2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Genesis GV70

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a testament to timeless design, maintaining its appeal over a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels and flared fenders that gave it a balanced and iconic SUV look. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, as it straddled the line between mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV categories. 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. The Summit trim, in particular, offered a premium look with body-color accents and a platinum chrome finish, while the interior boasted premium materials like leather, wood, and aluminum. However, the interior design showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

The 2022 Genesis GV70, while inheriting some styling elements from other Genesis models, presented a unique appearance. It featured quad LED strips for headlights and taillights, a large shield-shaped grille, and a sloping roofline that gave it a fastback look. The GV70 combined SUV bulk with athletic, car-like elements, making it appear both rugged and sleek. The Sport Prestige models added character with unique styling features, including a model-specific front fascia, 21-inch wheels with a web pattern, and dark chrome trim. The interior had an elliptical theme inspired by an airplane wing, with a minimalistic design and a rotary gear selector that gave it a baroque spaceship feel. The GV70 offered a wide array of interior color options and luxurious materials, though base models had leatherette seats.

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 and offered a choice between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive. 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 for improved fuel efficiency, though it achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Terrain traction management made it capable off-road, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes enhanced its on-road performance.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered two engine options: a base 2.5-liter turbo-four producing 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, and a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 generating 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque. Both engines came with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The GV70 featured a rear electronic limited-slip differential and launch control, emphasizing its sporty character. The Sport+ drive mode sharpened throttle response and held high revs, but the chassis felt heavy and lacked the sharpness of some competitors. The GV70 excelled on highways and in town, though its firm ride and lack of solidity detracted from its luxury feel.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, leather-wrapped panels, and a heated steering wheel. Both front seats had eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. Interior storage was adequate, though the rear-seat entertainment system took up space in the center console bin.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 offered mid-pack interior space for its segment, with adequate legroom and good rear-seat visibility. It provided 28.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, expanding to 56.9 cubic feet with the seats folded. The daring interior design compromised storage space, with a slim center console and thin door pockets. The front seats in the Sport Prestige model were heavily bolstered, offering heating, ventilation, massage, and posture-assist functions. However, the massage controls were buried in touchscreen menus, and the posture assist activated unexpectedly.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a user-friendly experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. It included 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 came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. While the Grand Cherokee offered essential tech features, it was considered "tech lite" compared to the upcoming 2022 model.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 boasted a 14.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The tile-based layout and crisp graphics made it user-friendly, and the glass rotary controller added functionality. Higher trims offered a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a 3D effect and a 12-inch head-up display. The GV70 featured a digital-key system, a fingerprint scanner, and a radar-based rear-seat monitor. Genesis Connected Services included remote camera activation, driver profiles, and valet mode, free for three years.

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 Grand Cherokee offered numerous safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance. The ParkSense parking assistance system helped with parallel and perpendicular parking.

The 2022 Genesis GV70 had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, blind-spot and forward collision-avoidance assist, and Highway Driving Assist. The GV70 also featured eight airbags, including a front-center airbag, and optional Highway Driving Assist 2 with lane-change functionality.