2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade had joined the Hyundai lineup as the brand's SUV flagship, replacing the Santa Fe XL. It stood atop a broad lineup of crossovers and SUVs, including the Venue, Kona, Tucson, and Santa Fe, with the battery-electric Ioniq 5 and hydrogen fuel-cell Nexo also in the mix. The Palisade presented an elegant, striking exterior design, shedding past criticisms of Hyundai designs. It featured distinctive lines and shapes, from its prominent grille to the crisp shoulder lines and tasteful tailgate. The SUV's profile was highlighted by sculpted wheel arches and a provocative continuous strip of glass surfaces, giving the impression of a floating rear roof. Inside, the Palisade was similarly elegant and polished, with high-quality materials and finishes adorning every surface. The second row offered either a roomy bench or captain's chairs, and the third row was spacious enough for two adults or up to three kids. The fit and finish inside and out were near-luxury levels, making the Palisade a worthy flagship.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, was a two-row version of the previous year's extended-length Grand Cherokee L. Jeep had flipped the traditional script for the redesigned Grand Cherokee launch, with the three-row Grand Cherokee L arriving first. The shorter and sportier two-row Grand Cherokee went on sale with a powertrain and trim-level lineup that mirrored its bigger sibling. The new Grand Cherokee's styling reflected influence from the first Jeep SUV, the 1963 Wagoneer, with a forward-leaning grille and headlights, a lowered and level beltline, and angled and tapered rear roof pillars. Inside, the Grand Cherokee was essentially identical to the '21 Grand Cherokee L, with the base Laredo trim offering good quality and the Summit Reserve trim providing luxurious features like premium quilted and stitched leather, a McIntosh high-end audio system, and a large panoramic sunroof. The gloss black finish on some controls in higher trim levels suffered from reflections, making them harder to use, while lower trims employed a more functional matte-black finish.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade arrived with a naturally aspirated 3.8-liter V6 gasoline engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The V6 featured gasoline direct injection, dual variable valve timing, and Atkinson-cycle capability, along with auto-stop-and-go settings to reduce idle time. The EPA estimated Palisade FWD models could achieve up to 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, while AWD models had estimates of 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined. The Palisade handled nicely, thanks to its four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars at both ends. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds using trailer brakes or up to 1,650 pounds without.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) and came with either a V6 or a V8 engine. The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine generated 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, with a tow rating of 6,200 pounds. A 5.7-liter V8 engine was available with higher trim levels, producing 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, and bumping towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. Three different 4WD systems were available: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II, each offering varying levels of off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee used an eight-speed automatic transmission with a dial-style transmission shifter. The EPA estimated fuel economy ranged from 17 mpg in combined driving with the V8 and 4WD to 21 mpg with the V6 and any drivetrain. The Trailhawk trim featured off-road enhancements like an electronic locking rear differential, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Speed off-road cruise control.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade offered comfortable seating and easy access throughout the cabin. The third row provided comfortable seating with cupholders on each side, while the second-row captain's chairs were deliciously comfortable. The front row had ample storage, including two compartments in the center console, a locking glove box, and door panel bottle holders. Luggage space behind the third row measured 18.0 cubic feet, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with both second and third rows folded flat. An underfloor storage compartment added extra space, and roof rails could hold up to 220 pounds of cargo. The Palisade featured a compact shift-by-wire setup for its gear selector, with intuitive controls and a dual-panel sunroof on higher trims.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee provided comfort for the driver and front passenger, with higher trims offering heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and front seat massagers. The redesign aimed to improve visibility, which was especially beneficial when off-roading. Rear-seat room remained tight for adults with long legs, and the plastic front seatback trim added durability but was uncomfortable for knees and shins. The two-row Grand Cherokee offered 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, expanding to 70.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The three-row Grand Cherokee L provided more cargo space due to its more vertical rear window and liftgate design.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's leadership in technology. The standard display audio system on SE and SEL models used an 800 x 480 resolution screen, while the Limited and Calligraphy models featured a 1920 x 720 color touchscreen and a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers. The infotainment system included wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Palisade had multiple USB ports, a Qi wireless device charging pad, and a 115-volt power outlet on higher trims. A rear-view monitor with parking guidance was standard, with a surround view function on higher trims. The Limited and Calligraphy trims also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a tech powerhouse, featuring a comprehensive head-up display, a Night Vision system, a camera-based rearview mirror, and up to five interior touchscreens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system offered a five-fold improvement in responsiveness and over-the-air software updates. Most trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and voice recognition were standard. The Grand Cherokee also offered a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-inch head-up display, and an optional 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade featured a comprehensive list of standard and available passive and active safety features. Passive safety features included seven airbags, three-point seat belts for all seating positions, LATCH anchors and tethers, active head restraints, a power window lock-out button, rear child-safety locks, a front crumple zone, and bodyside reinforcements. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, traction control, brake assist, vehicle stability management, a tire pressure monitoring system, blind-spot collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance assist, reverse parking distance warning, rear occupant alert, forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, driver attention warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-following assist, safe exit assist, and trailer sway control. The Palisade earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was fortified with an impressive collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and a safety cage composed extensively of aluminum and high-strength steel. The ADAS package included features related to driving assistance and collision avoidance, such as Intersection Collision Assist and Active Driving Assist. Active Driving Assist provided Level 2 hands-on semi-autonomous driving assistance, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. A hands-free version of Active Driving Assist was expected to be available in 2022, allowing drivers to let go of the steering wheel on approved roads.