2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2022 Toyota Sienna stood out in a market where minivans were becoming increasingly rare. Despite the decline in popularity of minivans due to the rise of SUVs, Toyota remained committed to this segment. The Sienna, which debuted in 1998, evolved over the years, with the fourth generation launching in 2021. It embraced a more SUV-like style while maintaining its minivan identity, evident from its sliding side doors. The Sienna featured a bold front end and cleverly engineered door hinges that concealed the slider channel, giving it a sleek profile. The interior was designed to avoid the typical minivan feel, offering ample storage and comfortable seating for families, including available second-row captain’s chairs and a spacious third-row bench.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was part of a lineup that included five trim levels, with the Trailhawk being one of the more rugged options. The Trailhawk trim was identifiable by its sky blue detailing and matte-black hood decal, designed to reduce glare. While the Grand Cherokee 4xe aimed to offer an upscale interior, it fell short due to excessive plastic and glossy surfaces that attracted dust and fingerprints. The interior prioritized style over utility, with controls that were difficult to read and access. Despite these shortcomings, the Trailhawk provided excellent steering wheel controls and a robust off-road capability, making it a suitable choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna carried over its hybrid powertrain from the previous year, featuring a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, delivering a combined 243 horsepower. The Sienna offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available on most trims. Its electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided smooth power delivery and enhanced fuel efficiency. The Sienna's handling was impressive for a minivan, thanks to its advanced suspension system, and it boasted excellent fuel economy, with Natural Resources Canada estimating 6.6 litres per 100 kilometres for FWD models and slightly higher for AWD versions.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, on the other hand, featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain combining a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced a formidable 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of up to 2,720 kilograms. The Trailhawk trim came with a standard 4WD system and various off-road features, including Selec-Terrain technology and a height-adjustable air suspension. However, its real-world performance fell short of expectations, with the electric range not meeting the estimated 42 kilometres and fuel consumption averaging 14.6 L/100 km in testing.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna excelled in interior space and versatility, capable of accommodating a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. Its sliding second row added flexibility for cargo loading, with cargo measurements of 949 litres behind the third row, 2,129 litres behind the second row, and 2,860 litres behind the first row. The Sienna also offered a 1,585-kilogram towing capacity and convenient power-operated sliding doors and liftgate.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe struggled with practical storage and cargo space due to its off-roading hardware. The Trailhawk trim featured artificial suede and leather seats with heating and ventilation, but the interior comfort was lacking, with firm front seats and tight rear legroom. The Grand Cherokee offered 1,067 litres of cargo space behind the back seat, expandable to 2,004 litres with the rear seats folded, which was relatively small for a midsize SUV.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. While it lacked wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, it provided a range of telematics services and audio options, including a 12-speaker JBL system on higher trims. The Sienna also featured a rear-seat entertainment system and a digital rearview mirror on select models.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted up to six screens, including a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a front passenger infotainment screen. The Trailhawk trim featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Uconnect 5 technology, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a premium sound system. However, the user interface had low-contrast graphics, making it difficult to read. The Trailhawk also offered tech-related options like wireless smartphone charging and a digital rearview mirror.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received top safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included adaptive cruise control, lane tracing assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Sienna also featured 10 airbags and a rear-seat reminder system.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was equipped with a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. 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 test the 4xe version.