Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Chevrolet Tahoe

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered a diverse range of trims, each with distinct styling cues. The base LS and LT trims featured unique grille patterns, while the sporty RST trim boasted a slotted grille, blacked-out appearance, and 22-inch wheels. The rugged Z71 trim combined the LS grille with a blacked-out look, red tow hooks, and all-terrain tires on 20-inch wheels. The upscale Premier trim added chrome accents to the RST’s grille, and the luxurious High Country trim featured a chrome bar grille and body-colour mirror caps. The Tahoe's design was characterized by its dominant grille and standard LED headlights, with expressive taillights and tailgate trim at the rear. Despite its familiar design themes, the new Tahoe appeared more slab-sided, with larger wheels enhancing its overall look.

The interior of the Tahoe was centred around a 10.2-inch infotainment screen and new electronic transmission controls, which improved storage capacity but compromised control layout. The Tahoe LS came with cloth seats, while leather was standard from the LT trim upwards. The Premier trim offered perforated leather, and the High Country trim featured textured leather options. The Z71 trim we tested included numerous upgrades, such as a power panoramic sunroof and a power sliding floor console, bringing the total price to $80,293. The cabin quality met expectations, with exposed stitching and soft-touch surfaces in the upper half, while hard plastic covered the lower half.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in traditional SUV styling with a tall hood, broad shoulders, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward with laser-etched knurling, and the wheel centre caps featured an acrylic glass covering. The Grand Wagoneer’s body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent suspension, with aluminum and composite materials used to save weight.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling features with the Wagoneer but offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials. It included 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, and lumbar support, along with heated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available. The interior also featured aluminum and American Walnut wood trim, with seat controls placed high on the doors. The Grand Wagoneer’s interior was further differentiated by the “Grand Wagoneer” inscription on the dashboard.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe offered three engine options. Most trims came with a 5.3-litre V8 engine producing 355 horsepower and 383 lb-ft of torque. The High Country trim featured a 6.2-litre V8 engine with 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque. A turbocharged 3.0-litre diesel inline six-cylinder engine was available for all trims except the Z71, offering 277 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, with improved fuel efficiency. The Tahoe used a 10-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard on base trims and four-wheel drive optional or standard on others. The Z71 trim included a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, and off-road enhancements. The Tahoe could tow up to 3,810 kilograms and handle 831 kilograms of payload. The new independent rear suspension improved ride quality, and optional Magnetic Ride Control and Air Ride suspension further enhanced comfort and handling.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for better fuel efficiency. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, the Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in about six seconds. It featured standard four-wheel drive with the Quadra-Drive II system, including a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was standard, offering adjustable height for various driving conditions. The Grand Wagoneer had 25.4 centimetres of ground clearance and could ford up to 60 centimetres of water. While the cabin was quiet and the air suspension absorbed bumps well, the Grand Wagoneer felt ungainly at higher speeds, with imprecise steering and a bouncy ride.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe benefited from a new independent rear suspension, improving passenger comfort and cargo space. The test vehicle featured heated power-adjustable front seats and a heated steering wheel, with ventilated seats available on higher trims. The power sliding storage console was a recommended feature, providing additional storage options. The second row offered a choice between a bench seat or captain’s chairs, with the latter option providing comfort and easy access to the third row. The third-row seat room was significantly improved, accommodating adults comfortably. The Tahoe offered 722 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,056 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 3,480 litres with all rear seats down.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer seated seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. However, front-row space was more limited compared to these rivals. The Grand Wagoneer provided 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 2,007 litres with the third row stowed, and a maximum of 2,667 litres with all rear seats folded. It had a maximum towing capacity of 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. The Grand Wagoneer came with a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe featured a standard 10.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a new digital platform offering enhanced computing power and cybersecurity. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a voice-recognition system, and Chevrolet Connected Services. Navigation and Bose premium audio systems were available upgrades. The infotainment system was user-friendly, though some menu icons were hard to access. The voice-recognition system was impressive, and Bluetooth pairing was quick. The test vehicle included a Rear Seat Media system, though the available 15-inch head-up display was not included.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two phones and a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, with an optional rear-seat entertainment system adding two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer featured a second screen below the main touchscreen for additional functions. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system offered an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates. While the screen response was slow, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe included standard safety features like Teen Driver, rear-seat reminder, forward collision alert with pedestrian detection, and low-speed automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered additional features like lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, and adaptive cruise control. The Tahoe Z71’s safety features worked as expected, though the pedestrian alert could be distracting. A surround-view camera was recommended for easier maneuvering. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of review.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came with standard safety features such as a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centring, with a hands-free version planned for future release. Crash-test ratings were not available at the time of review.