2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Lincoln Nautilus

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a new 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 volume. Despite the potential confusion of its model year designation, the Grand Cherokee L was expected to sell well due to its appealing styling, reminiscent of the more expensive Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. The SUV was instantly recognizable as a Jeep, with its signature seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements. Available in various trims, including Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, the Grand Cherokee L's pricing ranged from $36,995 to $64,235, with a destination charge of $1,695. The Summit trim, which we tested, featured luxurious elements like quilted and perforated leather and real wood trim, although some interior materials did not meet the high expectations set by its price.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus, particularly in the Black Label trim with 21-inch machined-finish wheels, was an attractive SUV with a balanced and characterful design. At night, the Lincoln Embrace lighting sequence added a touch of elegance. Inside, the Black Label offered design themes like Chalet and Flight, with our test vehicle featuring the Chalet's light gray premium leather upholstery. The Black Label trim included nearly every available feature, such as a simulated suede headliner and luxury floor mats, creating a decadent interior. However, some elements, like the center console design and chrome-plated plastic pieces, appeared less premium. The Nautilus was priced starting at $44,225, with the Black Label beginning at $66,825. Our test vehicle, equipped with Ultra Comfort 22-way power-adjustable front seats with Active Motion massage, was priced at $68,325, making it a comfortable choice for long drives.

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 or a choice of three different four-wheel-drive systems, with a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds. The EPA estimated fuel economy at 21 mpg in combined driving. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims and 4WD, delivered 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel economy to 17 mpg combined. Our test vehicle featured the V6 engine and 4WD, providing brisk acceleration but becoming loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was generally 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 SUV offered various driving modes, including Sport, Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock, with the Summit's 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 excelled in off-road conditions, with the Overland model equipped with the Off-Road Group being the most capable. On the road, the Grand Cherokee L's stiffer structure contributed to a smooth ride, though it could feel soft over uneven pavement. The SUV's handling was capable, and its corners were easy to judge, making parking straightforward. The Grand Cherokee L was also comfortable on the highway, with secure on-center steering feel and a relatively quiet cabin.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus offered a choice between a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, standard on the Nautilus and Nautilus Reserve, and a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine with 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, standard on the Black Label and optional on the Reserve. The V6 required all-wheel drive, while the four-cylinder came with front-wheel drive and an optional AWD. The Nautilus featured Comfort, Normal, and Sport driving modes, adjusting powertrain behavior, steering effort, and adaptive suspension. Comfort mode made the SUV feel woozy, while Sport mode made the steering too heavy. Normal mode struck the right balance. During a road trip from Los Angeles to Scottsdale, Arizona, the Nautilus proved comfortable and cozy, with massaging and heated seats and a heated steering wheel. The twin-turbo V6 had an EPA fuel economy rating of 21 mpg combined, with a maximum highway range of 450 miles. Over 871.1 miles, the Nautilus averaged 25 mpg. The Nautilus excelled as a road-tripper, with a quiet and comfortable cabin and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. In the Santa Monica Mountains, the Nautilus demonstrated grace and athleticism, with the twin-turbo V6 and eight-speed automatic transmission responding well in Sport mode. The steering, however, lacked engagement. Despite sharing engineering with the Ford Edge, the Nautilus retained some of the Edge ST's spirited driving characteristics.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered comfort with its Summit trim, featuring heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment and a heated steering wheel. It also had a four-zone automatic climate control system with air vents in all three rows. However, the dashboard vents were too small, making it challenging to cool the cabin quickly. The Grand Cherokee L's second row featured captain's chairs with ample legroom and comfort, and manual side window sunshades were included in the Summit trim. The third row was surprisingly comfortable for all but the tallest adults, with large side windows providing a great view. The Grand Cherokee L lacked practical storage space for front-seat occupants, but second-row passengers had a storage console between the captain's chairs. Cargo space behind the third row measured 17.2 cubic feet, with a useful storage bin underneath the load floor. Folding the third row increased cargo capacity to 46.9 cubic feet, with a maximum volume of 84.6 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus Black Label featured smooth leather, ambient lighting, and a quiet drive thanks to Active Noise Control and acoustic glass. Both front seats were heated and ventilated, with a heated power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The optional 22-way power front seats offered multiple massage programs and adjustable thigh extensions and head restraints, ensuring comfort even on long drives. The outboard rear seats were heated, and rear passengers had air conditioning vents. However, the Nautilus was unexpectedly cramped, with tight legroom for a midsize SUV. Practical storage space was adequate, with larger locations behind the stereo and climate controls and under the center console bridge being hard to access. The luggage compartment, accessed via a hands-free power liftgate, offered 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering faster response and an improved user experience. Two touchscreen sizes were available: 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch with navigation. Our 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 with 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, particularly for bass-heavy music. The Grand Cherokee L also offered 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 Lincoln Nautilus featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 4 software. Sync 4 allowed for over-the-air updates, keeping the system current. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Lincoln Connect services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM 360L satellite radio. Our Black Label test vehicle also had connected navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a 19-speaker Revel audio system. The system was intuitive, with a wide range of menus and settings. Lincoln provided separate physical stereo and climate controls, though the pod housing them appeared less premium. The natural voice recognition system worked well, and the Revel speakers delivered excellent sound quality. The Nautilus also offered Phone as a Key, allowing a smartphone to function as a digital key.

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 effective, the steering assist felt artificial, and lane changes were more sudden than expected. Jeep planned to upgrade Active Driving Assist to a hands-free system for the 2022 model year. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect threats at intersections and apply brakes if necessary. The SUV offered a comprehensive package of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, including Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review, but improvements were expected over the previous model.

The 2022 Lincoln Nautilus came with Lincoln Co-Pilot360 1.0, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Black Label added Co-Pilot360 1.0 Plus, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assistance, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, and parking sensors. The Black Label also included a semi-autonomous parking assist system. The Nautilus's safety tech proved effective during testing, with adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist working well. The SUV earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a four-star rating for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not assessed the Nautilus for safety.