2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Lexus NX

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 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 However, the interior design showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

In contrast, the 2022 Lexus NX presented a fresh and modern design, unmistakably a Lexus with its spindle grille and refined styling details. The NX was longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor, offering more passenger and cargo space. The interior adopted a minimalist approach, moving away from the button-heavy dashboard of the previous model. The NX 350 F Sport trim featured sport-bolstered seats and a unique steering wheel, while the Luxury trim offered real leather and open-pore wood trim. Despite the decluttered design, some functions integrated into the touchscreen were challenging to locate quickly. The NX's interior was comfortable, with thoughtful padding and a panoramic sunroof extending over the back seat. However, the turbocharged engine's sound was less refined than its German rivals, and the NX's off-road capabilities were limited by its ground clearance and approach angles.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds, making it a capable choice for most needs. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 offered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8's cylinder deactivation technology aimed to improve fuel efficiency, though it achieved 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, with adjustable ground clearance and various traction settings. On the road, the Grand Cherokee was responsive and relatively quiet, though the V8 consumed more fuel in city driving, and the air suspension could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions, with the NX 350h hybrid producing 239 horsepower and achieving 39 mpg in combined driving. The NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid delivered 302 horsepower and an estimated 36 miles of electric range. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The NX 350 F Sport trim added adaptive variable sports suspension and performance dampers, enhancing its sporty character. The NX 350 accelerated to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, with observed fuel economy of 22.2 mpg for the F Sport and 25.5 mpg for the Luxury trim. While the NX's handling impressed, the turbocharged engine's sound was less refined than competitors, and road and wind noise were more noticeable than expected.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted leather seats and leather-wrapped panels, courtesy of the Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package. Both 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, 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 seat, with a maximum of 68.3 cubic feet when the second-row seats were folded. However, interior storage was limited, and the rear-seat entertainment system took up space in the center console bin.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered more interior room, though it felt cozy from the driver's seat due to the new dashboard design. The NX was comfortable, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim provided better bolstering for spirited driving, while the Luxury trim featured ambient lighting with nature-inspired themes. Rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations, with rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. The NX's panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat, enhancing the sense of space. Lexus claimed a 14% increase in cargo space, with 22.7 cubic feet behind the back seat and 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a nearly flawless user 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, allowing control of many features through voice commands. The Grand Cherokee offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality. However, the Grand Cherokee was considered "tech lite," with essential features and little more.

The 2022 Lexus NX took a significant leap forward with the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, featuring large touchscreen displays, natural voice recognition, and cloud-based features. A 9.8-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 14-inch screen available as an upgrade. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and five connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural commands, and the NX offered a digital key feature. However, the 14-inch touchscreen collected fingerprints and reflections, and there was no tuning knob.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, but a four-star rating for 2WD models due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" for driver-side small-overlap frontal impacts and "Poor" for passenger-side impacts. The Grand Cherokee offered a range of 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 Lexus NX included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring advanced driver assistance and collision avoidance systems. New features included Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a safe stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also offered blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, adaptive front lighting, and semi-autonomous parking assist. The Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system and front cross-traffic alert.