2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2022 Lincoln Navigator

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes, including new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs, with a restyled front end. The updated Lincoln Embrace nighttime welcome illumination sequence added a touch of elegance. However, the new Audi-esque grille, reminiscent of a 2006 Audi A4, was less elegant than intended. Despite this, the Navigator's interior continued to impress with quality materials and a mid-century modern design, featuring the Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme. The new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display was a significant upgrade, offering ample display space alongside the digital instrumentation and widescreen HUD.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk trim featured sky blue exterior detailing and a matte-black hood decal, enhancing its rugged appeal. The interior, however, fell short of expectations, with excessive plastic and gloss black surfaces that attracted dust and fingerprints. The leather and artificial suede upholstery were nice, but the overall interior leaned more towards style than substance. The Trailhawk's steering wheel controls were a highlight, offering easy access to radio tuning and stereo volume. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Grand Cherokee's interior design and comfort were not as refined as the Navigator's.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive in Canada. The Navigator's towing capacity ranged from 3,674 to 3,765 kilograms, depending on the configuration. The adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview technology and a new electronic brake booster improved ride quality and braking performance. The Navigator handled various road conditions with ease, averaging 12.6 L/100 km in fuel consumption during testing.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe combined a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission, producing 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. It offered a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms and featured a standard four-wheel-drive system with Selec-Terrain technology. The Trailhawk's off-road capabilities were impressive, with a height-adjustable air suspension and a front-axle sway bar disconnect system. However, the Grand Cherokee's fuel economy fell short of expectations, averaging 14.6 L/100 km in Auto mode. The plug-in hybrid's electric range was also less than anticipated, with the gasoline engine activating sooner than expected.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator offered exceptional comfort with its heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, adjustable in 30 ways. The second-row captain's chairs were also heated, ventilated, and massaging, providing a luxurious experience. The third-row seat was spacious and comfortable, thanks to the independent rear suspension design. The Navigator boasted generous storage and cargo space, with up to 3,403 litres of cargo volume in the long-wheelbase Navigator L.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk's interior featured artificial suede and leather seats with eight-way power adjustment. However, the front seats were firm and flat, and the second-row seats lacked support and legroom. The Grand Cherokee's cargo space was limited, with 1,067 litres behind the back seat and a maximum of 2,004 litres with the seats folded down. This was smaller than some compact SUVs, making it less practical for carrying larger loads.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator's Sync 4 infotainment system featured a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, offering a user-friendly interface with Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay support. The system included voice recognition and over-the-air update capabilities. The Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system, with Amazon Fire TV, provided access to popular streaming services. The optional 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered an exceptional listening experience.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk came with a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system using Uconnect 5 technology. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Jeep Connect services. The Trailhawk's infotainment system had a simple interface, but the graphics and background pattern made it harder to read. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system was available on higher trims. The Trailhawk also offered a 10.3-inch front passenger infotainment screen, which went unused during testing.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. The surround-view camera system was standard. ActiveGlide, a semi-autonomous driving technology, allowed hands-free driving on approved highways. However, the system required constant driver attention and did not react to all potential threats, highlighting the need for human oversight.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Advanced ProTech Group II added intersection collision assist, a surround-view camera, 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, though the latter did not specifically test the 4xe model.