BMW X7 vs Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2023 BMW X7 underwent a significant design update, drawing inspiration from the BMW 7 Series sedan. The most noticeable change was at the front, where LED accent lights replaced the previous headlights, which were now recessed. The oversized kidney grille remained a polarizing feature, and the new styling was expected to be equally controversial. While BMW aimed for a bolder design, it seemed to come at the cost of grace and cohesiveness. The interior received a refresh with a curved glass display housing the digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The materials used were of high quality, with options like Merino leather and Sensafin synthetic substitutes. Despite some glossy trim choices causing glare, the interior was well-built and modern.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a rugged yet upscale appearance. The Trailhawk trim featured sky blue exterior detailing and a matte-black hood decal, enhancing its off-road appeal. However, the interior fell short of luxury expectations, with excessive plastic and glossy 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 controls were sometimes hard to read, and the seating comfort was compromised by firm and flat cushions. Despite these drawbacks, the Trailhawk's off-road capabilities were impressive, with features like a sway bar disconnect system and height-adjustable air suspension.

The 2023 BMW X7 offered two engine options. The base xDrive40i model featured a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine with a 48-volt mild hybrid system, producing 375 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. This setup allowed the X7 to reach 100 km/h in approximately 6 seconds. The X7 M60i model upgraded to a 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8 engine, delivering 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, achieving 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Despite its weight of nearly 2,720 kilograms, the X7 handled well, with minimal body roll and a composed ride. The ride comfort was slightly firmer than some luxury SUVs, but it struck a good balance between performance and comfort.

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. This plug-in hybrid powertrain produced 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. The Trailhawk trim featured a standard four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case, enhancing its off-road capabilities. It offered various driving modes, including Auto, Sport, Mud/Sand, Rock, and Snow, along with off-road cruise control and hill descent control. The Trailhawk's air suspension provided 27.6 centimetres of ground clearance, and it could ford up to 60 centimetres of water. However, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's fuel economy fell short of expectations, with an average of 14.6 L/100 km in testing. The ride quality was impressive, but the gas engine sounded unrefined, and the handling felt sketchy due to the all-terrain tires.

The 2023 BMW X7 offered ample interior space, with the second-row seats accommodating taller passengers comfortably. Accessing the third row required some effort, but it provided adequate headroom and legroom for average-sized adults. The cargo space behind the third row measured 362 litres, expanding to 1,376 litres with the third row folded and 2,560 litres with all rear seats down. The X7 featured a split tailgate and air suspension for easier loading. Front-seat passengers had ample storage options, including a large centre console bin and well-sized cupholders.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe struggled with interior space and storage. The Trailhawk trim featured artificial suede and leather seats with eight-way power adjustment, but the seating comfort was compromised by firm and flat cushions. The second-row seat cushions were low and lacked support, and rear legroom was tight. The cargo space behind the back seat measured 1,067 litres, expanding to 2,004 litres with the rear seats folded. This cargo capacity was smaller than some compact SUVs. The Grand Cherokee's interior design prioritized style over practicality, with limited storage options.

The 2023 BMW X7 featured the latest iDrive 8 infotainment system, which had a more intuitive layout but eliminated many physical buttons. Basic functions like temperature adjustments and audio controls were easy to use, but accessing features like heated seats required navigating through menus. Voice commands were available but could be slow to process. The X7 came with a standard Harman Kardon premium sound system and offered a head-up display.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted multiple screens, including a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 10.3-inch front passenger infotainment screen. The Trailhawk's infotainment system used Uconnect 5 technology, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a navigation system. The system's user interface was straightforward, but the low-contrast graphics made it hard to read. The Trailhawk also featured an Alpine premium sound system, with a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system available on higher trims. The wireless smartphone charger was optional, even on top trims.

The 2023 BMW X7 came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including frontal collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane departure warning, adaptive headlights, and parking sensors. Optional features included a surround-view camera system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and a semi-automated parking assistant. The highway driving assist feature was particularly effective in reducing driver fatigue on long trips. Crash test results from NHTSA and IIHS were not available, but BMW's reputation and safety features provided reassurance.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and a reversing camera with rear parking sensors. The Advanced ProTech Group II added features like intersection collision assist, a surround-view camera, and a Night Vision system. The Grand Cherokee 4xe received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, with a four-star rating for driver protection in frontal-impact collisions. IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick+ rating, but the rating did not specifically apply to the 4xe plug-in hybrid version.