2023 Toyota Sequoia vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

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 distinct trim lineup that included the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, in particular, stood out with its silver paint, contrasting black roof, and 20-inch wheels, complemented by signature surf blue tow hooks and blue accents on trail-rated trims.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe defied its rugged reputation by offering a surprisingly upscale feel. Even the base trim exuded comfort, while the Overland trim elevated the experience with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats. However, the presence of hard plastic materials, especially below the hip point, raised concerns about long-term durability and potential noise issues. Gloss black surfaces added a touch of elegance but were prone to fingerprints and glare. Overall, the Grand Cherokee 4xe managed to balance its rugged roots with modern luxury, making it a compelling choice for those seeking both style and substance.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia made a bold statement with its redesigned exterior, drawing inspiration from the Toyota Tundra pickup truck. The Sequoia's new look featured a traditional grille and front bumper, shedding the "manta ray on wheels" appearance of its predecessor. Inside, the Sequoia shared design elements with the Tundra, offering an industrial yet upscale feel in the Capstone trim. The cabin boasted a massive 14-inch Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system and a luxurious cream white-over-black two-tone colour scheme. However, some interior materials reminded occupants of the Sequoia's pickup truck origins.

The Sequoia's trim lineup included the TRD Off-road, Limited, Platinum, TRD Pro, and Capstone, with prices ranging from $79,335 to $95,335. The TRD Pro trim offered enhanced off-road capabilities, while the TRD Off-Road provided a more budget-friendly option with off-road features. Despite its off-road prowess, the Sequoia's ground clearance and approach angles were less impressive than the previous generation. The Sequoia's interior featured comfortable front seats, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone climate control system. However, the third-row seat, mounted above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom. Cargo space was also compromised, with a maximum capacity of 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was notable for its 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 rating of 4.2 litres-equivalent per 100 kilometres. With a total driving range of 719 kilometres, the Grand Cherokee 4xe offered 42 kilometres of all-electric driving range, thanks to its aerodynamic design. The vehicle's electronic front-axle disconnect and E Select powertrain modes further enhanced fuel efficiency and driving versatility.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe's off-road capabilities were bolstered by two 4x4 systems: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II. The latter included an electronic limited-slip differential and a two-speed transfer case, making it ideal for challenging terrains. The Trailhawk trim, with its 27.6 centimetres of ground clearance and Quadra-Lift suspension, was the most off-road capable. However, the 4xe's towing capacity of 2,721 kilograms was lower than its V6 and V8 counterparts.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia featured a hybrid powertrain with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, a 36-kilowatt electric motor/generator, and a 1.87 kilowatt-hour nickel-metal hydride battery pack. This setup produced 437 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Sequoia to tow up to 4,137 kilograms. The Sequoia's fuel economy improved significantly, with a rating of 11.7 L/100 km in combined driving with 4WD. During testing, the Capstone trim averaged 13.2 L/100 km on a mountainous evaluation loop.

The Sequoia offered multiple driving modes, including Eco, Comfort, Normal, Sport, and Sport+, allowing drivers to tailor the vehicle's performance to their preferences. However, the suspension's ride quality varied depending on the mode, with Sport and Sport+ providing better control over ride motions. The Sequoia's steering was slow, requiring effort in tight spaces, and the regenerative braking system felt unresponsive at times. Despite these quirks, the Sequoia's powertrain and improved fuel efficiency made it a compelling choice for those seeking a capable and efficient SUV.

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, this design choice allowed for ample space for passengers in the existing seats. Folding down the second row expanded cargo space from 1,067 litres to 2,004 litres, offering incremental improvements over the previous generation. The Grand Cherokee 4xe provided generous head and legroom for both front and rear passengers, making it a comfortable family vehicle for up to four people. The available air suspension featured a quick-down function, allowing the vehicle to lower from its off-road height in just seven seconds, facilitating easier loading and unloading. Despite testing the Grand Cherokee 4xe on a hot day, the standard heated steering wheel promised comfort during colder months.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia excelled on open roads at highway speeds, offering a quiet cabin with minimal wind and road noise. The range-topping Capstone trim featured comfortable front seats with soft leather upholstery, a JBL premium audio system, and a triple-zone automatic climate control system with heated and ventilated front and rear seats. The Sequoia's interior impressed with its wide, flat, padded upper door panel shelf, providing a comfortable resting place for long road trips. Power-deploying running boards aided entry and exit, though taller individuals might find them cumbersome. The Sequoia Limited trim and above included a panoramic glass moonroof, which slightly reduced second-row headroom. The second-row captain's chairs lacked sliding functionality, limiting legroom adjustments for third-row passengers. The third-row seat, positioned above the battery pack, offered limited comfort and legroom, with a high floor and low roof.

Cargo space in the Sequoia was compromised by the hybrid powertrain, with a maximum capacity of 2,460 litres, significantly less than its predecessor. The third-row seat could be adjusted to expand cargo space from 325 litres to 631 litres, but the absence of a power liftgate window was a notable drawback. The adjustable cargo shelf allowed for better space utilization, but items stored on it risked falling out when the liftgate was opened. Despite these limitations, the Sequoia's hybrid powertrain offered improved towing and hauling capacity, albeit at the expense of overall utility.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with extensive customization options. The My Pages feature allowed users to personalize screen layouts with various displays and widgets, enhancing the user experience. The Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted multiple screens, including a standard 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, while optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens offered Amazon's Fire TV for Auto. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available on the Overland trim and above, delivered exceptional audio quality, though it was not available on the base 4xe or Trailhawk trims.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came equipped with the new Toyota Audio Multimedia infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen on the base TRD Off-road trim and a 14-inch touchscreen on higher trims. The system was intuitive, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Connected services allowed for user account setup and a guest account for privacy. The Drive Connect plan included an Intelligent Assistant, which responded to voice commands, though it occasionally provided incomplete results. The system supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two devices, but a bug in the pre-production model affected phone call functionality. The Capstone trim included a 10-inch head-up display, though it was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Sequoia Platinum and Capstone trims featured a surround-view camera system and a digital rearview mirror, enhancing visibility and safety.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a comprehensive suite 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. Rear parking sensors were also standard. Blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting at the Overland trim, while a 360-degree surround-view camera was standard on all trims except the Trailhawk. Jeep announced a hands-off driver assistance feature suite for the Grand Cherokee 4xe, though it required additional hardware and was not available to early buyers via an OTA update. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee an overall five-star safety rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not yet published crash-test results.

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia came standard with an extensive array of driver-assistance features, primarily bundled into the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 (TSS 2.5) package. TSS 2.5 included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centring assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlights, and a road sign recognition system. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with emergency assistance and automatic collision notification. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic braking were also standard. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist systems enhanced highway driving, though the lane-departure warning system's beeping could be irritating. As of this review, neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had conducted crash tests on the new Sequoia, but the Tundra, on which it is based, received the highest possible rating from the IIHS.