2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless design, continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. It balanced rugged utility and upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels under flared fenders, making it a quintessential SUV. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, offering a range of trims from the affordable Laredo to the luxurious Summit, and performance models like the SRT and Trackhawk. The Summit trim, in particular, stood out with its premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum interior, although some elements showed signs of aging.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, despite being a glorified minivan, offered a stylish and practical alternative for those needing an SUV. Starting at $33,700, the Traverse featured a light restyle for 2022, including new headlights, taillights, and grille designs. The RS trim, with its blacked-out trim and dark gray 20-inch wheels, was particularly appealing. Inside, the Traverse RS boasted black leather upholstery with red and light gray stitching, though hard plastic surfaces were prevalent. The design was simple and logical, with easy-to-use controls and a spacious interior.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was available, delivering 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology, though it offered only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension provided excellent off-road capabilities and a smooth highway ride.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse, on the other hand, offered a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. It had a tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Traverse featured various driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road. The V6 engine provided adequate power, and the Traverse returned 20.9 mpg in combined driving. The Traverse offered a firm yet compliant ride, though it could feel disconnected from the road at higher speeds. The suspension limited body roll, providing a flat cornering attitude.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and eight-way power-adjustable front seats. The rear seat was comfortable but had somewhat snug legroom. The Grand Cherokee offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, the rear-seat entertainment system took up valuable storage space, and the overall interior storage was limited.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse RS, with its captain's chairs, offered seating for seven. The front seats were power-adjustable and heated, and the second-row featured a Smart Slide function for easy access to the third row. The Traverse provided generous legroom and headroom in the second row, though the captain's chairs lacked leg support. The third-row seat was adequate for adults if the second-row seats were adjusted. The Traverse offered 23 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 98.2 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Traverse also featured hidden storage compartments and ample interior storage.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system was user-friendly, with fast response times and clear graphics. The Grand Cherokee also offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. However, the Grand Cherokee was "tech lite," with essential features but lacking advanced digital technology.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse offered a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, depending on the trim. Higher trims featured an 8-inch digital instrumentation panel. The system included Bluetooth connectivity for two smartphones, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a WiFi hotspot. The Traverse also offered Teen Driver technology and an integrated navigation system. The voice recognition system was accurate and responsive, and the RS trim featured a surround-view camera and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models but performed poorly in IIHS small-overlap frontal-impact tests. The Grand Cherokee Summit included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also featured a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and a following-distance indicator. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, high-speed automatic emergency braking, and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received top "Good" ratings in most IIHS collision tests but rated "Acceptable" in the new side-impact test. NHTSA ratings were not available at the time of writing.