2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey had a familiar look that was subtly updated for the new model year. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a new gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching the width of the taillights. New wheel designs were introduced for the top three trim levels, modernizing the Odyssey by reducing brightwork. Buyers could choose from five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820, excluding destination charges. The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic Elite trim, was priced at $48,940, including the $1,120 destination charge. The Elite trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome new 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, giving it a more luxurious feel.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe blended past and present design elements, featuring the iconic seven-slot grille with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, unlike its gas-powered counterparts, which offered three-row versions. The trim lineup included the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, with a new High Altitude package announced at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. The test vehicle, an Overland trim painted silver with a contrasting black roof and 20-inch wheels, featured signature surf blue tow hooks and blue accents on trail-rated trims. Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a comfortable and upscale feel, with leather seats, wood and metal accents, heated and ventilated front seats, and beautiful bronze contrast stitching. However, the interior also had an abundance of hard plastic materials, particularly below the hip point, which raised concerns about durability and noise.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. The drivetrain included Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow driving modes, as well as paddle shifters. The V6 engine featured variable cylinder management for fuel efficiency, with an EPA rating of 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 21.8 mpg. All-wheel drive was unavailable, putting the Odyssey at a disadvantage in snowy regions. The 2021 model introduced a new electronic brake booster, improving brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey's ride and handling were enjoyable, with perfectly weighted steering and firm but comfortable suspension. However, the brakes struggled under heavy use, particularly during a heatwave, indicating a need for a braking component upgrade.

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 powertrain included an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, achieving 56 MPGe and a total driving range of 470 miles. The battery pack provided 25 miles of all-electric driving range. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured an electronic front-axle disconnect for fuel efficiency and E Select powertrain modes, including Hybrid, Electric, and eSave. Regenerative braking and Max Regen setting allowed for one-pedal driving. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered two off-road systems: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, with the latter providing enhanced off-road capabilities. The Trailhawk trim boasted 10.9 inches of ground clearance and a 24-inch wading depth. However, the 4xe's towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds, less than the V6 and V8 models.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat was standard on all but the base LX trim, providing comfort with inboard adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for various seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space measured 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row tumbled and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, removing and reinstalling the second-row seats was cumbersome.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, available only as a two-row SUV, offered ample space for passengers. Folding the second-row seats expanded cargo space from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet. The available air suspension provided a quick-down function for easier loading and unloading. Despite testing in hot conditions, the standard heated steering wheel was appreciated for its potential winter comfort.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey's EX trim and above featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. Touring trim added navigation, HondaLink subscription services, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. Touring and Elite trims also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray player, wireless headphones, and streaming apps.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like My Pages. The Grand Cherokee 4xe included multiple screens, such as a 10.25-inch front-passenger display and a frameless 10.25-inch digital driver information display. A wireless charging pad was optional, while four USB ports were standard. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens ran Amazon's Fire TV for Auto. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, available on higher trims, was highly praised for its audio quality.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey's Honda Sensing suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) became standard on all trims, with new features like low-speed follow capability, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-departure warning systems could be smoother.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered standard ADAS, including 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. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe at the time of review.