2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2022 Porsche Macan

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was a striking presence on the road, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, which lent it a traditional SUV aesthetic. Its tall hood, broad shoulders, and upright profile were complemented by trapezoidal wheel arches, giving it a robust and commanding look. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself from its sibling with a standard black roof and unique hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, featuring laser-etched knurling in the slots, while the wheel centre caps were protected by acrylic glass, showcasing the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture, shared with the Wagoneer, allowed for independent suspension and incorporated lightweight materials like an aluminum hood and doors.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared some styling cues with the Wagoneer, such as the infotainment touchscreen and rotary shift knob, but elevated the experience with premium materials and features. It boasted 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, and lumbar support, along with heated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with an option for higher-grade Palermo leather, and the interior was adorned with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim. The seat controls were conveniently placed high on the doors, and the dashboard proudly displayed the “Grand Wagoneer” name.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, introduced in 2015, maintained its sleek and sporty design over the years, with the 2022 model receiving a styling refresh. It featured larger standard wheels, new wheel designs, and a revamped centre console with haptic touch controls. The Macan lineup included the base model, Macan T, Macan S, and Macan GTS, with the Macan Turbo's high-output powertrain now in the GTS. Our test vehicle, the Macan S, showcased a Volcano Gray exterior with 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, exuding an athletic and performance-oriented vibe. The interior drew inspiration from other Porsche models, with a flat and wide dashboard, ignition switch to the left of the steering wheel, and a centre console housing most secondary controls. The cabin, adorned with red leather, gloss black trim, and silver metallic accents, offered a luxurious and sporty atmosphere.

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, enabled the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds, impressive for its 2,900-kilogram weight. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with a Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system, featuring a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system, standard on the Grand Wagoneer, allowed for adjustable ride height, providing up to 25.4 centimetres of ground clearance. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best suited for a leisurely pace, as its ride could become bouncy at higher speeds, and its steering was imprecise.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered a range of engines, with the base Macan and Macan T featuring a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 261 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Macan GTS inherited a 2.9-litre twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, delivering 434 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Our Macan S test car was equipped with a twin-turbo 2.9-litre V6, producing 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque, allowing it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package. All Macans featured a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable all-wheel-drive system. The Macan S was praised for its fun driving experience, offering quick and responsive handling. The twin-turbo V6 provided ample power, and the dual-clutch transmission delivered precise shifts. The Macan S excelled on twisty roads, with its performance tires and adaptive damping ensuring stability and grip.

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, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, space in the front row was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 775 litres of cargo space with all three rows in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats expanded cargo space to 2,667 litres, though this was less than some rivals. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins.

The 2022 Porsche Macan, despite its sporty nature, offered comfort for the driver and front-seat passenger. Our Macan S test vehicle had optional 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats were cramped, especially for taller passengers, but entry and exit were easy, and the seats were comfortable. The Macan featured new steering wheels modeled after the 911 sports car, though the wheel felt thin and uncomfortable over long drives. The redesigned centre console with haptic touch controls offered a clean look but required drivers to look away from the road to use. Cargo space measured 488 litres behind the back seat, expandable to 1,503 litres with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came equipped with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and offered a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot for up to eight devices. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch centre console touchscreen, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer featured a second screen below the main one for functions like seat massagers. It used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which had an Android-based operating system and over-the-air update capability. While the screen was sometimes slow to respond, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2022 Porsche Macan featured a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with options for a Bose or Burmester audio system. The screen had touch-sensing virtual buttons and proximity sensing, offering an intuitive user experience. However, the voice recognition system was less effective compared to competitors. The Macan provided stereo volume and tuning controls below the screen, and the climate control system was separate, reducing the need to interact with the touchscreen while driving.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came with standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.

The 2022 Porsche Macan included lane-departure warning and a reversing camera as standard features. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Macan's safety technologies performed as expected, though it lacked more advanced driving assistance tech. The Macan offered optional Park Assist, which could steer the vehicle into parking spaces. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had published safety ratings for the Macan.