2021 Toyota Venza vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2021 Toyota Venza was a sleek and stylish SUV that many critics noted bore a resemblance to a Lexus. This was evident from its grille to its elongated profile, which blurred the lines between the two brands. The Venza's design was reminiscent of the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept shown at the 2018 North American International Auto Show. Available in three trim levels—LE, XLE, and Limited—the Venza offered a choice of seven paint colors, though not all were available across all trims. Standard features included dual chrome-tipped exhaust, LED headlights and taillights, automatic high beams, puddle lights, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The base LE model came with a wireless charging pad, 4.2-inch driver’s information display, leather-trimmed steering wheel, Bluetooth, dual-zone automatic climate control, and more. The XLE trim added black bumper garnishes, silver roof rails, 19-inch alloy wheels, and other premium features, while the top-tier Limited trim included a digital rearview mirror, illuminated footwells, and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was an elegant and recognizable Jeep, with a design that seamlessly integrated its extra length to accommodate a third row of seats. The L model was 11.4 inches longer than the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, with a wheelbase stretched by five inches for more second-row legroom and wider rear doors. The seven-slot rectangular grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and blunt front end were classic Jeep, but the lighting was modernized to be slimmer and brighter. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims featured black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. New exterior paint colors for 2022 included Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky. 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 was both stylish and tactile, making it feel like a high-end vehicle.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came standard with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, resulting in a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. This hybrid system was mated to an electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential-shifting feature for increased regenerative braking. While the Venza's acceleration was smooth, it was not particularly rapid, and getting up to speed was a noisy affair due to the engine and transmission sounds. However, once at cruising speed, the noise levels became more tolerable. The Venza's handling was confident and typical of a Toyota, with no surprises. It excelled in fuel economy, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined. Toyota backed its hybrid powertrain with a 10-year/150,000-mile hybrid battery warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile Hybrid System warranty.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engine options: 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 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but it felt insufficient for the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The V8, available only on higher trims, delivered a more robust 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy for the V6 was decent at an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was notably worse at 14/22/17. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was stellar, with ride composure and steering feel that were incredibly taut and direct. The optional air suspension offered five ride height settings, enhancing both on-road comfort and off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee L could handle rougher trails with the right equipment, such as the Overland trim with the Off-Road Group option package, which included skid plates and all-terrain tires.

The 2021 Toyota Venza was known for its practicality, offering a unique cabin design with premium appointments in the center stack. The deep center console featured resizable cup holders, a traditional stick shifter, drive mode buttons, an electronic parking brake button, USB and AUX ports, a wireless charging pad, and more. The driver and passenger seats were accommodating, and the rear seats were comfortable for extended drives. The Venza had more headroom than the RAV4, slightly less legroom up front, and nearly equal shoulder and hip room. Its maximum cargo space was 55.1 cubic feet, which was less than some competitors but sufficient for daily use. The 60/40 split-folding rear seatbacks made arranging the cargo space easy.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L offered plenty of space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat as an option. A panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports enhanced the comfort of long journeys. However, the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was quite loud. The Grand Cherokee L's interior was luxurious, with features like multiple massage modes for the front seats, a head-up display, night vision, and a crystal-clear 360-degree camera system.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured the Entune infotainment system, with an 8-inch screen on the LE and XLE trims and a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim. While the larger screen had good response time, it was not the easiest to use, requiring multiple menu trips for simple functions. The Venza came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, AM/FM/HD Radio, Bluetooth, and a six-speaker audio system. A Wi-Fi hot spot was also standard, with a free trial period. The XLE and Limited trims offered a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system. Toyota connected services included a one-year trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, and a 10-year trial of Service Connect. Dynamic navigation was available on models with the larger screen.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a range of high-end technology features, especially on upper trims. These included multiple massage modes for the front seats, a head-up display, night vision, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, providing a zoomed-in view of the next corner. New for 2022 were optional touchscreens for the front passenger and 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 added automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition. The Summit Reserve trim featured a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo system.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, which included eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, tire pressure monitoring, and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. Additional features included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on higher trims. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections on the rear outboard seats.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not yet been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids. The Summit trims added advanced features like automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition.