2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2022 Kia Carnival

The 2022 Kia Carnival presented a unique design across its various trims, each offering distinct elements. The LX trim featured a standard black grille and 17-inch aluminum wheels, while the EX trim doubled the available paint colors and added 19-inch machined-finish wheels, simulated wood trim, and SynTex simulated leather. The SX trim introduced a mirrored grid-pattern grille and black wheels, and the SX Prestige focused on interior upgrades with real leather and VIP Lounge Seats. The Carnival's SUV styling included skid plates, a floating roof design, and a robust roof-rack on higher trims. Despite visible sliding door tracks, the Carnival's design was sharp and angular, standing out in its segment. Inside, the SUV theme continued with a crossover-like dashboard and center console, offering an upscale look even in the base trim. The interior color options varied, with the EX trim introducing a bold Tuscan Umber option.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe maintained Jeep's iconic design cues, including the seven-slot grille with active shutters for improved aerodynamics. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with trims including the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim featured a silver paint with a black roof and 20-inch wheels, while all 4xe models had signature surf blue tow hooks. Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a comfortable and upscale feel, even in the base trim. The Overland trim added leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats. However, the interior also had a significant amount of hard plastic materials, which raised concerns about durability. Gloss black materials added a sharp look but were prone to fingerprints and glare.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 290 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, driving the front wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. It lacked all-wheel drive and electrified powertrain options, with a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds. The V6 engine provided smooth and effortless acceleration, and the automatic transmission operated unobtrusively. The Carnival offered Normal, Eco, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode being the most used despite delayed downshift responses. The EPA rated the Carnival at 22 mpg in combined driving, and testing averaged 21.7 mpg. The front-wheel-drive Carnival felt taut and athletic, with a flat cornering stance, though it could feel stiff over uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. It had standard four-wheel drive managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, achieving 56 MPGe and a total driving range of 470 miles. The battery provided 25 miles of all-electric range, and the Grand Cherokee 4xe offered E Select powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and eSave. Regenerative braking and an electronic front-axle disconnect helped improve efficiency. The Grand Cherokee 4xe had two off-road systems, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, with the Trailhawk trim offering the most off-road capability. The 4xe's towing capacity was 6,000 pounds, less than the V6 and V8 models.

The 2022 Kia Carnival was a practical minivan with an SUV-style dashboard and center console. The LX trim had second-row captain's chairs with a center pass-through, while the LX Seat Package added a middle seat for more flexibility. The EX and SX trims offered an 8-passenger Slide Flex seat configuration, and the SX Prestige featured VIP Lounge Seats with power adjustments and leg rests. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Carnival's cargo area was spacious, with 40.2 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 145.1 cubic feet with seats removed. The smart hands-free power-sliding doors and liftgate had pros and cons, and the liftgate provided a deep storage well.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike its gas-powered counterpart, did not offer a third row, but it provided ample space for passengers. Folding the second row expanded cargo space from 37.7 to 70.8 cubic feet. The air suspension allowed for quick height adjustments, aiding in loading and unloading. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was comfortable for a family of four, with no issues in head or legroom. The standard heated steering wheel was a notable feature for colder climates.

The 2022 Kia Carnival's LX trim included analog gauges, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The EX trim upgraded to a 12.3-inch widescreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, SiriusXM, and voice recognition. It also featured Passenger View and Passenger Talk for rear-seat monitoring and communication. The SX trim added a dual-screen rear entertainment system, and the SX Prestige included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 12-speaker Bose audio system.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering customization options like My Pages. It included a 10.25-inch front-passenger display, a digital driver information display, and optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens with Amazon Fire TV. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo was a standout feature, available on higher trims. The Grand Cherokee 4xe also offered a wireless charging pad and four USB ports.

The 2022 Kia Carnival came with a comprehensive list of standard ADAS, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure, -keeping, and -centering assistance, and rear parking sensors. The EX trim added front parking sensors, cyclist detection, and navigation-based adaptive cruise control with Highway Driving Assist. The Carnival also featured an ultrasonic rear occupant alert system and Safe Exit Assist. Crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered standard ADAS, including automatic emergency braking, 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 was announced but not available at launch. Crash-test results were not available for the Grand Cherokee 4xe.