2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, presented a traditional SUV aesthetic characterized by a tall hood, broad shoulders, and trapezoidal wheel arches. It distinguished itself with a standard black roof and unique hood, front fascia, and grille, featuring laser-etched knurling. The Grand Wagoneer boasted a new body-on-frame architecture, allowing for independent suspension and weight-saving aluminum and composite materials. Inside, it shared design elements with the Wagoneer but offered more luxurious features like 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and American Walnut wood trim, setting it apart as a high-end model.

The 2022 Lexus RX, available in both standard and long-wheelbase versions, maintained a modern and sporty design with sharp character lines and angular features. The RX's aggressive styling stood out among competitors like the Audi Q5 and BMW X5. The F Sport models added performance-oriented aesthetics with 20-inch wheels and unique front fascia. Inside, the RX offered a luxurious cabin with F Sport models featuring sporty elements like Scored Aluminum trim and NuLuxe synthetic leather. Despite its luxury appeal, the centre stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats lacked comfort, with limited lumbar support and challenging driving position adjustments.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds. The vehicle featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, offering five drive modes and a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace due to its bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds. Its off-road capabilities were impressive, although its size limited its trail performance.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 came with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 lb-ft of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with electric motors for a total of 308 hp. All RX models featured an 8-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's performance was underwhelming, with a lackluster engine note and hesitant acceleration. The F Sport models included adaptive variable suspension and a Sport+ drive mode, but the differences in driving dynamics were minimal. The RX excelled in comfort and cabin quietness, offering a smooth ride and serene interior.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Cargo space was generous, with 775 litres behind the third row and 2,667 litres with all rear seats folded. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone climate control, and a 360-degree camera system.

The 2022 Lexus RX offered 2,826 litres of passenger volume in its two-row configuration, comfortably seating four adults. The three-row L models had limited cargo space, with only 210 litres available with all seats upright. The RX's cargo area was accessible via a power liftgate, but the load-in height was high due to the sporty bumper design. Interior features included a smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, and a head-up display button. Despite its thoughtful design, the rear seats did not fold completely flat, limiting cargo versatility.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system offered over-the-air updates, although the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain. A head-up display provided clear visibility.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen, with a 12.3-inch version available. The touchscreen's positioning was ergonomically challenging, and the touchpad control was hypersensitive and unintuitive. Despite these issues, the RX offered a range of tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, and a Mark Levinson premium audio system. The Lexus App allowed for remote personalization and service scheduling.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer included standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included intersection collision assist, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. An Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2022 Lexus RX featured the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, and a pre-collision system. Additional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a head-up display. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the top-tier designation due to headlight ratings. It received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.