carivo.co
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 7 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $53,157–$61,853 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
With an overall Carivo score of 7.1/10, the 2022 Land Rover Defender earns a Good rating among the suvs we've scored. Its strongest dimension is Performance at 8.5/10, while Reliability at 5.5/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. We rate reliability at 5.5/10 — below the segment average in our scoring. Budget for potentially higher maintenance costs and check the recall record below before buying. On safety it earns 8.1/10: respectable, if not class-leading — several competitors bundle more driver-assist tech as standard. Check your trim's official ratings at nhtsa.gov.
The 8.5/10 performance score reflects a chassis and powertrain that punch above the segment norm — this is a suv you choose partly for the drive itself. Technology comes in at 7.4/10 — functional and modern, with wireless connectivity and core ADAS features, though some competitors pack more standard tech at this price point.
Priced from $53,157–$61,853, 17 MPG, seating 7, the Land Rover Defender sits in the premium tier of the suv category. The value score of 6.4/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 4 years old, it's worth checking whether a newer generation or refresh has addressed any weaker dimensions — compare it to the current model year before buying.
Bottom line: There's a case for the 2022 Land Rover Defender, but it needs the right buyer. Its value and reliability scores trail the class, and several higher-rated rivals sell for similar money — comparison-shop before committing.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2022 Land Rover Defender ranks #1814 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 26% of the segment. Its 7.1/10 overall score is 0.3 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $53,157 starting price is about 47% above the segment's median of $36,079.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking →
Across the Defender model years we've scored, the 2022 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.3/10 | $58,246 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.3/10 | $58,246 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.2/10 | $56,550 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.1/10 | $54,853 | Read review → |
| 2022 (this review) | 7.1/10 | $53,157 | |
| 2021 | 7.0/10 | $51,460 | Read review → |
| 2020 | 7.0/10 | $49,764 | Read review → |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Exterior lighting / Tail lights 08/06/2021 · 21V435000 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Defender X vehicles equipped with smoked rear light assemblies. A voltage spike, triggered by a bright light shining on the rear of the vehicle, can cause the turn signals,… |
|---|---|
| Seat belts / Pretensioner 21/07/2022 · 22V523000 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2022-23 Land Rover Defender, Discovery, Discovery Sport and 2022 Range Rover Sport and Range Rover Velar vehicles. The driver and front passenger seat belt pretensioners may be… |
| Engine and engine cooling / Engine / Oil/lubrication 02/02/2023 · 23V044000 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Range Rover Sport, 2020-2023 Range Rover, Defender, 2022-2023 Discovery, and 2023 Range Rover Velar vehicles. The engine cam carrier oil channel may be blocked, which can… |
| Equipment 06/12/2024 · 24E102000 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Land Rover Defender vehicles equipped with Raised Air Intake (RAI) aftermarket accessory equipment, with part number VPLEP0543. The raised air intake may not be secured… |
| Electrical system / Propulsion system / Dc/dc converter 17/04/2026 · 26V248000 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC (Land Rover) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Velar and Land Rover Discovery, 2020-2023 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque, 2019-2024 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, 2020-2024 Land Rover Range Rover, 2020… |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
We rate the 2022 Land Rover Defender's reliability 5.5/10 — below the segment average, so budget for higher maintenance. It has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
5 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.1/10 overall, ranking #1814 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 26% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2022 Land Rover Defender starts at $53,157 and ranges up to $61,853 across trims (MSRP when new). At 17 MPG, expect roughly $3,088/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Land Rover models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.