2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer was offered in 2LT, 3LT, Premier, and RS trim levels. All trims except the RS came with a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine and the option of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The RS trim included a V6 engine and a more sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system for better performance on low-traction surfaces. For 2022, the Blazer saw minor updates, including revised bumper and bodyside trim for the Premier version, redesigned standard wheels, and new package options like the Enhanced Convenience Package and Trailering Package. Two-tone paint became available for the LT and RS trims. Pricing ranged from $33,400 to $41,100, excluding a $1,195 destination charge. Our test vehicle, a Blazer RS with optional AWD and several packages, totaled $49,000.

The Blazer's design drew inspiration from the Camaro, featuring a sporty and appealing look, especially with 20-inch wheels. However, the black trim on the rear bumper gave it an unfinished appearance. Inside, the Camaro influence continued with an 8-inch touchscreen display, simple physical controls, and innovative temperature adjustment rings on the air vents. Despite the sporty design, the interior had plenty of hard plastic, which felt out of place in a nearly $50,000 vehicle. The red interior accents in the RS trim added a touch of sophistication, matching the exterior paint.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L extended the classic Grand Cherokee design by more than a foot without losing its iconic style. Our Hydro Blue test vehicle featured the High Altitude package, which included blacked-out grille, logos, and door handles, along with dark gray 21-inch wheels. The interior boasted black leather with gold stitching and matte-finish light walnut trim, creating a bold and upscale look. The U-shaped fenders, square greenhouse, slim LED lighting, and body-color bumpers with integrated exhaust tips gave it a modern yet timeless appearance.

Upper trims of the Grand Cherokee L impressed with their luxurious interiors. While not every piece was Mercedes-grade, 90 percent of the materials felt justified for a $70,000 SUV. The polished black dash hid an optional touchscreen, and the gear selector and driving mode toggles felt appropriately damped. The diamond-patterned stitching on the seats and aluminum speaker grilles added to the classy feel. Lower trims lacked some of these details but still offered a significantly better look and feel compared to competitors like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came with a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission powered either the front or all four wheels, with driving modes including Tour, Sport, Slippery, and Tow/Haul. The Blazer RS featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque, paired with a dual-clutch AWD system. This engine was optional on the 3LT and Premier trims. The V6 could tow up to 4,500 pounds, 1,000 pounds more than the base engine.

In city and highway driving, the Blazer RS felt firm and sporty, with decent grip from the 20-inch wheels. The V6 provided satisfying acceleration but often sounded loud and unrefined. The steering was good in most modes but felt artificially heavy in Sport mode. The brakes were capable, but the SUV's suspension struggled on winding roads, and the nine-speed automatic was slow to downshift. The Blazer RS averaged 20.5 mpg in combined driving, slightly below the EPA rating of 21 mpg.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's weakest point was its standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The engine felt underpowered for the heavy SUV, and the sport mode only highlighted its shortcomings. The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was a better choice, especially for towing, with a max rating of 7,200 pounds compared to 6,200 with the V6. The V8 also sounded fantastic. Fuel economy for the V6 was 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8's ratings were 14/22/17.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis provided confident handling, especially with the air suspension, which allowed for smooth cornering and a comfortable ride. The steering could have been quicker, but overall, the handling was top-notch for its class. Jeep offered three 4WD systems, with the most advanced being Quadra-Drive II, which included a low-range transfer case and a limited-slip differential. The air suspension allowed for up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and could lower for improved aerodynamics and easier parking.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered a reasonably comfortable and useful interior. The RS test vehicle's black leather upholstery with red perforations looked sporty but didn't feel particularly high-quality. The steering wheel was pleasing to grip, and the front seats provided power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. However, the seats lacked thigh support and side bolsters. Dual-zone automatic climate control and rear air vents kept the cabin comfortable, and the back seat offered plenty of legroom and could slide forward and back for added flexibility.

Storage space in the Blazer was impressive, with a large glove compartment, a spacious bin under the center armrest, and various shelves and bins in the door panels. The rear cargo area measured 30.5 cubic feet, expanding to 64.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, which was small for a midsize SUV. Most Blazers had a power rear liftgate, with hands-free operation available on the RS and Premier trims, though its success rate was hit-and-miss.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, making it feel spacious even with tall occupants in the front seats. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a center console available on the Summit and Summit Reserve trims. The third row was best suited for children, as it was tight for adults. The driver's seat offered good visibility, and the dashboard featured two rows of buttons for easy access to various controls.

Cargo space in the Grand Cherokee L was generous, with 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85 cubic feet with both rows folded. This maximum cargo space was among the best in its class, significantly larger than the standard Grand Cherokee's 71 cubic feet.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system was user-friendly, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, high-resolution graphics, and simple physical controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the upgraded system added satellite radio and connected navigation. Connected services, including OnStar and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, were available with short trial periods. The enhanced voice recognition and connected navigation systems were fast and accurate. The test vehicle also had wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Bose audio system, which was underwhelming.

Safety features included rear parking sensors, a high-resolution reversing camera, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror. These features were essential due to the Blazer's poor rear visibility.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation that displayed full-screen maps on the instrument panel. All systems ran Uconnect 5, which was generally quick and easy to use despite some legibility issues. The McIntosh sound system, with 19 speakers, was good but lacked surround imaging. Navigation was standard on the Limited and Overland trims, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims.

The Grand Cherokee L offered advanced tech features like night vision, Active Driving Assist, and a passenger screen that could play video and music independently from the rear entertainment system. The passenger screen also allowed control of navigation, 360 cameras, and the "FamCam," which monitored the second and third rows. Amazon Fire TV was available for streaming from the Jeep's LTE connection.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included a rear-seat reminder system, Teen Driver technology, and the optional Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to warn of threats. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and LED headlights were also available. The Blazer's advanced driving assistance systems worked well, providing smooth and effective operation in traffic.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for models built after May 2023, thanks to reinforced frame improvements. It also received five stars in most NHTSA tests, except for rollover, where it scored four stars. Standard safety features included driver and passenger front knee airbags, forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included front cross-traffic braking, a backup camera washer, 360-degree cameras, and night vision. The Active Driving Assist was standard on the Summit Reserve trim.