2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 INFINITI QX60

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a fresh addition to the Jeep lineup, distinct from the existing Grand Cherokee. It was an extended-length version of the upcoming 2022 Grand Cherokee, featuring a third-row seat and increased cargo space. Despite the potential confusion of its release timing, the Grand Cherokee L was expected to sell well, largely due to its appealing design. Resembling a smaller version of the luxurious Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models, the Grand Cherokee L boasted a signature Jeep look with its seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting. Available in various trims, from Laredo to Summit Reserve, the Grand Cherokee L offered a range of prices and features, with the Summit trim showcasing quilted leather, real wood trim, and advanced technology, though some interior materials fell short of expectations at higher price points.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 underwent a complete redesign, marking the start of its second generation. The exterior changes resulted in a striking and elegant crossover SUV, with a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and a floating roof effect. The Autograph trim level featured a contrasting black roof, enhancing its sophisticated appearance. Inside, the QX60 felt spacious and luxurious, with quilted leather upholstery and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display. The cabin was designed for comfort and convenience, with intuitive controls and a high level of craftsmanship. The QX60's redesign aimed to provide a premium driving experience, with a focus on style and functionality.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered rear-wheel drive or three different four-wheel-drive systems, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with certain trims and 4WD, increased power to 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, boosting towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. However, this upgrade reduced fuel economy to 17 mpg combined. The Grand Cherokee L's V6 engine provided brisk acceleration but was noisy at high revs. The eight-speed transmission was generally smooth, though it sometimes resisted downshifts to improve fuel economy. The Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension offered a comfortable ride, with various off-road modes for different terrains. The Grand Cherokee L excelled in off-road capability, with impressive ground clearance and water fording ability.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. It was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, replacing the previous CVT for a more refined driving experience. The QX60's fuel economy was estimated at 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined for FWD models and slightly lower for AWD versions. The suspension system, with MacPherson struts and an independent multilink setup, provided a smooth and comfortable ride. The QX60 was not designed for aggressive cornering but excelled in delivering a serene driving experience. The spacious interior offered ample legroom and headroom for passengers in all three rows, making it ideal for highway cruising and suburban driving.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a comfortable interior, especially in the Summit trim, with heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. However, the dashboard vents were small, making it challenging to cool the cabin quickly. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, with manual sunshades for added convenience. The third row was surprisingly comfortable for adults, with large windows for a great view. Cargo space was competitive, with 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 84.6 cubic feet with all seats down.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 offered a luxurious and spacious interior, with storage options throughout the cabin. The center console featured a cubby for smartphones, cupholders, and covered storage. The second-row seats could slide to share space between rows, with a 60/40 split bench or captain's chairs in the Autograph trim. The third row was accessible and comfortable, with generous legroom. The QX60 provided 14.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 41.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.4 cubic feet with both rows down. The QX60 also had a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds with the optional towing package.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering faster response times and an improved user experience. It came with either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen, with the larger screen available in higher trims. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system provided excellent sound quality, though the logo design was somewhat out of place. Additional features included a digital instrumentation panel, digital rearview mirror, night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 boasted a 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive display with wireless Apple CarPlay and wired Android Auto. A WiFi hotspot was standard, along with multiple USB charge points throughout the cabin. The navigation system, powered by TomTom, was standard on all but the base trim. The QX60 also featured a simplified version of Alexa for voice commands. The Autograph trim included a head-up display and a smart rearview mirror, enhancing safety and convenience. The audio system ranged from a nine-speaker setup in lower trims to a 17-speaker Bose Performance series in higher trims.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance. While effective, the steering assist felt artificial, and lane changes were overly responsive. Intersection Collision Assist was standard on Summit models, detecting threats at intersections and applying brakes if necessary. The Grand Cherokee L offered a comprehensive suite of driver assistance and collision avoidance technologies, including park assist features. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review, but improvements were expected over the previous model.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the previous model received high safety ratings. The QX60 came with a full array of airbags and advanced driver assistance systems, including forward emergency braking, predictive forward-collision warning, rear automatic braking, and blind-spot warning. ProPilot Assist was standard on all but the base trim, with additional optional features like blind-spot intervention and lane-departure prevention.