2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Land Rover Defender

The 2021 Land Rover Defender carried forward the legacy of its predecessors, which began with the original Land Rover Series I in 1948. Inspired by the Willys Jeep, the Defender evolved through various iterations, including the Series II, Series III, and the Land Rover 90 and 110, before adopting the Defender name in 1990. Despite minor changes, the original Defender maintained its distinctive look and character until production ceased in January 2016. The vehicle was only sold in the U.S. from 1993 to 1997. The Defender's design featured round headlamps, a box-shaped cabin, and a tall roofline, creating a timeless and rugged aesthetic.

The new Defender aimed to blend the classic vibe with modern elements. It replaced the round incandescent headlamps with half-round LED headlights, giving it a serious appearance. The grille's structural styling, flat-topped fenders, and floating roof were nods to its heritage. The interior emphasized exposed structure, with a dash held between horizontal beams and beefy controls. The leather-upholstered seating combined toughness with luxury, and the digital instrument panel and center touchscreen interface added a modern touch. The Defender's interior felt authentic, high-quality, and thoughtfully designed.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, introduced as a longer version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, added 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. The wheelbase was extended by five inches, providing more second-row legroom and wider rear doors. The extra length blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. The Grand Cherokee L retained Jeep's recognizable design elements, such as the seven-slot rectangular grille and U-shaped wheel arches, while modernizing the lighting and improving paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims featured black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, enhancing the vehicle's elegance.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee L offered a luxurious experience with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof. The interior layout exuded a sense of premium quality, reminiscent of a Mercedes. The spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably, even in the third row. The panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports contributed to a pleasant journey. However, the air vents were small and struggled to direct sufficient airflow, necessitating a high fan setting, which could be noisy.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S. The base model featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The more powerful option was a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup, delivering 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp was announced for 2022. All Defender models used an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response, with optional Terrain Response 2 for advanced settings. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and a maximum ground clearance of 11.5 inches. On-road, the Defender was quick, with the 2.0-liter model reaching 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and the 3.0-liter in 5.8 seconds. It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds. The Defender excelled in both highway and city driving, offering a comfortable and commanding ride.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The V6 produced 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which felt insufficient for the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The V8, available on higher trims, delivered 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, providing a more satisfying driving experience. The Grand Cherokee L's fuel economy was decent with the V6, at an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17. The chassis was a standout feature, offering a stellar ride with taut and direct steering. The optional air suspension provided adjustable ride heights, enhancing both on-road comfort and off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee L's driving modes, similar to Land Rover's, adjusted various systems for different terrains. The vehicle had a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 with 4WD.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender utilized a unibody platform shared with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery, making extensive use of aluminum for weight reduction and strength. The independent multi-link air suspension enhanced both on-road and off-road performance. The Defender offered flexible seating configurations, including an optional jump seat between the front seats and a third-row seat in the long-wheelbase 110 model. The Defender 110 provided 34-34.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The three-door Defender 90 had 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 58.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a sleek and straightforward interface. Physical switches for climate, seat controls, and stereo functions were easy to use and provided a satisfying tactile experience. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L provided ample space in all rows, with the third row accommodating average adults comfortably. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a 60/40 split bench seat available as an option. The panoramic roof, large windows, and multiple USB ports enhanced the cabin experience. However, the air vents were small and struggled to provide adequate airflow, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which could be noisy.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender featured Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing for remote software updates to 14 individual modules. The Pivi Pro infotainment system included a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, with standard Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Multiple camera views, including a "transparent hood" view, aided off-roading. The audio system could be upgraded to a Meridian sound system with up to 14 speakers and 700 watts of amplification. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered premium features on upper trims, including massage modes for the 16-way power adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, and a crystal-clear 360-degree camera system. The Active Driving Assist system provided excellent steering on marked highway lanes. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless. New for 2022, Jeep added an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. The Summit trims offered additional features like automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, and a rear-facing camera in the ceiling. The Summit Reserve came with a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including a perimeter alarm, front airbags with a passenger seat occupant monitor, a tire pressure monitoring system, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing, ensuring its robustness in various conditions.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert for possible unattended passengers, trailer sway control, and various driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. The Summit trims offered additional safety features like automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, and a rear-facing camera in the ceiling.