2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E aimed to bridge the gap between traditional Mustang styling and modern electric vehicle design. Despite its four doors and rear hatch, it retained Mustang-like features such as thin headlights, a long hood, and a large, nonfunctional oval grille. The taillights mimicked the original Mustang's sequential turn signals, and the vibrant exterior color palette, including Grabber Blue, reinforced the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E featured a massive infotainment touchscreen suspended in the middle of the dashboard, a thin rectangular display for the instrument cluster, and a rotary gear selector on the center console. The minimalist interior design, reminiscent of Tesla's electric cars, used decent quality materials but lacked a leather-upholstery option, even in top trims. The First Edition models included unique trim elements like red brake calipers and brushed aluminum pedals.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was 11.4 inches longer than the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, accommodating a third row of seats. The wheelbase stretched five inches for more second-row legroom and wider rear doors. The extra length blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. The Grand Cherokee L maintained Jeep's recognizable design elements, such as the seven-slot rectangular grille and U-shaped wheel arches, with modernized lighting and improved paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims featured black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. For 2022, Jeep added new exterior paint colors: Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky. The interior boasted dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof, giving it a luxurious feel comparable to a Mercedes.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to be sporty, with RWD by default and decent power. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 60 mph in 6.1 seconds. The most potent configuration was the AWD GT Performance Edition, with 480 hp and 634 lb-ft, reaching zero to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. Our test car had the lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 hp, 428 lb-ft of torque, and zero to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel due to the low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension and 19-inch wheels resulted in poor ride quality. The Mach-E offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—with minimal differences between them. It also featured one-pedal driving and well-tuned friction brakes.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in RWD or 4WD. The 4xe plug-in hybrid, with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and two electric motors, produced 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Our test vehicle had the V6, which felt underpowered for its weight, with 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The transmission's early upshifts and the engine's noise under acceleration were drawbacks. The V8, available on higher trims, offered 357 hp and 390 lb-ft, with better performance. The V6 achieved an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis provided excellent ride composure and steering feel, with an optional air suspension offering five ride height settings. The driving modes adjusted various systems for different terrains, and the Grand Cherokee L had a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 with 4WD.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, marketed as an SUV, had packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. The driving position was low, and the low roofline didn't create a spacious feeling, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E fell short on interior space, offering less headroom and legroom in both rows. The Model Y also provided more cargo space, with 68.0 cubic feet compared to the Mach-E's 59.7 cubic feet with the second row folded. The Mach-E had 29.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in place and a 4.7-cubic-foot front trunk. The narrow space between the front seats included a decent-sized storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a large, flat area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, with a wireless charging pad and USB ports for both rows.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a sleek and sharp interface. Physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions were easy to use, with a damped click for each action. The central rotary shifter was intuitive, and there was a large bin for wireless phone charging and a big central cubby under the armrest. Lower trims had an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L offered ample space in all rows, with the third row accommodating average adults comfortably. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a 60/40 split bench seat as an option. A panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports enhanced long journeys, though the air vents were small and required the fan to be on high, which was loud.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured the new Sync 4 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and OTA software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. Standard features included SiriusXM 360L with satellite radio and a six-speaker audio system, with higher trims getting a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system. The 15.5-inch touchscreen displayed almost everything at once, making it text-heavy and unattractive. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls with touchscreen icons and sliders for climate controls, which were less convenient than physical buttons.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's upper trims offered premium features like multiple massage modes for the 16-way power adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, providing a zoomed-in view of the next corner. New for 2022, Jeep added an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. Higher trims offered additional features like automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition. The Summit Reserve trim came with a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, a reverse sensing system, reverse automatic braking, adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, traffic-sign recognition, and evasive steering assist. Higher trims included a 360-degree camera system. The Mach-E was also slated to get Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways, with a driver-facing camera to monitor for distraction. This feature would be available via OTA update for $600.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not yet been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert for possible unattended passengers, trailer sway control, and various driver aids. Higher trims offered additional safety features like automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition.