The 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 V8 review pulls like a hungry dog on a leash

A short, loud one, I named it less than four minutes after getting behind the wheel of the 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 V8.

Land Rover has supercharged the surprisingly high-performance new Defender with a V8 engine, making it one of the most ridiculously high-performance SUVs you can buy in the US today. This may not be a top-dog model yet. But more on that later.

Constant yanking of the chain

As soon as I hit the start button, my senses were greeted by the sweet, sweet sound and vibration of a huge V-8 doing a cold start. A little more subdued than expected, but still a deep guttural tone.

Instead of the standard 2.0-liter turbo four or available turbo six, Land Rover shoved the well-known 5.0-liter supercharged V-8 engine under the hood of the Defender V8 via an eight-speed automatic transmission. It produces 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. Full-time four-wheel drive is standard, as well as a two-speed transfer case. A more powerful SVR model may already be in development. However, it is very possible that this engine will be the last hurrah as Land Rover moves to a twin-turbo V-8 engine from BMW.

If you wait at a traffic light with auto start-stop enabled, the engine comes back online with a bang and the Defender leaps forward like a starving dog on a leash. He can barely contain himself. When the throttle is depressed, the front end lifts on air suspension, the rear end squats, and the "short and noisy" Defender lurches forward.

Land Rover claims 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds, and it feels right. Not as violent as the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, and slower than the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392's 0-60 mph acceleration of 4.5 seconds with its V-8 engine and 35-inch tires. Still, it snugly secures your back against the seatback.

Quad exhaust tips peek out from under the short rear overhang. The more pedestrian defender hides the exhaust tips for better clearance and launch angle. Still, the tips on the V8 models are tucked close to the bumper to avoid off-road damage.

Cruising down the road, the Defender is much better mannered than the Bronco or Wrangler. Forward visibility is excellent due to the high seating position, low dashboard and cowl, and a tall windshield that is much more curved than the Bronco or Wrangler. It is also quieter, thanks to the non-removable metal roof, curved windshield, small side mirrors that retract close to the body, and thick non-removable doors. The four-corner independent air suspension with adaptive shocks makes it more comfortable and easier to control.

It is both robust and luxurious

Inside, the Defender V8 has soft-touch materials, rubberized trim, a 12.3-inch digital meter cluster, and a 10.1-inch touch-screen infotainment system, but my tester came with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen. The latter is the best infotainment system ever offered by an automaker. It is a pleasure to use, with very quick startup, Apple CarPlay wireless pairing, and quick hotkeys on the left side for finding CarPlay, navigation, and audio functions. The interface is tile-based with swipe functionality.

There are real buttons and knobs to control the climate and audio systems, and an ingenious digital solution for off-road controls. With the tap of a button, the climate control knob can be used to change either the climate control or the off-road drive mode. Neat.

My tester was equipped with leather and suede seats, but full leather is a free option. While it may not be to everyone's taste, the suede seats look like they would be hard to wipe down after an adventure.

Despite being The Short with only two doors (long), the rear seats are spacious and can accommodate four adults without a problem. My children have never complained about the back seat. However, despite being called a 15, there is basically no cargo room behind the second row. The cargo area is 6 cubic feet. I could barely fit two backpacks and a water bottle in it after camping. However, with the second row down (not completely flat), it is 58.3 cubic feet. That's enough space for 3/4 of a slaughtered cow. Ask me how I know this.

In this recession.

Defender 90 V8 numbers are hurting across the board.

When it was announced in March 2021, the 2022 Defender 90 V8 was supposed to cost $98,550. It is not. In today's much more expensive world, the 90 V8 now costs $105,550, including the $1,350 destination charge. My test car had an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen for $140, a Premium Interior Protection and Storage Package, and a WiFi data plan for a total of an additional $1,160, since ordering a 2023 90 V8 would cost $109,250, Be prepared.

That pricing is more than double the $49,050 base price of the 2022 Defender with the 2.0-liter turbo four. Adding the turbo six adds just under $12,000. The turbo four shaves nearly two seconds off the 0-60 mph time of the V-8 model, while the turbo six shaves nearly one second off. considering three wheelbases and multiple trim levels, the Defender now has a dizzying 12 models. the 90 and its V8 are ideal for off-road driving with their huge power output and The 90 and its V8 are by far the most unique and special models, with huge power output and a short wheelbase ideal for off-road driving, but their price premium is significant.

And then there's fuel economy: the 90 V8 carries EPA fuel economy of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. Over the course of 256 miles of mixed driving, the supercharged V8 consumed premium gas at an average rate of 15.6 mpg. That's more efficient than the Mercedes-Benz AMG G-Class, a Wrangler with a V-8 engine, and much more efficient than the Trackhawk ever was, so there's that.

It costs a fortune to play at this level. But the 2022 Land Rover Defender 90 V8 packages refinement, power, and capability better than anyone aside from the Mercedes-Benz AMG G-Class.