2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

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 artistic 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. The Summit trim, in particular, offered a premium look with body-color accents and a luxurious interior featuring premium leather and genuine materials. However, the interior design showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 presented a futuristic and polished exterior, characterized by its Parametric Pixel design. This design incorporated numerous LED pixels throughout the vehicle, giving it a concept car-like appearance. The Ioniq 5's exterior featured aerodynamic wheels and unique design elements, while the interior embraced a "Living Space" theme with a minimalist and comfortable design. The cabin offered a relaxing environment with features like a "Relaxation" mode for the driver's seat and sustainable materials throughout. The Ioniq 5's interior was spacious and comfortable, with a focus on passenger comfort rather than cargo space.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, providing ample power for most needs. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds and featured an eight-speed automatic transmission. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 engine included cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it still achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes made it suitable for both city and off-road driving.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offered two drive configurations, three trims, and three powertrains. The base SE Standard Range featured a single 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor with 168 horsepower and a range of 220 miles. The extended-range lineup included a 168-kW rear motor producing 225 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with a range of 303 miles. The AWD variant featured a dual-motor system with 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque, though the range dropped to 256 miles. The Ioniq 5's performance was middle-of-the-road for a midsize crossover, with a focus on comfort and control rather than sporty driving. It featured four drive modes, including Sport mode, which added excitement but reduced range. The Ioniq 5's quiet cabin and noise-reducing features contributed to a pleasant driving experience.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted leather seats and a leather-wrapped interior. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults. The Grand Cherokee's cargo space measured 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat, with a maximum of 68.3 cubic feet when the second-row seats were folded. Interior storage was adequate, but the optional rear-seat entertainment system reduced available space.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured an all-new Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) that maximized interior space and utility. Despite its hatchback appearance, the Ioniq 5 had a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Palisade, offering a spacious interior with 133.7 cubic feet of total volume. The Ioniq 5 prioritized passenger comfort with 106.5 cubic feet of passenger volume, though its cargo space was slightly smaller at 27.2 cubic feet. The interior design focused on comfort and usability, with a moveable center console and leatherette seats that provided excellent support.

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, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. 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 lacked the advanced digital capabilities of newer models.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 boasted impressive technology, including a high-voltage energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80% battery capacity in 18 minutes, and offered unlimited 30-minute fast-charging sessions for two years. The Ioniq 5 featured a redesigned Blue Link app, digital key, and over-the-air updates. Its 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegant and intuitive, with anti-glare coatings for improved visibility.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received mixed safety ratings. While it earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, its performance in IIHS tests was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in certain crash tests. The Grand Cherokee offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and blind-spot monitoring, but its safety ratings were a concern.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. It included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also offered Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. While official safety ratings were not yet available, Hyundai's track record suggested high marks for the Ioniq 5.