2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior with Nissan's new signature design. Despite the modern updates, the Armada retained its traditional beefy and athletic styling. The SUV featured a redesigned grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights, bringing it in line with models like the Nissan Kicks and Rogue. The Armada was available in SL and Platinum trims in Canada, with the Platinum offering captain’s chairs as an option. The SUV's exterior boasted body-colour over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and a power sliding sunroof, among other features. However, the interior, despite tech upgrades, felt dated due to design choices like rouched material and abstract patterned hard plastic inlays.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe blended Jeep's heritage with modern design, featuring the iconic seven-slot grille with active shutters for improved aerodynamics. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was a two-row, five-passenger SUV, differing from its gas-powered counterparts. It offered trims like the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, tested in silver with a black roof, provided a comfortable and upscale feel with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats. Despite the comfort, the interior had an abundance of hard plastic materials, raising concerns about durability. The Grand Cherokee 4xe's design allowed for a spacious and comfortable experience for passengers.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was equipped with a 5.6-litre V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. Paired with a 7-speed automatic transmission, the Armada offered automatic four-wheel drive. Despite its weight of over 2,700 kilograms, the Armada was a capable off-roader with features like a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and 23.4 centimetres of ground clearance. However, its fuel efficiency was lacking, with an estimated 17.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city. The Armada excelled in towing, with a best-in-class capacity of 3,856 kilograms.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine with a 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the output of Jeep's 5.7-litre V8. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a total driving range of 719 kilometres, with a fuel economy of 4.2 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres under ideal conditions. The battery provided 42 kilometres of all-electric range. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included features like an electronic front-axle disconnect and E Select powertrain modes, enhancing its efficiency and off-road capabilities. However, its towing capacity was lower than its gas-powered counterparts, at 2,721 kilograms.

The 2021 Nissan Armada, as a full-size SUV, offered practicality and functionality for families. It featured standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. The interior was spacious, with 10-way power-adjustable front seats and optional second-row captain’s chairs. However, the third-row seating was less comfortable for adults. The Armada provided 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,692 litres with the second and third rows folded. Despite its size, the Armada's cargo area was limited by a high load floor, making loading and unloading challenging for petite individuals.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike its gas-powered counterpart, did not offer a third row, but provided ample space for passengers. Folding the second row expanded cargo space from 1,067 litres to 2,004 litres. The Grand Cherokee 4xe's air suspension allowed for quick adjustments, aiding in loading and unloading. The vehicle offered a comfortable experience for families, with sufficient head and legroom for all passengers. Despite testing in hot conditions, the standard heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder weather.

The 2021 Nissan Armada featured a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, the largest in its class, offering clear views from the camera system. Standard tech included navigation, a 13-speaker Bose stereo, satellite radio, Bluetooth, USB ports, a WiFi hotspot, and wireless Apple CarPlay. The Platinum trim offered a rearview camera mirror and rear-seat entertainment. The Armada's steering wheel, though functional, lacked the sophistication found in other SUVs.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like My Pages. The vehicle included a 10.1-inch touchscreen front-passenger display and a 10.25-inch digital driver information display. A wireless charging pad and four USB ports were standard. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens ran Amazon’s Fire TV for Auto. The Grand Cherokee 4xe's 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available from the Overland trim, was highly praised for its audio quality.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but received a three-star rollover rating. It came with Nissan Safety Shield 360, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control and a rear camera mirror. However, advanced driving assist technologies like Nissan ProPilot Assist were not available.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and rear parking sensors. Blind spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera were available from the Overland trim. A hands-off driver assistance suite was announced but required additional hardware. The NHTSA awarded the Grand Cherokee a five-star safety rating, while IIHS ratings were pending.