2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2023 Audi Q5

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. Its grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, with an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling features with the Wagoneer, such as an integrated infotainment touchscreen, a large rotary shift knob, and a two-spoke steering wheel. However, it offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials. It boasted 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with heated/ventilated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim. Subtle differences like Mercedes-style seat controls on the doors and the “Grand Wagoneer” inscription on the dashboard further set it apart.

The 2023 Audi Q5 presented a classy and sporty exterior with subtle curves and angular accents. It was available in two body styles: the regular Q5 SUV and the Q5 Sportback, which featured a sloping rear roofline for a sleeker silhouette. The Sportback's spoiler-like element above the taillights provided a more defined transition from hatch to tail section, avoiding the awkward rear ends seen in some rivals. Inside, the Q5 maintained a refined and simple layout, though its age was beginning to show since its last redesign five years prior. Standard features included leather seating and heated front seats, with options for a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats. The 10-inch touchscreen atop the dash provided good technology integration, though the materials quality felt less special compared to newer non-luxury competitors. Rear-seat passengers were surrounded by durable plastic elements, ensuring longevity against wear from children and pets.

The Q5's build quality was sturdy, with no squeaks or creaks over rough surfaces, embodying the German engineering reputation. It was a solid choice among competing SUVs from Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Porsche.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, impressive for its roughly 6,400-pound weight. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with 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 was standard, offering height adjustability for off-roading, highway driving, and easier ingress and egress. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer could handle a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle, and could ford up to 24 inches of water.

The 2023 Audi Q5 offered three engine choices. The base 40 TFSI was a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 201 horsepower and 236 lb-ft of torque. The midrange 45 TFSI increased output to 261 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque, and was the sole engine for the Q5 Sportback. The 55 TFSI was a plug-in hybrid powertrain with 362 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, offering an estimated 23 miles of electric-only range. All Q5s featured a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and standard Quattro all-wheel drive. The Q5 Sportback with the 45 TFSI engine experienced a noticeable delay in power delivery due to the slow-reacting transmission, making initial acceleration feel sluggish. However, once underway, power was adequate. The Q5 handled well, with precise steering and a balance between compliance and cornering. The engine and exhaust remained quiet unless pushed hard, and road and wind noise were well-managed for a calm cabin.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain’s chairs, or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80, though front space was more limited. Cargo space was 27.4 cubic feet with all rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed, surpassing rivals in common configurations. With all rear seats folded, the Grand Wagoneer offered 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space, less than the Escalade, Navigator, and QX80. It had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. Forward visibility was somewhat limited by the hood, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this.

The 2023 Audi Q5's interior design had remained largely unchanged since 2018, yet it remained functional and user-friendly. The infotainment touchscreen was positioned atop the dash for easy visibility, with traditional dials and buttons for climate controls and secondary vehicle functions. Outward visibility was good, aided by a narrow front roof pillar. The rear view was better than average, though parking cameras and sensors were still necessary for tight spots. The front seats offered ample space for taller passengers, and the rear seats accommodated six-footers comfortably, even in the Sportback model. Storage options included several compartments, though some were oddly sized. The wireless phone charger was on a sliding tray covering the cupholders, which were heated and cooled in the top trim. The door pockets were spacious, accommodating larger drink bottles. Cargo space was 25.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, slightly reduced to 24.7 cubic feet in the Sportback, with competitors offering varying capacities.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot supporting up to eight devices. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen for climate control, with an optional rear-seat entertainment system adding two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer, with a second screen below for seat massagers. A row of buttons separated the screens for quick access to functions. An optional 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger controlled navigation and rear-seat entertainment. Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto allowed streaming and smart-home integration. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, based on Android, offered over-the-air updates, though the screen response was slow and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2023 Audi Q5 came standard with a 10.1-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring sharp graphics and quick responses, though it took time to boot up and activate Apple CarPlay. Both CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless across all trims. A Bang & Olufsen audio system was standard on higher trims. The on-screen buttons in Audi's system were large and easy to read, but Apple CarPlay's app buttons were smaller and closer together. The Q5 could be monitored remotely via a smartphone app, with features like unlocking and temperature pre-conditioning available through Audi Connect Care, which included a Wi-Fi hotspot. Mid-range trims had a customizable digital instrument panel providing ample information.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of its launch. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring hands on the wheel, with a hands-free version planned for certain highways.

The 2023 Audi Q5 received five stars from the NHTSA for overall, frontal, and side protection, and four stars in rollover tests. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and front and rear parking sensors. The Premium Plus trim added lane-keep assist, a surround-view camera system, and traffic jam assist. The Prestige trim included matrix-design LED headlights, a head-up display, a semi-automated parking system, and a traffic sign reader. Rear-seat side impact airbags were optional on all trims.