2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was a testament to Jeep's commitment to its iconic design heritage. The vehicle featured the brand's signature seven-slot grille, now enhanced with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. This design element, combined with a forward rake reminiscent of the classic Wagoneer, seamlessly blended the past with the present. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available strictly as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, offering a range of trims from the base 4xe to the luxurious Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, which we tested, boasted a silver exterior with a contrasting black roof and 20-inch wheels, along with signature surf blue tow hooks. Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a comfortable and upscale feel, with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats. However, the presence of hard plastic materials in the interior raised concerns about long-term durability and noise.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid presented a more modern and minimalistic design. The RX 350h Luxury test vehicle, with its Iridium silver finish and 21-inch alloy wheels, maintained a sleek appearance without overt hybrid branding. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model stood out with its Copper paint job, blacked-out grille, and aggressive styling. Inside, the RX adopted a cleaner look with fewer controls and a new Lexus Interface infotainment system. The RX 350h Luxury trim featured Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, exuding luxury, while the RX 500h F Sport Performance offered a sportier interior with artificial suede and dark grey aluminum trim. Despite its visual appeal, the RX's design had some drawbacks, such as a blunt-nosed front and a rear roof pillar design that visually shortened the SUV's rear end.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-litre turbo inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the output of Jeep's 5.7-litre V8 engine. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a standard four-wheel drive system managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, achieving a fuel economy of 4.2 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres under ideal conditions. The vehicle offered a total driving range of 719 kilometres, with 42 kilometres of all-electric range. The Grand Cherokee 4xe also included E Select powertrain modes, regenerative braking, and two off-road 4x4 systems, making it a versatile and capable SUV. However, its towing capacity of 2,721 kilograms was lower than that of the V6 and V8 models.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid offered two hybrid powertrains. The RX 350h featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 246 horsepower and 233 lb-ft of torque, with a combined fuel economy of 6.5 L/100 km. It accelerated to 100 km/h in approximately 7.5 seconds. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, delivered 366 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque, achieving 100 km/h in about 6 seconds. However, its fuel economy was less impressive at 8.6 L/100 km. The RX 500h featured an adaptive damping suspension, Dynamic Rear Steering, and Active Sound Control, enhancing its driving dynamics. Despite its performance capabilities, the RX 500h struggled to meet its estimated fuel economy, averaging 11.3 L/100 km during testing. The RX 350h, on the other hand, offered better fuel efficiency, averaging 7.4 L/100 km.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike its gas-powered counterpart, was not available as an L model with a third row of seats. However, it provided ample space for passengers, with the second row offering plenty of head and legroom. Folding the second row expanded the cargo space from 1,067 litres to 2,004 litres, making it a practical choice for families. The Grand Cherokee 4xe also featured an air suspension with a quick-down function, facilitating easy loading and unloading. Despite the hot weather during testing, the vehicle's standard heated steering wheel promised comfort during colder months.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid prioritized comfort and efficiency. The RX 350h Luxury trim offered ten-way power-adjustable front seats with premium leather, standard seat heating and ventilation, and a three-zone automatic climate control system. The RX 500h F Sport Performance model featured eight-way power-adjustable front seats with larger side bolsters and standard-grade leather. The RX's battery pack was located under the rear seat, providing excellent leg support but limited headroom due to the lower roofline. The RX offered 838 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat and 1,308 litres with the seat folded down, an improvement over the previous model but still less than some competitors.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options. The My Pages feature allowed users to personalize the display with various widgets. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included a standard 10.1-inch touchscreen front-passenger display, a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, a wireless charging pad, and four USB ports. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens with Amazon's Fire TV for Auto were available. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, standard on the Overland trim, offered exceptional audio quality.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid introduced a new infotainment system, requiring subscription to connected services plans after trial periods. The Lexus Interface offered Drive Connect with cloud-based navigation and an Intelligent Assistant. The system worked well during testing, though it occasionally provided inaccurate results. The RX's touchscreen display allowed only one screen menu at a time, and the screen suffered from reflections. The available head-up display included dual-function touch-sensing control pads on the steering wheel, which could be distracting, especially with polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a range of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Intersection Assist collision mitigation. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting at the Overland trim. The Grand Cherokee 4xe received a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not yet published its crash-test results.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0 (LSS+ 3.0), featuring a motorcycle detection system, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and curve-speed reduction for adaptive cruise control. Proactive Driving Assist was also available, maintaining safe distances and recharging the battery through regenerative braking. The RX's front cross-traffic alert system and curve-speed reduction tech had some drawbacks, and the driver monitoring system could be triggered by certain driving positions. The RX also offered Traffic Jam Assist and Advanced Park, though these features were not tested.