2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Nissan Armada

The 2021 Nissan Armada underwent a significant facelift, aligning its exterior design with Nissan's new signature look. Despite these updates, the Armada retained its traditional beefy and athletic styling, featuring a new grille, front fenders, bumpers, and LED lights. The SUV was available in S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims, with the Midnight Edition Package exclusive to the SL. The Platinum trim, tested in prototype form, showcased body-color over fenders, dark-painted roof rails, and standard LED lighting. The Armada's wheels ranged from 18 to 22 inches, depending on the trim, and it featured Nissan's new logo prominently. However, the interior remained somewhat dated, with design choices that detracted from its modern appeal.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, introduced as a longer version of the standard Grand Cherokee, offered a third row of seats and more legroom. Its design was elegant and unmistakably Jeep, with a modernized lighting system and improved paint finish. The Grand Cherokee L was available in various trims, from the base Laredo to the luxurious Summit Reserve, each with distinct features like black roofs and larger wheels. The interior was luxurious, with high-quality materials and advanced technology, making it feel like a premium vehicle. Despite some minor issues with air vent size and system lag, the Grand Cherokee L provided ample space and comfort for all passengers.

The 2021 Nissan Armada was powered by a 5.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. It came standard with rear-wheel drive, with an optional four-wheel drive. Despite its weight, the Armada was a capable off-roader, featuring a skid plate, double-wishbone suspension, and Hitachi shock absorbers. However, its fuel economy was below average, with RWD models achieving 14 mpg city and 19 mpg highway. The Armada excelled in towing, with a best-in-class capacity of 8,500 pounds.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6 produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, while the V8 delivered 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The Grand Cherokee L also offered a 4xe plug-in hybrid option, providing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The V6's fuel economy was decent at 18 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, while the V8 was less efficient. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis provided excellent ride composure and steering feel, with an optional air suspension offering five ride height settings. It had a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2021 Nissan Armada offered practicality and functionality, with standard running boards and in-cabin handles for easy access. Its broad interior featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, though some controls were difficult to reach. The first and second rows provided comfortable seating, with power-adjustable front seats and optional second-row captain's chairs. The third row was less comfortable for adults, and cargo space was limited, with 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row. The high load floor made loading and unloading challenging, and small-item storage was limited.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured a user-friendly Uconnect 5 infotainment system with physical switches for climate and stereo controls. It offered ample space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat optional. The panoramic roof and large windows enhanced the cabin's spacious feel, though the air vents were insufficient. The Grand Cherokee L provided a large bin for wireless phone charging and a big central cubby under the armrest, with various USB ports for convenience.

The 2021 Nissan Armada's tech upgrades included a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, navigation, a six-speaker stereo, and wireless Apple CarPlay. Optional features included a wireless charging pad, a 13-speaker Bose audio system, and a rearview camera mirror. The Armada Platinum trim came with these features as standard. The steering wheel offered limited control of the infotainment system, and the analog gauges were functional but not visually appealing.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's upper trims offered premium features like massage modes for the front seats, a head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system. The navigation system integrated with the instrument panel, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. New for 2022, optional touchscreens for the front passenger and rear-seat passengers enhanced entertainment options. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking.

The 2021 Nissan Armada had not been fully rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but it received a three-star rollover rating. It came standard with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. Additional safety features included adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning. However, advanced driving assist technologies like ProPilot Assist were not available.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, and trailer sway control. Standard driver aids included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking.