2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2023 Toyota Venza

Jeep's 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe was a testament to the brand's knack for blending heritage with modernity. The iconic seven-slot grille, now featuring active shutters for improved aerodynamics, paid homage to Jeep's storied past while embracing contemporary efficiency. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with trim levels including 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 roots, offering a surprisingly upscale feel even in its base trim. The Overland trim featured leather seats, wood and metal accents, heated and ventilated front seats, and bronze contrast stitching. However, the presence of hard plastic materials below the hip point raised concerns about long-term durability. Gloss black surfaces, while visually appealing, were prone to fingerprints and glare. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's interior was a comfortable and stylish space.

The 2023 Toyota Venza, on the other hand, was a sleek and sculpted midsize crossover SUV that could easily be mistaken for a Lexus. Its contoured body and tapering rear roofline gave it a distinctive look, free from the awkward bulges seen in other Toyota SUVs. Inside, the Venza borrowed heavily from the RAV4 but dressed up the cabin with higher-quality materials and details. The dashboard and center stack were similar, but the Venza featured better-integrated climate control buttons and more soft-touch surfaces, approaching Lexus-level luxury.

The Venza's interior was attractively styled, with spacious front seats and a panoramic sunroof that enhanced the feeling of openness. The rear seats offered ample legroom and foot room, though headroom could be a limiting factor for taller passengers. The cargo space, however, was limited to 28.8 cubic feet, significantly less than competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Despite this, the Venza excelled in holding smaller personal items, with a wireless phone charger, well-sized cupholders, and large door pockets.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe's standout feature was its plug-in hybrid powertrain. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine paired with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This power was managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, achieving 56 MPGe and a total driving range of 470 miles. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered 25 miles of all-electric driving range, thanks to its aerodynamic design.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured E Select powertrain modes, including Hybrid, Electric, and eSave, allowing drivers to optimize battery usage. Regenerative braking and Max Regen settings enabled one-pedal driving. Off-road capabilities were enhanced by Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II systems, with the Trailhawk trim offering 10.9 inches of ground clearance and a maximum wading depth of 24 inches. However, the 4xe's towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds, less than its V6 and V8 counterparts.

The 2023 Toyota Venza was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid system, producing a combined 219 horsepower. A continuously variable transmission (CVT) sent power to the front wheels, while a separate electric motor powered the rear wheels for all-wheel drive. The Venza accelerated to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds, a respectable time for its class. The hybrid system provided seamless transitions between electric and gasoline power, and the regenerative braking system operated smoothly.

The Venza prioritized ride comfort over sporty handling, with light steering effort and adequate handling for easy and calm transportation. The ride quality was smoother than the RAV4 Hybrid's but not as plush as a Lexus. The Venza's maneuverability was limited, requiring multiple-point turns in tight spaces. Overall, the Venza offered a comfortable and composed driving experience, suitable for those seeking a relaxed ride.

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, the existing seats provided ample space for passengers. Folding the second row down expanded cargo space from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet, offering incremental improvements over the previous generation. The available air suspension allowed for quick adjustments, making loading and unloading easier. Despite the Texas heat during testing, the standard heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder weather.

The 2023 Toyota Venza's front seats offered plenty of space for taller drivers and passengers, with large windows and a panoramic sunroof enhancing the feeling of spaciousness. The Star Gaze panoramic roof could turn opaque at the touch of a button, adding a luxury touch. Rear visibility was limited, but the rear seats provided ample legroom and foot room. The Venza's cargo space was limited to 28.8 cubic feet, significantly less than competitors. However, it excelled in holding smaller personal items, with a wireless phone charger, well-sized cupholders, and large door pockets.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like My Pages. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included a 10.25-inch front-passenger display, a frameless 10.25-inch digital driver information display, and optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens with Amazon's Fire TV for Auto. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available on higher trims, delivered exceptional audio quality.

The 2023 Toyota Venza came with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with a wireless charging pad. The base LE trim featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, while the XLE trim and above offered a 12.3-inch multimedia display. The new infotainment system provided sharp graphics, quick responses, and a logical menu structure. The Venza also offered a Wi-Fi connection, remote vehicle monitoring, and Drive Connect services on the Limited trim. The base audio system featured six speakers, with a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system available on higher trims.

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, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. A hands-off driver assistance feature suite was announced but required additional hardware.

The 2023 Toyota Venza scored five stars in overall and side crash protection and four stars in frontal and rollover protection from the NHTSA. The IIHS awarded the Venza its highest score of "Good" in most categories and named it a Top Safety Pick. The Venza came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. Higher trims added front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, a head-up display, and a digital rearview mirror.