Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Lexus RX

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. However, the Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. Inside, it offered a high-end experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and American Walnut wood trim, setting it apart from the standard Wagoneer.

The 2023 Lexus RX presented a modern and sophisticated design with a shorter height, broader width, and longer wheelbase, maintaining the same overall length as its predecessor. Its exterior featured a spindle-style grille, elevated hood, and upswept body sides, creating a fresh yet familiar look. The interior was thoroughly modern, with fewer buttons and knobs, digital instrumentation, and a choice of 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen displays. The RX offered high-quality materials, including NuLuxe artificial leather and genuine leather options, and was available in various trims, including the RX 350, RX 350h, RX 500h, and the upcoming RX 450h+.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, despite its hefty weight of approximately 6,400 pounds. It came standard with four-wheel drive, including the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering adjustable height for various driving conditions.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 was equipped with a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered in both all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive configurations. The RX 350 AWD could accelerate to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, while the FWD version did so in 7.5 seconds. The RX 350 F Sport Handling trim featured an adaptive damping suspension, providing a more secure and comfortable ride. Fuel economy was expected to average 25 mpg for the FWD and 24 mpg for the AWD, though real-world results were slightly lower.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Cargo space was generous, with 27.4 cubic feet behind the third row and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. The maximum cargo space was 94.2 cubic feet. The Grand Wagoneer had a towing capacity of 9,850 pounds and came with standard features like a sunroof and four-zone automatic climate control.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 provided a comfortable interior with semi-aniline premium leather upholstery in the Luxury trim and NuLuxe simulated leather in the F Sport Handling trim. The RX 350 Luxury featured ten-way power-adjustable front seats, while the F Sport Handling had eight-way power-adjustable seats. The back seat offered good leg support and legroom, though taller passengers might find headroom tight. Cargo space was improved over the previous generation, with 29.6 cubic feet behind the second row and 46.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and had a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system offered an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system with a choice of 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen displays. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, and various connected services plans. The system featured Drive Connect with Destination Assist and Intelligent Assistant voice recognition. User profiles could be set up for different drivers, and streaming services like Apple Music and Amazon Music were available. The RX also offered a 21-speaker Mark Levinson premium sound system, digital instrumentation, and optional digital rearview mirror and digital key smartphone technology.

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 a driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, with a hands-free version planned for future release.

The 2023 Lexus RX was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which included advanced driving assistance systems like motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. New semi-autonomous driving technologies included Proactive Driving Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, and Advanced Park Assist. The system proved impressive but had some limitations, such as issues with the HUD when wearing polarized sunglasses and non-predictive curve-speed reduction technology.