2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered a range of models, from the base version priced at $33,745 to the top-tier King Ranch at $54,495, excluding a $1,495 destination charge. The lineup expanded with the rugged Timberline and luxurious King Ranch trims, and the new ST-Line added a sporty look to the popular XLT version. Our test vehicle, the King Ranch, featured 4WD, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof, bringing the MSRP to $59,880. Despite its King Ranch emblems, shiny 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets, it didn't visually stand out much from other models. However, its rear-drive platform allowed for a long and tall hood, short front overhang, and a rakish roofline, giving it a taut, athletic appearance. Inside, the King Ranch featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The cabin exhibited a mix of quality and questionable materials, but mostly felt worthy of its near $60,000 price tag.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe blended past and present design cues, featuring Jeep’s iconic seven-slot grille with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The Grand Cherokee was available in both two- and three-row versions, but the 4xe was strictly a two-row, five-passenger SUV. The trim lineup included the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, with a new High Altitude package announced at the 2022 New York International Auto Show. Our test car, an Overland trim, was painted silver with a contrasting black roof and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Grand Cherokee 4xe felt incredibly comfortable, even in its base trim. The Overland trim featured leather seats, wood and metal accents, heated and ventilated front seats, and bronze contrast stitching. However, the interior had an abundance of hard plastic materials, particularly below the hip point, which raised concerns about durability and noise over time.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic and RWD, with 4WD available. This engine provided up to 24 mpg in combined driving and a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds. The Explorer Limited had an optional hybrid drivetrain based on a 3.3-liter V6 engine, making a combined 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, towing up to 5,000 lbs, and returning up to 27 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid came with RWD or 4WD and a 10-speed automatic transmission. The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard on ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, generated 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic, RWD or 4WD, and could tow up to 5,600 lbs, with a maximum gas mileage of 21 mpg in combined driving. Our King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg. The Explorer felt robust and athletic, handling off-road terrain and daily driving with ease.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe’s most notable feature was its plug-in hybrid powertrain. A 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine paired with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack delivered 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the company’s 5.7-liter V8’s output. The power ran to standard 4WD, managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, achieving 56 MPGe and a total driving range of 470 miles. The battery pack supplied 25 miles of all-electric driving range. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured an electronic front-axle disconnect to save fuel and E Select powertrain modes: Hybrid, Electric, and eSave. Regenerative braking with a Max Regen setting allowed for one-pedal driving. Jeep offered two off-road systems: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, with the latter providing more aggressive off-road capabilities. The Trailhawk trim boasted a maximum of 10.9 inches of ground clearance and could wade through 24 inches of water. However, the 4xe’s towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds, less than the V6- and V8-powered models.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered plenty of comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. However, the third-row seat was only suitable for children due to the rear-drive platform, low rear roofline, and tapered tail. Our King Ranch test vehicle featured triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain’s chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, and the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. However, the third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom. Practical storage space within the cabin could be better, with missed opportunities for additional storage. The King Ranch had a hands-free power liftgate, revealing 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, expandable to 47.9 cubic feet with the third-row seats down, and a maximum of 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike the gas-powered version, wasn’t offered as an L model with a third row of seats. However, all existing seats offered plenty of space for passengers. Folding the second row of seats down opened cargo space from 37.7 cubic feet to 70.8 cubic feet, incremental improvements over the previous generation. Head and legroom were ample in both the front and back. The available air suspension provided a quick-down function, allowing the Grand Cherokee to drop from its off-road height to a low position in as little as seven seconds, helpful for loading and unloading. Despite testing the Grand Cherokee 4xe in hot weather, the vehicle’s standard heated steering wheel would be a blessing in winter.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The smaller screen was well integrated, while the larger screen looked like an afterthought. Our test vehicle had the full menu of Sync 3 technology, including FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch also had wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 3 system had significant limitations, particularly with voice recognition. Additional tech for the King Ranch included a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0. An available rear-seat entertainment system came with dual rear touchscreen displays.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an android-powered interface with customization options. The My Pages feature allowed for personalized screen layouts. The Grand Cherokee 4xe had multiple screens, including a 10.25-inch front-passenger display, standard on the base trim but optional on the Overland and Summit trims. The frameless, 10.25-inch digital driver information display was standard on all trims, and the gauge cluster was customizable. A wireless charging pad was optional, but four USB ports were standard. Optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens ran Amazon’s Fire TV for Auto. The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s 19-speaker McIntosh stereo was highly praised but not available on the base 4xe or Trailhawk. It was part of the Entertainment Group on the Overland trim and a standalone option for Summit models, standard on the Summit Reserve.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for all versions. The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 Explorer, but the previous year’s model earned five-star ratings except for rollover resistance, which received four stars. Ford equipped every 2022 Explorer with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Explorer also had standard automatic high-beam headlights. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. Additional safety features included a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions. The Co-Pilot360 and Co-Pilot360 Assist+ systems operated smoothly and accurately, with minor issues such as sensitivity to the driver’s hands on the steering wheel.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a blend of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard equipment included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. Jeep announced a hands-off driver assistance feature suite, but it required additional hardware and wouldn’t be available to early buyers via an OTA update. Neither the IIHS nor the NHTSA had crash-tested the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Grand Cherokee 4xe.