2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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. This 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with its 5.7-litre V8 engine and premium interior, exemplified luxury, though the interior showed signs of aging with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, offering traditional SUV styling with a tall hood and broad shoulders. It distinguished itself with a black roof, model-specific hood, and grille with laser-etched knurling. The Grand Wagoneer featured a new body-on-frame architecture, independent suspension, and weight-saving materials. Inside, it boasted high-end materials and convenience features, including 24-way power front seats and Nappa leather upholstery. The Grand Wagoneer offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, though space up front was more limited. It provided ample cargo space, though less than some rivals when all seats were folded.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, capable of towing up to 2,818 kg. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 was available, producing 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 fuel efficiency, though it still consumed 14.1 L/100 km in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II system and Quadra-Lift air suspension enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes made it agile in urban settings.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8, generating 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for better fuel efficiency. It accelerated from zero to 100 km/h in about six seconds, impressive for its 2,900 kg weight. The Grand Wagoneer featured standard 4WD with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension. It provided 25.4 cm of ground clearance and could ford up to 60 cm of water. Despite its power, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace, as its ride became bouncy at higher speeds, and its steering was imprecise.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. Both front seats had eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though controls embedded in the infotainment system could be distracting. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. Cargo space was 1,028 litres behind the rear seat, expanding to 1,934 litres with the seats folded, though this was modest for a midsize SUV.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven with standard captain's chairs or eight with an optional bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, though front-row space was more limited. Cargo space was 775 litres with all seats in place, expanding to 2,667 litres with all seats folded. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kg, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone climate control, and large storage bins, though forward visibility was limited by the hood.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with fast response times and pleasing graphics. The Summit trim included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality. Despite its age, the Grand Cherokee's voice recognition technology worked well, and it offered essential tech features without overwhelming complexity.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer boasted a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. Second-row passengers had their own touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added more screens. The Uconnect 5 system featured an Android-based operating system and OTA updates, though the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain. A head-up display provided clear information, and screen sharing allowed passengers to send destinations to the navigation system.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings, with a five-star overall rating from NHTSA for 4WD models but lower ratings from IIHS for small-overlap frontal impacts. The Summit trim included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitoring. The ParkSense parking assistance system helped with parking, though it was best used in low-traffic environments.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by IIHS or NHTSA. It included standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included intersection collision assist, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.