2022 Porsche Macan vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

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, Jeep's decision to release it as a 2021 model didn't deter its appeal. The Grand Cherokee L's styling, reminiscent of the all-new Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models, was a significant selling point. Its signature seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements made it instantly recognizable as a Jeep, and it looked terrific across all trim levels.

The Grand Cherokee L was available in Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235, plus a $1,695 destination charge. The test vehicle, a Summit trim with 4WD, metallic paint, and several premium packages, had a window sticker price of $64,770. While some interior materials didn't quite meet the high price point's expectations, the Summit's quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and advanced technology represented a substantial improvement over the old model.

Porsche introduced the Macan in 2015, and by 2022, it had undergone several updates while retaining its original charm. The 2022 Macan received a styling refresh, larger standard wheels, new wheel designs, and a redesigned center console with haptic touch controls. Every model had more power and standard equipment, enhancing its appeal. The Macan lineup included the base model, Macan S, and Macan GTS, with the Macan Turbo's high-output powertrain now in the GTS.

The test vehicle, a Macan S, had an MSRP of $87,670, including nearly $20,000 in extras like premium paint, wheels, option packages, and performance upgrades. The Macan S, with its Volcano Gray paint and 21-inch RS Spyder Design wheels, looked stunning. Its design, featuring a sloping clamshell hood, swollen haunches, and rakish roofline, conveyed a taut, athletic look. Inside, the Macan drew inspiration from other Porsches, with a sporty and upscale cabin featuring red leather, gloss black trim, and silver metallic accents.

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 and rear-wheel drive or one of three 4WD systems. It had 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 test vehicle had the V6 engine and 4WD, offering brisk acceleration but loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-behaved but sometimes resisted downshifts in Auto mode to improve fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee L Summit 4WD averaged 17.8 mpg during testing. The Jeep 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 2022 Porsche Macan featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 261 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque in the base model. The Macan GTS inherited the 2.9-liter twin-turbo V6 from the old Macan Turbo, producing 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. The Macan S test car had a twin-turbo 2.9-liter V6 with 375 hp and 383 lb-ft, accelerating to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with the optional Sport Chrono Package and launch control.

All Macans had a seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission and a fully variable AWD system. The 2022 Macan S featured larger 20-inch standard wheels, Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM) adaptive damping suspension, and optional Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus (PTV+) and Porsche Surface Coated Brakes (PSCB). The Macan S offered a thrilling driving experience, with responsive steering, unyielding grip, and fantastic brake performance. The test model's fuel economy was 18.1 mpg, close to the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit trim offered heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. However, the dashboard vents were too small, making it difficult to cool the cabin quickly. The second-row captain's chairs provided plenty of legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades. The third-row seats were comfortable for all but the tallest adults, with large side windows for a great view.

The Grand Cherokee L lacked practical storage space for front-seat occupants, but second-row passengers had a storage console. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Porsche Macan offered comfort for the driver and front-seat passenger, with the test vehicle featuring the optional Premium Package with 14-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. The rear seats were cramped, but the cushion and backrest were comfortable. The 2022 Macan had new steering wheels modeled after the 911 sports car, but the wheel felt thin and uncomfortable after extended driving.

The redesigned center console with haptic touch controls looked clean but required the driver to look away from the road to use the controls. The Macan offered limited storage space, with cargo space measuring 17.2 cubic feet behind the back seat and 53 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen. The test vehicle had the larger screen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services, including a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system had a natural voice-recognition system with a programmable wake phrase, and the test vehicle had a 19-speaker McIntosh high-end audio system.

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 Porsche Macan came with a 10.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system called Porsche Communication Management (PCM). It included wireless Apple CarPlay, SiriusXM satellite radio, a navigation system, and connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The standard 10-speaker sound system could be upgraded to a Bose premium surround-sound system or a high-end Burmester audio system.

The PCM system had touch-sensing virtual buttons and proximity sensing, with an intuitive user experience. However, the voice recognition system was less reliable than those in BMW, Cadillac, Mercedes-Benz, or Volvo vehicles. The Macan had separate controls for stereo volume, tuning, and climate control, reducing the need to interact with the touchscreen while driving.

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. The system worked well but felt artificial in the driver's hands. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect threats at intersections and apply the brakes if necessary. The Jeep offered a complete package of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, including Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of the review.

The 2022 Porsche Macan had adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and a reversing camera. Blind-spot monitoring and lane-keeping assist were optional, with blind-spot monitoring included in the test vehicle's Premium Package. The Macan's safety technologies performed as expected, but it lacked advanced driving assistance tech. The Macan offered front and rear parking sensors, a surround-view camera, and an optional Park Assist system. Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS had published safety ratings for the Macan.