2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Honda HR-V

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs like the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot, which featured more traditional SUV looks with upright roof lines and intimidating front ends. The HR-V stood out with its distinctive design elements, such as upper and lower window lines converging near the taillights in a triangular point that also housed the rear door handles. Most trim levels came with 17-inch alloy wheels, with a machined finish on the HR-V EX and EX-L, while Sport models featured matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Fog lights were standard on all but the base LX trim level.

Inside, the HR-V’s styling was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. EX and EX-L models included push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with EX-L models also getting leather upholstery.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, maintained Jeep’s design traditions while introducing a two-row version of the previous year’s extended-length Grand Cherokee L. The new Grand Cherokee was available in various trims, including Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, with prices ranging from $37,390 to $63,365, excluding a $1,795 destination charge.

The Grand Cherokee’s styling drew inspiration from the 1963 Wagoneer, featuring a forward-leaning grille and headlights, a lowered and level beltline, and angled and tapered rear roof pillars. Some versions offered a black roof option, and while initial paint color options were limited, more were expected to follow.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee’s interior mirrored that of the ’21 Grand Cherokee L. The base Laredo trim with cloth seats provided good quality, while the Summit Reserve trim offered luxury with premium quilted and stitched leather, heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, a McIntosh high-end audio system, and a large panoramic sunroof. However, the gloss black finish on some controls in higher trims could suffer from reflections, making them harder to use.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with paddle shifters on higher trims. While AWD was available on all trims, FWD was standard. The HR-V’s powertrain had not changed, resulting in underwhelming highway performance and an ineffective CVT. Competitors like the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek offered more powerful engine options.

However, the HR-V’s chassis compensated for its engine, providing a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads and decent ride quality. Despite its limitations, such as minimal ground clearance and lack of towing capability, the HR-V’s AWD system was suitable for slippery roads.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered RWD or 4WD and came with either a V6 or a V8 engine. The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, with a tow rating of 6,200 pounds. A 5.7-liter V8 engine, available with higher trims and only with 4WD, delivered 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds.

Three different 4WD systems were available: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II, each offering varying levels of off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee used an eight-speed automatic transmission with a dial-style shifter, which could be tricky to use.

Fuel economy estimates ranged from 17 mpg with the V8 and 4WD to 21 mpg with the V6 and any drivetrain. The Trailhawk trim, designed for serious off-roading, featured Quadra-Drive II, an electronic locking rear differential, a Quadra-Lift air suspension, and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles.

The Grand Cherokee’s ride, handling, and maneuverability were more appealing than the larger Grand Cherokee L, feeling nimble and athletic. The V6 engine was preferred for its efficiency and good acceleration, while the V8 offered a thrilling sound but at a higher cost.

The 2021 Honda HR-V boasted impressive cargo space for its size, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. Folding the seat down provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models), while leaving it up retained 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD). These figures surpassed competitors like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek, though the Kia Seltos and 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offered more cargo space.

The HR-V also excelled in overall passenger space, particularly rear-seat legroom. However, front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The interior featured sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, which was simple and easy to use.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee provided comfort for the driver and front passenger, with higher trims offering heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, front seat massagers, and more. Even the base Laredo trim with cloth upholstery was comfortable and of good quality.

Jeep aimed to improve visibility with the Grand Cherokee’s redesign, achieving this goal with better sightlines and camera technologies. The available panoramic sunroof added an airy feel to the cabin. However, rear-seat room remained tight for adults with long legs, and the plastic front seatback trim could be uncomfortable.

The two-row Grand Cherokee offered 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 70.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. The three-row Grand Cherokee L provided more cargo space due to its more vertical rear window and liftgate design.

The 2021 Honda HR-V LX came with standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. Upgrading to the Sport trim level added a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while EX and EX-L models included SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was small compared to competitors, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not standard on the base trim.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a tech powerhouse, featuring a comprehensive head-up display, Night Vision system, camera-based rearview mirror, and up to five interior touchscreens. The Grand Cherokee offered a 19-speaker McIntosh high-end audio system and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV integration.

Jeep equipped every Grand Cherokee with the next-generation Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering improved responsiveness and over-the-air software updates. Most trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, voice recognition, and voice text reply capability were standard. The Bluetooth connection supported two devices simultaneously.

The larger 10.1-inch Uconnect screen complemented the Grand Cherokee’s 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and available 10-inch head-up display. The optional 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger allowed for entertainment and assistance to the driver, though it came at an additional cost.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it received “Marginal” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing.

Honda Sensing safety features were available only on the EX and EX-L trim levels, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and Honda’s LaneWatch.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured an impressive collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and a safety cage composed extensively of aluminum and high-strength steel. Jeep claimed that only 27% of the safety cage was mild-grade steel, aiming to improve crash protection.

The Grand Cherokee’s ADAS included Intersection Collision Assist, Active Driving Assist, and a hands-free version of Active Driving Assist coming in 2022. Active Driving Assist provided Level 2 hands-on semi-autonomous driving assistance, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. The system was effective on the road but required driver attention on tighter curves.