2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar yet refreshed appearance, with subtle updates to its decade-old styling theme. The new model year introduced a redesigned grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching across the taillights. The Touring trim level debuted a new 19-inch wheel design, enhancing the minivan's modern appeal by minimizing brightwork. The interior received an upscale touch with perforated leather upholstery, contrast stitching, and new dashboard ambient lighting, making the Odyssey Touring a more luxurious option in the minivan segment.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe embraced its heritage with the iconic seven-slot grille, now featuring active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The design paid homage to the Wagoneer with a forward rake, blending past and present. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with trim levels including the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, with its silver paint, black roof, and 20-inch wheels, offered a comfortable and upscale interior with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and bronze contrast stitching. However, the presence of hard plastic materials in the cabin raised concerns about durability and noise over time.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. The drivetrain offered smooth and effortless power, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, Eco, and Snow, along with paddle shifters. The Odyssey's fuel efficiency was rated at 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with an average of 10.8 L/100 km during testing. While the Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive, it featured a new electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response, although the brakes showed signs of fade under heavy use.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the output of Jeep's 5.7-litre V8 engine. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a standard four-wheel drive system managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, achieving a fuel economy of 4.2 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres. The vehicle offered a total driving range of 719 kilometres, with 42 kilometres of all-electric range. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included E Select powertrain modes, regenerative braking, and two off-road 4x4 systems, making it a versatile and efficient option for adventurous drivers.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey provided a spacious and practical interior, with legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The minivan featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated front seats, and Honda's Magic Slide second-row seat layout, offering various seating configurations. Cargo space was generous, with 929 litres behind the third-row seat, expanding to 2,452 litres with the third-row seat tumbled, and a maximum volume of 3,984 litres. However, removing the second-row seats to access the full cargo capacity was cumbersome.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, while not offering a third row, provided ample space for passengers and cargo. Folding the second row increased cargo space from 1,067 litres to 2,004 litres. The vehicle's air suspension allowed for quick height adjustments, facilitating loading and unloading. The Grand Cherokee 4xe's interior was comfortable and spacious, making it a suitable choice for families of four or fewer.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Higher trims added navigation, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. The Touring trim offered an 11-speaker premium audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were notable drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, and streaming apps, though it lacked a touchscreen interface.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe came equipped with the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring a customizable Android-powered interface. The vehicle included a 10.1-inch touchscreen front-passenger display, a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, and a wireless charging pad. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens ran Amazon's Fire TV for Auto. The Grand Cherokee 4xe's 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available on higher trims, was highly praised for its audio quality.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard Honda Sensing suite, which included adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star score for rollover resistance. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning systems could be smoother in operation.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a range of standard and optional ADAS features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors. Blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree surround-view camera were available on higher trims. While the IIHS had not yet published crash-test results for the Grand Cherokee 4xe, the NHTSA awarded it a five-star safety rating.