2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar appearance to the lower-level model and the smaller 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. It featured traditional SUV styling with a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel centre 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, and the use of an aluminum hood and doors, along with a composite tailgate, helped save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered a luxurious experience with features like 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional higher-grade Palermo leather, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design, emphasizing clean and simple lines. While it didn't cater to those seeking flashy luxury SUVs, it offered options like Firenze Red paint and diamond-turned 23-inch wheels for a touch of flair. Our test vehicle arrived in Eiger Grey with silver 23-inch wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury. Inside, it featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim. The Range Rover Sport was available in various specifications, including Dynamic SE, Dynamic HSE, Autobiography, and the sold-out SV Edition One. The vehicle boasted premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights. Its aerodynamic design achieved a coefficient of drag of 0.29. The interior showcased a high-tech appearance with sustainable Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, creating a luxurious and fragrant cabin environment.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel efficiency and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in approximately six seconds, despite its weight of around 2,900 kilograms. It came standard with a Quadra-Drive II four-wheel-drive system, including a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, allowing for adjustable ride height and improved off-road capabilities. With a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 centimetres, the Grand Wagoneer offered impressive approach, departure, and breakover angles. It could ford up to 60 centimetres of water and was equipped with skid plates for added protection. While the Grand Wagoneer excelled in off-road performance, its size and weight made it less agile on the road, with a bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement, comfort, and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography model, delivering 434 hp and 406 lb-ft. The sold-out SV Edition One featured a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 engine. The Range Rover Sport's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, allowing it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 5.7 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms. The vehicle's new architecture increased torsional stiffness by 35 percent, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second for improved ride comfort and handling. While the Range Rover Sport excelled in off-road capabilities, it struggled to match the agility of sport-tuned SUVs from competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz on winding roads.

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 provided 2,667 litres of cargo space, slightly less than its rivals. It had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. The Grand Wagoneer featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. While the hoods of both the Grand Wagoneer and Wagoneer limited forward visibility, the Grand Wagoneer’s standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall and airy feel with a low dashboard, upright windshield angle, and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit, and the front seats were comfortable with adjustable inboard armrests. Our test vehicle featured Windsor leather upholstery, 20-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, and available massage functionality. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent thigh and lumbar support but had a reclined seatback angle. The Range Rover Sport offered 903 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,500 litres with the rear seats folded. A power liftgate and controls for lowering the air suspension facilitated loading. The vehicle included a full-size spare tire and storage solutions like netted pockets and hooks in the cargo area.

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 Wi-Fi hotspot. 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 had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer, with a second screen for functions like seat massagers. A separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger allowed control of navigation and entertainment systems. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, based on an Android operating system, offered over-the-air software updates. While the screen was occasionally slow to respond, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and connected services. While the Pivi Pro infotainment platform aimed to personalize the user experience, it often proved confusing and frustrating. The system struggled with voice commands, failing to provide accurate directions to nearby locations. The Range Rover Sport featured impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was included, though accessing devices could be challenging.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet received crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA. 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, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. A hands-free version was planned for future release.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with numerous safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard for water crossings. Remote Park Assist allowed the vehicle to park itself using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control with steering assist was slow to respond and not as smooth as expected. The steering assist technology struggled on highway curves and with poorly marked lanes.