2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Kia Soul and the larger Kia Sportage, offering a range of trim levels in Canada, including LX, EX, EX Premium, and SX. The Seltos, particularly in the Nightfall Edition, featured 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, and a dual-clutch transmission, although this specific configuration was not available in Canada. The SX trim, priced at $33,195 before destination charges, was noted for its appealing design, despite some criticism of its headlights. Inside, the Seltos boasted a stylish interior with exposed stitching and metallic accents, though it was marred by an abundance of shiny hard plastic. The controls were logically arranged, but the infotainment system's purple accent colour was not universally appreciated.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, particularly in the Trailhawk trim, was recognized for its distinctive sky blue exterior detailing and matte-black hood decal. Despite its rugged off-road capabilities, the Grand Cherokee's interior fell short of expectations for a vehicle in its price range, with excessive use of plastic and gloss-black surfaces that attracted dust and fingerprints. The leather and artificial suede upholstery were appreciated, but the overall interior design leaned more towards style than substance. The steering wheel controls were a highlight, offering ease of use, while the vehicle's off-road prowess was evident in its ability to tackle challenging trails.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a choice between a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 195 lb-ft of torque. The latter, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, provided a more engaging driving experience. The Seltos featured Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. However, the suspension tuning was criticized for allowing excessive body motion and providing insufficient bump isolation. Despite these drawbacks, the Seltos was lively in urban environments and offered good grip on smooth corners.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Trailhawk trim featured a standard 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case and Selec-Terrain technology, enhancing its off-road capabilities. However, the Grand Cherokee's performance in daily driving was less impressive, with an unrefined gas engine, uneven power delivery, and a regenerative braking system that made smooth stops challenging. Despite these issues, the Trailhawk offered quick acceleration in Hybrid mode and impressive ride quality.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy access and comfortable seating. The rear seat accommodated adults comfortably, and the vehicle provided generous cargo space, with 752 litres behind the back seat and 1,778 litres with the rear seat folded down. The Seltos also featured practical storage solutions, although the use of hard plastic in some areas was a drawback.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, while equipped with artificial suede and leather seats, fell short in terms of comfort and practicality. The front seats were firm and flat, and the rear seats lacked support. Cargo space was limited, with 1,067 litres behind the back seat and 2,004 litres with the rear seat folded down, which was small for a midsize SUV. The need for off-roading hardware contributed to the lack of practical storage solutions.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system starting at the EX Premium grade, paired with a Bose premium sound system in the SX trim. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, satellite radio, and smartphone connectivity, although it required a cable connection. The infotainment system was intuitive, but the voice recognition system was less reliable without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured up to six screens, including a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology. The system offered wireless smartphone connectivity, satellite radio, and a premium sound system. However, the display's low-contrast graphics made it difficult to read, and the voice recognition system was average. The Trailhawk also included a 10.3-inch infotainment screen for the front passenger, which went unused during testing.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-keeping assist. The Seltos SX offered adaptive cruise control and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe came with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Advanced ProTech Group II added features like intersection collision assist and a Night Vision system. The Grand Cherokee 4xe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, although the latter did not specifically apply to the 4xe version.