2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a timelessly styled SUV, maintaining its appeal more than a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels pushed to the corners under flared fenders. This design contributed significantly to its continued success, making it a balanced work of automotive art. The Grand Cherokee defied easy categorization, fitting into mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV segments. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk models. For serious off-roading, the Trailhawk was the go-to option.

In 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, equipped 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 a platinum chrome finish. Inside, the Summit featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum, creating a luxurious cabin. However, the interior showed signs of aging with old-school switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna, carrying over from its 2021 redesign, aimed to blend minivan practicality with SUV style. It featured a macho front end and re-engineered door hinges to conceal the slider channel, giving it a more assertive profile. The Sienna's interior was designed to avoid the typical minivan feel, offering an uncluttered front cabin and clever storage solutions. The second and third rows provided comfortable, roomy seating, with available captain's chairs and a spacious three-across bench in the third row. The third-row bench easily stored away into the floor, and the second-row seats slid up to 25 inches for easy access.

The Sienna's cargo space was impressive, capable of holding a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. It offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. The Sienna also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity. Power-operated sliding doors and a rear tailgate with foot-motion triggers added convenience, making it easy to access the vehicle with hands full.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It powered either the rear or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and could tow up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, Jeep offered an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with a Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, delivering 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. This V8 provided a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds and a satisfying rumble. However, its fuel economy was limited to 17 mpg in combined driving, though we achieved 18.2 mpg on a mountainous loop.

The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II system included a two-speed transfer case, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management with various settings. The Quadra-Lift air suspension offered 4.1 inches of variability, enhancing both on-road efficiency and off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee Summit handled trails with ease, providing tools and confidence for adventure. During daily driving, it was speedy and responsive, though the V8 consumed gas quickly, and the air suspension could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces. The tight turning radius and effective brakes added to its practicality.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The AWD system added a separate electric motor for the rear wheels, simplifying the mechanical setup. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), offering smooth power delivery and maximizing fuel efficiency. Drivers could choose from four drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport.

The Sienna's handling was better than expected for a minivan, thanks to its front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension. It offered minimal body roll and a comfortable highway ride. The big news was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city/highway/combined, and AWD models getting 35 mpg city/highway/combined. The Sienna's 288-volt nickel metal-hydride battery pack was tucked under the front seats, and it came with a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured flat, firm, and supportive seats with a heated steering wheel. The Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package added quilted and perforated leather, leather-wrapped panels, and eight-way power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation. However, the controls for these features were embedded in the Uconnect infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia, though large side windows and a panoramic sunroof helped alleviate this.

Interior storage was adequate, but the rear-seat entertainment system's DVD/Blu-Ray player took up most of the center console bin space. The Grand Cherokee offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, with additional storage bins around the spare tire. Folding the second-row seats was easy, providing a maximum cargo space of 68.3 cubic feet, which was limited for a midsize SUV.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna excelled as a family workhorse, capable of carrying a full 4x8 sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed. The sliding second row added flexibility for loading luggage and freight. With the second row in its default position, the Sienna offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101 cubic feet behind the first row. It also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity. The standard 60/40-split third-row bench easily stored away into the floor, and each row had ample storage cubbies and cupholders.

Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated with foot-motion triggers, adding convenience for loading and unloading. The Sienna's interior was designed with family needs in mind, offering practical storage solutions and comfortable seating for all passengers.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, which provided a nearly flawless user experience with fast response times and pleasing touchscreen graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM services were also included, with six months of satellite radio, five years of Traffic Plus and Travel Link services, and one year of SiriusXM Guardian. The voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of many features through voice commands.

The Grand Cherokee offered a decent Alpine premium sound system with nine speakers, while the Summit trim featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Other tech features included sophisticated 4WD systems and advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). However, the Grand Cherokee was considered "tech lite," offering essential features without much digital complexity.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came with a 9-inch touchscreen standard on all trims, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. However, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which was a notable oversight. The Sienna included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect telematics services, a 10-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect.

Audio and multimedia systems varied by trim, from a six-speaker system on the LE to a 12-speaker JBL system on higher trims. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch 1080p display, remote, and wireless headphones. The Sienna also offered a color multi-information display, with a 10-inch head-up display on Platinum trims. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror, providing a clear view of the road behind. Remote keyless entry and push-button start were standard, with the Smart Key System on higher trims.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. While it received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 4WD models, the 2WD version dropped to four stars due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it a "Marginal" rating for small-overlap frontal-impact collisions on the driver's side and a "Poor" rating for the front passenger. The standard headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded.

The Grand Cherokee offered numerous safety features, including 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. It also had a backup camera, parking sensors, and a ParkSense parking assistance system.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite included adaptive cruise control, Lane Tracing Assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and traffic sign recognition. The Sienna also had 10 airbags, multiple LATCH child-seat connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, tire-pressure monitoring, and an inflator kit. A spare tire was available, mounted in the wall of the cargo space for safety and convenience.