2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

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 and flared fenders that gave it a balanced and artistic look. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, as it straddled the line between mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV categories. The model lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk models also available. The Summit trim, in particular, offered a luxurious interior with premium materials, though its aging design elements hinted at the need for a redesign.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Tucson presented a fresh and modern design, riding on a new platform with a long-wheelbase version for North America. Its front showcased Hyundai's new design language, with a parametric grille and LED lighting that formed a unique shape. The Tucson's side profile borrowed styling cues from the Elantra, featuring a floating roof design. At the rear, LED taillights added a distinctive touch. The Tucson's interior was well-appointed, offering a spacious cabin with stain-resistant cloth seats and available leather-trimmed options. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered aesthetic contributed to a sense of spaciousness, making it a strong contender in the compact SUV segment.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 2,818 kilograms, making it a capable choice for those needing power. For more performance, the optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine provided 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,300 kilograms. 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 and Quadra-Lift air suspension enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes made it versatile for daily driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain options: a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine and electric motor, producing 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid powertrain was more powerful and efficient, with a fuel consumption rating of 6.4 litres per 100 kilometres combined. The Tucson's AWD system performed well in off-road testing, providing confidence on loose gravel roads. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful in the Tucson lineup.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted leather seats and a leather-wrapped interior, thanks to the Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package. Both front seats featured eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were integrated into the Uconnect infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat provided comfort but limited legroom for taller adults, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee's cargo space measured 1,028 litres behind the rear seat, expanding to 1,934 litres with the second-row seats folded flat.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson boasted a spacious interior, with a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard and an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available. The Tucson's new platform allowed for increased passenger and cargo space, with 1,095 litres of cargo space behind the rear seats. The rear seats offered ample legroom, and the dual-level cargo floor added versatility. The Tucson's interior was well-suited for families, providing comfort and practicality for road trips.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a user-friendly experience with fast response times 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, allowing for control of various features. The Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality. While the Grand Cherokee offered essential tech features, it lacked the advanced digital capabilities of newer models.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a fully digital instrument cluster. The Tucson's tech features were comprehensive, though the lack of physical buttons on the centre console made it challenging to operate while driving. The steering wheel controls and voice commands provided alternative ways to access functions, though the narrow controls were less user-friendly.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, but its performance in IIHS testing was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. The ParkSense parking assistance system provided additional convenience, though it was best used in low-traffic environments.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it offered a comprehensive suite of safety features through the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite. Standard features included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. Additional features such as blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system were available on higher trims. Hyundai's safety offerings were extensive, rivaling those of luxury SUVs.