2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Ford Expedition

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite being over a decade old, maintained a timeless and appealing design. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels, flared fenders, and a balanced aesthetic that defined what an SUV should look like. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its continued success, offering a blend of mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV characteristics. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with performance models like the SRT and Trackhawk, and the off-road-ready Trailhawk.

For 2021, the Grand Cherokee introduced minor updates to the Laredo and Limited trims, along with new Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition versions. Pricing spanned from about $35,000 to nearly $90,000. The Summit trim, tested with a 5.7-liter V8 engine and 4WD, featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum interior accents. However, the interior showed signs of aging with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits, indicating a need for a redesign.

The 2022 Ford Expedition received several updates, including a new grille, headlights, bumper, and redesigned wheels. The model lineup included XL STX, XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from just over $55,000 to just under $84,000. The new Timberline trim catered to off-road enthusiasts with 4WD, all-terrain tires, and off-roading tech. The Stealth Edition packages added black 22-inch wheels and body-color exterior trim, with the Stealth Performance Package offering red-painted brake calipers.

Inside, the Expedition featured a redesigned dashboard with Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, the latter boasting a 15.5-inch touchscreen. The Limited Stealth Edition test vehicle, priced at $80,155, included leather seats, a heavy-duty trailer tow package, and a 12.4-inch digital instrumentation display. Despite some F-150 pickup-grade plastic trim, the Expedition's interior impressed with its comfort and technology.

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. An optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, offered a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Terrain traction management made the Grand Cherokee capable off-road.

The 2022 Ford Expedition used a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque (400 hp and 480 lb-ft on 93-octane fuel). The Stealth Edition Performance Package increased output to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. The V6 engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, offered fuel economy ranging from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving. The Expedition could tow between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds, depending on the model and equipment. The sport-tuned suspension of the Stealth Edition provided a firm ride, but the adaptive damping suspension available on higher trims improved comfort.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured flat, firm, and supportive seats with heated and ventilated front seats. The rear seat offered comfort but limited legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. Cargo space behind the rear seat measured 36.3 cubic feet, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. Interior storage was adequate, but the rear-seat entertainment system's DVD/Blu-Ray player took up significant space in the center console bin.

The 2022 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort, with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and climate controls, while the third-row seat offered good leg support but limited headroom. Cargo space behind the third row measured 19.3 cubic feet, expanding to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seats folded and 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Expedition Max offered even more cargo space.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. The system's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. However, the Grand Cherokee was "tech lite," offering essential features without much additional technology.

The 2022 Ford Expedition introduced Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, with the latter featuring a 15.5-inch touchscreen. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect, and a connected navigation system. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems. The Expedition also offered Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 and an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, but its performance in IIHS testing was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Summit trim 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.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered three Ford Co-Pilot360 packages. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver monitoring system, and automatic high-beam headlights. Higher trims added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, speed-limit-sign recognition, intersection assist, evasive steering assist, a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. The Expedition also offered Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology.