2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L 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 color palette was limited, with most options being shades of gray, black, or white, and the more vibrant colors were restricted to higher trims. Inside, the CR-V offered a modern look with angular seats and a choice of black, gray, or ivory cloth or leather, depending on the trim level. However, competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling, especially at mid-tier trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a standout with its elegant and recognizable Jeep design. The L model was 11.4 inches longer than the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, accommodating a third row of seats and providing more second-row legroom. The exterior featured Jeep's signature seven-slot grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and a blunt front end, with modernized lighting and improved paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, making the Grand Cherokee L look impressive across all trim levels. The interior was luxurious, with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof, giving it a premium feel.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was not designed for high-performance driving but rather for smooth and steady acceleration and predictable cornering. All nine trims (excluding the hybrid) featured a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, achieving 0-60 mph in about 7.8 seconds. This performance was comparable to its competitors, with no significant advantage in acceleration. The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided a consistent driving experience, though it lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in rivals 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 and unitized body structure ensured decent handling and ride quality.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engine options: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. The V6, producing 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, felt underpowered for the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, provided a more satisfying driving experience. The plug-in hybrid 4xe, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, offered 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was stellar, with excellent ride composure and steering feel, and the optional air suspension provided adjustable ride heights for various driving conditions. The vehicle's towing capacity ranged from 6,200 pounds for RWD models to 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2021 Honda CR-V was designed to comfortably fit five people and their gear. It offered 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The tailgate options varied by trim, with the base models requiring manual operation, while higher trims offered power and hands-free tailgate options. Roof rails were only standard on the top Touring trim, limiting roof cargo options for lower trims.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a sleek and sharp interface. Physical switches for climate, seat controls, and stereo functions were easy to use, and the central rotary shifter was intuitive. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L provided ample space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat available as an option. However, the air vents were small and struggled to direct enough airflow to the cabin, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was noisy.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth connectivity, while higher trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The audio system varied by trim, with the Touring trim offering a 300-watt system with a subwoofer. Charging ports were plentiful in all trims except the base LX, and the Touring trim added a wireless phone charger.

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, and a crystal-clear 360-degree camera system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless. 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. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors were standard, with additional features available on 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. It featured the Honda Sensing system, which included advanced safety features like 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 as standard on all trims. The only feature not standard on the base LX trim was blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not yet been tested by NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids. Additional safety features were available on higher trims.