expect snorkels, LED lights, rock rails, winches, cargo boxes, and more. Determining which option is best may come down to test drives.
