2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a new seven-passenger model, distinct from the existing five-passenger Grand Cherokee. It was an extended-length version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee, featuring a third-row seat and more cargo volume. Despite the potential for confusion with its naming, the Grand Cherokee L's styling was expected to drive strong sales, especially with the arrival of the all-new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. The Grand Cherokee L's design was unmistakably Jeep, with its signature seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements. It was available in various trims, from Laredo to Summit Reserve, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235, plus a $1,695 destination charge. The Summit trim test vehicle, loaded with features, had a sticker price of $64,770. While some interior materials didn't meet the high price point's expectations, the quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and advanced technology made the redesigned interior a significant improvement over the old model.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid showcased a dramatic new design, departing from the previous generation's more conservative look. The new Tucson featured sharp, angular cues across its fascia and sides, making it longer and wider than its predecessor. This bold design choice was a risk that could either pay off or not, depending on consumer preferences. The Tucson's grille, shared with the Santa Cruz, blended seamlessly with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, creating a futuristic look. The base Blue trim and mid-level SEL Convenience trim shared many design cues, with the latter adding features like a panoramic sunroof and a hands-free smart tailgate. The interior of the Tucson was spacious and airy, with heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat on the Blue trim. The SEL Convenience trim added more advanced features, while the Limited trim offered even more luxury and technology. Despite some design quirks, the Tucson's interior was well-received for its open feel and advanced features.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or three different four-wheel-drive (4WD) systems, with a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds and an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims and 4WD, generated 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel economy to 17 mpg combined. The V8 upgrade added $3,295 to the price. The test vehicle had the V6 engine and 4WD, providing brisk acceleration but loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-behaved, though it sometimes resisted downshifts in Auto mode to improve fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee L Summit 4WD averaged 17.8 mpg during testing, below expectations. The Jeep offered various driving modes, including Sport, Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock, with the Quadra-Drive II 4WD system featuring an electronic locking differential and a low-range transfer case setting. The Quadra-Lift suspension provided up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability. The Grand Cherokee L demonstrated capable handling, a smooth ride, and a relatively quiet cabin, except during acceleration or when running the air conditioning on hot days.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid impressed with its performance, featuring a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine combined with an electric motor, producing a total of 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. This setup made the Tucson Hybrid noticeably quicker than its gas-powered counterpart, which had a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine. The Tucson Hybrid came standard with all-wheel drive (AWD) and a six-speed automatic transmission, which managed the power delivery admirably. The steering was responsive, quick, and direct, with paddle shifters included on all trims. The suspension was outstanding, absorbing road imperfections without feeling bouncy and keeping the vehicle balanced through corners. The Tucson Hybrid's fuel economy was good, with the EPA rating it at 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined (38 across the board for the Blue trim). During testing, it achieved 36.5 mpg. The upcoming plug-in hybrid Tucson, expected in the fall, promised even better efficiency with an EPA rating of 80 MPGe and 33 miles of all-electric range.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered comfort and convenience, especially in the Summit trim, which featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system with air vents in all three rows. However, the dashboard vents were too small, making it difficult to cool the cabin quickly. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades for added convenience. The third row was surprisingly comfortable for all but the tallest adults, with large side windows offering a great view. The Grand Cherokee L lacked practical storage space for front-seat occupants, but second-row passengers enjoyed a storage console that was also accessible to third-row passengers. Cargo space behind the third row measured 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.6 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, despite its larger footprint, didn't look huge but offered impressive cargo space. The trunk provided 38.8 cubic feet of space, expanding to 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. This was more than competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Toyota RAV4. The Tucson also delivered excellent front and rear legroom, with over 41 inches each, and the rear seats reclined for added comfort. The cargo floor had a dual-level system, allowing for a flat loading floor or maximum space. The doors featured angled bottle holders, and the front seats had two cupholders in the center console, with the rear seat offering a fold-down center armrest with two cupholders. The Limited trim's ambient lighting system added a touch of flair to the cabin.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering faster response times and an improved user experience. Two touchscreen sizes were available: 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch with navigation. The test vehicle had the larger screen, which integrated well with the dashboard. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services like a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The natural voice-recognition system worked well, though it occasionally provided unexpected results. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system delivered excellent sound quality, especially for bass enthusiasts. Other available features included a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, a thermal-imaging night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system. The head-up display remained visible to drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid's technology was generally good but had some frustrating aspects. The 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim looked great with the native software but only utilized about 8 inches of real estate when running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The smaller 8-inch screen in the Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were less user-friendly than physical buttons or knobs. However, the Tucson provided plenty of USB ports, including two for rear-seat passengers, a beautiful touchscreen display, and a Bose premium stereo in the test vehicle.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. While the adaptive cruise control worked well, the steering assist felt artificial. The system was expected to become hands-free in the 2022 model year. Intersection Collision Assist, standard on Summit models, could detect threats from either side at intersections and apply the brakes if necessary. The Grand Cherokee L also offered a full suite of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, including Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review, but the new model was expected to improve upon the old Grand Cherokee's flaws.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, safe-exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, navigation, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The blind-spot view monitor displayed a video feed of the blind spots on the driver information display, while the remote smart park assist allowed the Tucson to be moved remotely using the key fob. The Tucson had not yet been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a Top Safety Pick+.