Toyota Corolla Cross vs Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross presented a conservative design approach, contrasting with Toyota's recent bold styling ventures. Its snub nose, reminiscent of the Toyota Tundra, and obligatory SUV features like a tall ride height and plastic fender flares, contributed to its understated appearance. The Corolla Cross was notably shorter than the RAV4, emphasizing its compact nature, yet it offered more interior space than the Toyota C-HR. Subtle design elements, such as scalloping around the rear door handles and hidden Corolla Cross logos, added a touch of intrigue. The interior mirrored the Corolla sedan and hatchback, with oversized door handles akin to the RAV4. However, material quality felt subpar, with the base L model resembling a taxi and even the XLE trim feeling basic despite its SofTex leatherette upholstery and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, particularly in the Trailhawk trim, showcased a rugged yet upscale design. Its sky blue exterior detailing and matte-black hood decal were distinctive, while the aggressive all-terrain tires and Trail Rated badge highlighted its off-road prowess. Despite its premium price, the interior fell short of luxury expectations, with excessive plastic and gloss black surfaces attracting dust and fingerprints. The leather and artificial suede upholstery were commendable, but the overall emphasis on style over substance detracted from the luxury feel. The interior's glossy surfaces complicated control readability, and some controls were awkwardly positioned, though the matte-black steering wheel controls were a notable exception.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross was equipped with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 169 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. It featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with a unique first gear for improved acceleration. While acceleration from stoplights was responsive, the transition to normal CVT operation was abrupt, and higher speeds revealed typical CVT issues like engine droning and rubber-banding. The engine worked hard to maintain highway speeds, but the interior remained impressively quiet. The optional AWD system, shared with the Toyota Camry, could send 10% to 50% of torque to the rear wheels, though body roll was noticeable during cornering. With 20.8 centimetres of ground clearance, the Corolla Cross wasn't designed for off-roading, and its 680-kilogram towing capacity was modest.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms. The Trailhawk trim featured a standard 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case, Selec-Terrain technology, and a hill descent control system. Its front-axle sway bar disconnect system and height-adjustable air suspension provided 27.6 centimetres of ground clearance. Despite impressive off-road capabilities, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's performance in daily driving was less refined, with uneven power delivery and a regenerative braking system that complicated smooth stops. The steering response felt too fast for the all-terrain tires, affecting handling.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offered more passenger and cargo space than the Corolla hatchback, with an additional 5 centimetres of rear legroom and 3.5 centimetres of rear headroom. It featured standard rear climate-control vents and dual-zone automatic climate control on XLE models. Cargo space was generous, with 750 litres behind the rear seats and 1,890 litres with them folded. However, the interior comfort was lacking, with hard and unsupportive seats and a tall, upright driving position that felt SUV-like but uncomfortable for long trips.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, while equipped with artificial suede and leather seats with eight-way power adjustment, fell short in comfort. The front seats were firm and flat, and the second-row seat cushions were low and unsupportive. Rear legroom was tight, and protruding plastic hooks on the front seatbacks could be uncomfortable. Cargo space was limited, with 1,067 litres behind the rear seats and 2,004 litres with them folded, which was small for a midsize SUV.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen on base models, with an 8-inch touchscreen on LE and XLE trims. The XLE also included a 7-inch digital instrument cluster. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard across all trims. The infotainment system was user-friendly but lacked sophistication, with plain graphics and slow boot-up times. The optional digital instrument cluster was cluttered, and the wireless charging pad was limited in size.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered up to six screens, including a 10.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a front passenger infotainment screen. The Trailhawk's infotainment system used Uconnect 5 technology, featuring wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a navigation system. The Alpine premium sound system was standard, with a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system available on higher trims. The user interface was straightforward, but the low-contrast graphics made it difficult to read. The voice recognition system was inconsistent, and the wireless charger was optional even on top trims.

The 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and Lane Tracing Assist. The LE trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the XLE included front and rear park assist with automatic braking. Crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not available at the time.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was equipped with 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 intersection collision assist, a surround-view camera, front parking sensors, and a Night Vision system. The Grand Cherokee 4xe received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS, though the latter did not specifically apply to the 4xe model.