2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2021 Honda CR-V

The 2021 Honda CR-V had a design that blended into the crowded compact crossover market. Its styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chromed plastic features setting it apart. The CR-V was available in eight colors, but most were shades of gray, black, or white, with vibrant colors like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic limited to higher trims. Inside, the CR-V offered black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather, with more upscale features like wood panels and chrome available on higher trims. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe maintained Jeep's iconic design cues, including the seven-slot grille with active shutters for improved aerodynamics. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with trims including the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim featured leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats. Despite some hard plastic materials, the interior felt upscale, especially with the beautiful bronze contrast stitching and white piping on the headrests. The Grand Cherokee 4xe's design blended heritage with modern touches, making it stand out in the SUV market.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but offered smooth and steady acceleration with its 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. It took about 7.8 seconds to reach 60 mph, which was competitive within its class. The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided a consistent driving experience, though it lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Its suspension setup, featuring a MacPherson strut in the front and a multi-link suspension at the rear, ensured decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe's standout feature was its plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the company's 5.7-liter V8. The Grand Cherokee 4xe achieved 56 MPGe and had a total driving range of 470 miles, with 25 miles of all-electric range. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered various driving modes, including Hybrid, Electric, and eSave, and had regenerative braking for improved efficiency. Off-road capabilities were enhanced with Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II systems, making it a versatile and powerful SUV.

The 2021 Honda CR-V prioritized functionality, offering 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo space with the rear seats folded. The CR-V's cargo area could be accessed via a manual tailgate on lower trims, a power tailgate on the EX-L, and a hands-free power tailgate on the Touring trim. Roof rails were standard only on the top-of-the-line Touring trim, limiting options for carrying additional gear.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, while not available with a third row, provided ample space for passengers and cargo. With the second row folded, cargo space expanded from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet. The air suspension allowed for quick adjustments, making loading and unloading easier. Despite the hot testing conditions, features like the heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder weather.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The audio system ranged from a 180-watt system with six speakers on the Special Edition and EX trims to a 300-watt system with a subwoofer on the Touring trim. Charging ports were available throughout the cabin, with a wireless phone charger on the Touring trim.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like My Pages. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured multiple screens, including a 10.25-inch front-passenger display and a digital driver information display. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens and a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo system provided top-tier audio and entertainment experiences, though some features were limited to higher trims.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA overall crash test rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. Standard safety features included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was the blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a mix of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. A hands-off driver assistance feature suite was announced but required additional hardware and was not available to early buyers.