2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Lexus GX

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless design, continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. Combining rugged utility with upscale sophistication, it featured big wheels, flared fenders, and a balanced aesthetic that defined what an SUV should look like, excluding the Jeep Wrangler. This design contributed significantly to its ongoing success, making it a versatile vehicle that could be categorized as a mainstream, luxury, or performance SUV.

The Grand Cherokee lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk models. For 2021, minor updates were made to the Laredo and Limited trims, and new versions like the Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition were introduced. Prices spanned from about $35,000 to nearly $90,000. The Summit trim, with a 5.7-liter V8 engine and four-wheel drive, was priced at $68,185. The Platinum Series Group added a premium look with body-color mirror caps, door handles, and platinum chrome finishes. Inside, the Summit featured premium leather, genuine wood, and a luxurious Indigo and Ski Gray color scheme, though the interior design showed signs of aging.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 Black Line Special Edition, evaluated in Black Onyx, featured a design that eradicated almost all chrome, giving it a sleek, blacked-out appearance. However, it quickly accumulated dust, making it look drab and old. The GX's design, despite updates like the signature spindle grille and LED headlights, still resembled the first-generation 2002 GX 470, which appeared dated even then. Inside, the cabin quality was high, with smooth, refined materials and a quiet environment, save for the faint roar of the V8 engine.

The GX 460 was available in Standard, Premium, and Luxury trims, with prices ranging from $56,700 to $66,210. The Black Line Special Edition, based on the Premium trim, started at $60,535. Despite its dated design, the GX remained a comfortable and refined vehicle, though the slow, heavy steering and touchy brake pedal detracted from the driving experience. The Off-Road Package, available with the Luxury trim, added features like Multi-Terrain Select, Crawl Control, and improved drivetrain cooling for those intending to take the GX off-road.

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. This setup could tow up to 6,200 pounds and was available with rear or all-wheel drive. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine was available, delivering 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 also featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it still only achieved 17 mpg in combined driving. The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Terrain traction management system made the Grand Cherokee capable off-road, with a ground clearance of up to 10.8 inches.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460, with a base curb weight of 5,126 pounds, was equipped with a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a full-time 4WD system, allowed the GX to tow up to 6,500 pounds. The GX's fuel economy was rated at 16 mpg in combined driving, and it achieved 16.8 mpg during testing. The Kinetic Dynamics Suspension System (KDSS) helped improve ride stability and off-road capability. Despite its dated design, the GX remained a capable and refined vehicle, though the slow steering and touchy brake pedal were drawbacks.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and leather-wrapped interior panels. Both front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat, while comfortable, had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down. However, the rear-seat entertainment system took up valuable storage space in the center console bin.

The 2022 Lexus GX offered a comfortable and elevated driving position with a 10-way power-adjustable seat and clear outward visibility. The Black Line Special Edition featured NuLuxe upholstery, black ash wood trim, and a black headliner. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and the back seats were heated. However, the rear door openings were narrow, making entry and exit challenging. The third-row seat was cramped and difficult to access, and it eliminated cargo space when in use. The GX provided 11.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with the second row folded, less than a Toyota RAV4.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, which included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. The system offered a nearly flawless user experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. The voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. However, the Grand Cherokee was otherwise "tech lite," offering essential features without much additional technology.

The 2022 Lexus GX 460 introduced a new 10.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and navigation. The system was easy to use and offered a dual-screen view for navigation and radio display. The GX also featured a CD player, a Lexus app, and Lexus Enform connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The voice recognition technology was quick and accurate. The GX lacked some modern safety technologies but offered Intuitive Parking Assist, surround-view, and terrain-view cameras.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 4WD models, but only a four-star rating for 2WD models due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" for driver-side small-overlap frontal-impact collisions and "Poor" for front passenger-side collisions. The Grand Cherokee Summit came with the ProTech II Package, which 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 Lexus GX did not have crash-test ratings available due to its dated design. However, it came with Lexus Safety System+, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. The GX also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safety Connect services with automatic collision notification and emergency calling. The GX lacked some modern safety technologies found in competitors but offered a straightforward driving experience without intrusive driving aids.