2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a testament to timeless design, maintaining its appeal over a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels under flared fenders, creating a balanced automotive art piece. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, as it defied easy categorization, being a mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV all at once. The model lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk models. The Summit trim, with its 5.7-litre V8 engine and premium features, offered a luxurious experience, though the interior showed signs of aging with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

In contrast, the 2022 Genesis GV70 stood out with its distinctive styling, diverging from the rest of the brand's lineup. It featured the brand's two-line lighting signature, creating an illusion of a contiguous circle around the vehicle. The GV70 offered six grades in Canada, with the Sport and Sport Plus grades receiving a sculpted hood and unique styling elements. The GV70's sportier intent was evident with dark chrome finishes and a cross-hatched matrix pattern on the Sport grades. Genesis offered a wide range of exterior and interior colour combinations, allowing for personalization. The GV70's cabin featured an elliptical theme, with premium materials and unique upholstery configurations, though some plastic elements were present.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, capable of towing up to 2,818 kilograms. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 offered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,300 kg. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved efficiency, though it still consumed 14.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Terrain traction management made it capable off-road, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes enhanced daily driving.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engines, with the 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 producing 375 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. This engine positioned the GV70 against mid-level performance competitors, with higher power figures than some German counterparts. The GV70's all-wheel-drive system prioritized the rear axle, transferring torque forward as needed. The Sport Plus grade included an electronic limited-slip differential for enhanced performance. The GV70 featured Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes, with Sport+ delivering aggressive throttle response and partial traction control disabling. The electronically controlled suspension system balanced road feel and comfort, while the tight turning radius aided urban maneuverability.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted leather seats and leather-wrapped panels. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 1,028 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, with a maximum of 1,934 litres with the seats folded. However, interior storage was limited, and the rear-seat entertainment system occupied much of the centre console bin.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 prioritized the driver with a tall centre console and intuitive controls. The infotainment system was controlled by a raised dial, and the climate controls were configured under a single pane with haptic feedback. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with ventilated front and rear seats available on higher grades. The rear space featured a large panoramic sunroof and manual sunshades, though storage was limited. The GV70 offered 819 litres of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 1,610 litres with the seats folded. The tonneau cover could be stowed under the rear load floor when not in use.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a user-friendly experience with fast response and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. While the Grand Cherokee offered essential technology, it was considered "tech lite" compared to the upcoming 2022 model.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 excelled in technology, featuring a 14.5-inch high-definition LCD infotainment screen with high-resolution graphics. The system allowed for a split-screen layout, though it was slower to respond to inputs. The premium Sport Plus grade included a 3D digital instrument cluster and Blind View Monitor system. The GV70 introduced a fingerprint recognition system for keyless start and offered a premium 18-speaker Lexicon surround sound system on top grades. USB ports were standard for both front and rear passengers.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA with 4WD, but its performance in IIHS testing was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Summit trim included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. The Grand Cherokee also offered parking assistance systems, though its headlights rated "Poor" without upgrades.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 included ten standard safety features, such as blind spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and forward collision avoidance assist. The GV70 introduced a rear occupant alert system using radar to detect movement in the second row. The Genesis Highway Driving Assist system provided lane centring and automatic lane changing functions, though it required the driver's hands on the wheel. As of publication, safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available for the GV70.