2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Lincoln Aviator

The smartest move Lincoln made when designing the 2021 Lincoln Aviator was avoiding the temptation to emulate its rivals in terms of style. Lincoln absolutely nailed the styling of the big-dog Navigator and subsequently emulated that styling throughout the rest of the lineup. The Aviator, which first arrived as a 2020 model and carried over mostly unchanged into 2021, took on this design language perfectly. The Aviator was an incredibly sharp-looking vehicle, defined by crisp lines and heavier use of chrome, which actually benefited its aesthetic appeal.

Inside the Aviator, Lincoln once again set itself apart from its Ford counterpart. The cabin was so comfortable and warm that it was hard to believe the Aviator was based on the same platform as the Ford Explorer. The interior was defined by crisp lines, chrome accents, and a plethora of soft-touch materials. The center console rose elegantly to the standard 10.1-inch touchscreen that dominated the dashboard.

Lincoln also introduced a piano button shifter in the middle of the dash. While button shifters can often be unintuitive, the Aviator's layout was sensible and user-friendly. Additionally, instead of typical alerts when parking or starting the car, the Aviator played soothing chimes, enhancing its class and luxury feel.

The Aviator was available in multiple trims: Standard, Reserve, Grand Touring, Black Label, and Black Label Grand Touring. The Standard trim included features like synthetic leather upholstery, tri-zone climate control, 10-way power-adjustable heated front seats, remote start, and a power liftgate.

Climbing to the Reserve trim added 12-way power-adjustable front seats, upgraded leather upholstery, four-zone climate control, and a hands-free power liftgate. This trim also featured second-row captain's chairs, a panoramic sunroof, and a 12-speaker Revel premium stereo system, which was both acoustically impressive and visually pleasing.

The Grand Touring trim, which we drove, upgraded to a plug-in hybrid powertrain and added adaptive headlights along with the Elements Package Plus. This package included a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats, plus Lincoln’s Multi-Contour Seats with a massaging function.

Higher up, the Black Label trim bundled the Convenience and Luxury packages as standard, which included a head-up display, wireless device charging, a 28-speaker Revel Ultima sound system, and heated/ventilated/massaging front seats. Lastly, the Black Label Grand Touring added a Dynamic Handling Package and nearly every available feature as standard equipment.

The "L" in the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L stood for "long." Compared to the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, the L was 11.4 inches longer to accommodate a third row of seats. The wheelbase was also stretched by five inches, which afforded more second-row legroom and wider rear doors. The additional mass and larger rear blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear as though Jeep had simply removed its tail. Jeep introduced the L first, as a 2021 model, and waited almost a year to release the two-row Grand Cherokee as a 2022 model.

The Grand Cherokee L was elegant and unmistakably recognized as a Jeep from any angle, featuring the iconic seven-slot rectangular grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and blunt front end, all enhanced by modern, slimmer, and brighter lighting. Paint finish and panel fit were markedly better. All trim levels—from the base Laredo to the loaded Summit Reserve—looked impressive. Higher-end trims like the Summit and Summit Reserve added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. New for 2022, Jeep introduced three new exterior paint colors: Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky.

The interior was even more luxurious. The Grand Cherokee L's cabin boasted dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof, all contributing to a feel of upscale quality. The detail and contrast kept passengers comfortable and visually stimulated, and the lighter tan leather option was particularly striking.

Under the hood, the Standard, Reserve, and Black Label trims of the 2021 Lincoln Aviator were powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged V6, delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The power was routed through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with options for rear-wheel drive (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Grand Touring and Grand Touring Black Label trims featured the same twin-turbo V6, enhanced with a plug-in hybrid configuration. The addition of the electric motor boosted output to 494 horsepower and a massive 630 pound-feet of torque. When fully charged, the hybrid could travel up to 21 miles on electric power alone, providing robust acceleration.

The hybrid powertrain offered brisk acceleration but maintaining smooth, quick power delivery. However, the Aviator's substantial weight resulted in noticeable body roll in corners and made it a bit awkward to maneuver in tight spaces. The long wheelbase further complicated city driving, though the Aviator excelled on the highway and in suburban settings.

The drive mode selector in the center console allowed users to switch between modes like “Excite” and “Conserve,” which seemed appropriate given the Aviator's performance characteristics.

For the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, two familiar engines were available: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission with options for RWD or 4WD.

A hybrid system, similar to the 48-volt system used in Ram pickup trucks, was not available for the Grand Cherokee L, but a 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain was available. This combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, delivering emissions-free 4WD with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

Our test vehicle featured the V6, which felt underpowered for the Grand Cherokee L's heft. The V6 produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque but required high revs to tap into this power, making it insufficient when fully loaded with passengers.

The transmission often shifted gears early, and even Sport mode couldn't solve the poor engine-transmission synchrony. In contrast, the V8 engine, available on higher trims, offered a more satisfying 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The V8 was available on the Grand Cherokee L Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims, each paired with 4WD.

The chassis of the Grand Cherokee L saved the V6's performance shortcomings. Ride composure and steering feel were incredibly taut and direct, and the optional air suspension allowed for varied driving experiences, from pillow-soft comfort to firm, responsive handling.

The Grand Cherokee L also excelled with five ride height settings, allowing for adjustments to enhance either aerodynamic efficiency or off-road capability. The selectable driving modes modulated various vehicle systems to suit different terrains.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator provided a solid 18.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Our test model, equipped with power-lift-and-lower third-row seats, expanded cargo capacity to 41.8 cubic feet when these seats were folded. With all rear seats folded, total cargo space increased to 77.7 cubic feet, making it competitive within the midsize luxury SUV class. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free power liftgate as an option.

While third-row space was decent, the second row was truly luxurious, especially in the Grand Touring trim, which featured captain's chairs, a helpful center console, and a digital control panel for seat, climate, and audio adjustments. The second-row console also had toggles for operating the panoramic sunroof's visor.

One potential drawback was the use of power-button door releases, which could pose functionality issues if the battery ever died.

Jeep’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system for the Grand Cherokee L maintained a reputation for simplicity and efficiency, featuring a sleeker and sharper interface. Physical switches separated important controls from the touchscreen, offering intuitive operation enhanced by the tactile feedback of the switches.

Base trims like Laredo and Altitude came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims such as the Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve featured a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen. However, some graphical elements were hard to read and the system occasionally lagged.

The Grand Cherokee L excelled in space utilization, offering ample room in all three rows. Second-row captain's chairs were standard for six-person seating, with a 60/40 split bench seat available as an option. Panoramic roofs, large windows, and multiple USB ports added to the comfort of long journeys, though the air vents were underwhelming, requiring the fan to be kept on high and causing significant cabin noise.

The Aviator came standard with a 10.1-inch touchscreen running the intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system. Unlike the tall layout of the Explorer's screen, the Aviator used a landscape format, which was more natural and user-friendly.

The Sync 3 system was easy to navigate with a sensible menu layout, complemented by redundant controls in the center stack below. Standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were optimized for the large screen, presenting large, clear icons.

The Aviator also featured a fully digital instrument panel and an optional head-up display with crisp graphics and multiple muted colors.

For the Grand Cherokee L, upper trims boasted premium features, including multiple massage modes for 16-way power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system took over the instrument panel, providing detailed previews of upcoming corners, and seamlessly switching to preferred apps when a phone was connected.

New for 2022, Jeep offered an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and optional dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers.

Safety and driver assistance technologies were robust, with standard adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear parking sensors, automatic parking, and front cross-traffic alert, among others. Upper trims also featured four-zone climate control and a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo system.

The 2021 Lincoln Aviator was well-equipped with standard safety features under the Lincoln Co-Pilot 360 package, which included automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Enhanced tire pressure monitoring, traction control, and a full complement of airbags were also standard.

Our test model included the optional Co-Pilot 360 Plus package with features like reverse automatic braking, self-parking functionality, and adaptive cruise control. These systems worked seamlessly without being over-intrusive.

The Aviator earned top marks from both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), achieving a Top Safety Pick accolade from the IIHS.

Safety features for the 2022 Grand Cherokee L were abundant but it had not yet been tested by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert for unattended passengers, and trailer sway control. Additionally, various advanced driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, were included across the trim levels.