2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, extending its length by 1.6 inches compared to the 2021 model. The updated front and rear fascias, enhanced LED lighting, and new character lines gave the Kona a more sophisticated appearance. The sporty new body lines were complemented by lower body cladding, and new alloy wheel designs rounded out the exterior changes. Inside, the instrument panel and center console were separated to create a more spacious look, and new ambient lighting added a touch of sophistication. The addition of two new trim levels, the N Line and Kona N, brought unique styling elements and performance features, making the Kona look more athletic and racy.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, introduced as an 11.4-inch longer version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, accommodated a third row of seats. The wheelbase was also extended by five inches, providing more second-row legroom and wider rear doors. The Grand Cherokee L maintained Jeep's recognizable design elements, such as the seven-slot grille and U-shaped wheel arches, while modernizing the lighting and improving paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims featured black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. The interior boasted dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof, offering a luxurious feel comparable to a Mercedes.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of engines and transmissions across its lineup. The SE and SEL trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The N Line and Limited trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The new Kona N trim was powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N also featured exclusive driving modes and performance enhancements, such as launch control and high-performance brakes and tires. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with the 1.6-liter turbo engine and AWD, provided ample power and a sporty driving experience, with composed handling and a quiet cabin.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 with 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and a 5.7-liter V8 with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6 engine struggled to provide sufficient power for the heavy vehicle, especially when fully loaded, and the transmission's early upshifts didn't help. The V8 engine, available on higher trims, offered better performance and a satisfying sound. The Grand Cherokee L also featured a 4xe plug-in hybrid option, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, producing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The chassis provided excellent ride composure and steering feel, with an optional air suspension offering five ride height settings for various driving conditions. The Grand Cherokee L's towing capacity ranged from 6,200 to 7,200 pounds, depending on the drivetrain.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona's front seats provided ample headroom and legroom, even for taller drivers, and the N Line's seats offered good support during spirited driving. However, rear-seat occupants faced limited head- and legroom, and the small rear door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Kona's cargo space was tight, with 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 45.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. Towing was not recommended for the Kona.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured a user-friendly Uconnect 5 infotainment system with physical switches for climate and audio controls. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L offered generous space in all rows, with the third row accommodating average adults comfortably. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a 60/40 split bench seat available as an option. A panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports enhanced the cabin experience, though the air vents struggled to provide sufficient airflow. The Grand Cherokee L's cargo space and towing capacity made it a versatile family vehicle.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona added more tech features for 2022. The base SE trim included an 8-inch display with a six-speaker audio system and Bluetooth connectivity. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and Hyundai Blue Link. Higher trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation and traffic information, and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base 8-inch screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona also offered a Digital Key, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, and wireless device charging on higher trims. Hyundai Blue Link provided remote services and was complimentary for three years.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's upper trims offered premium features, such as multiple massage modes for the 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 integrated with the instrument panel, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless. New for 2022, Jeep added an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. Higher trims offered additional features, such as automatic parking and traffic sign recognition.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona came with standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping assistance, lane-following assistance, driver attention warning, and rear occupant alert. Available technologies included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, Highway Drive Assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and Safe Exit Warning. The Kona received five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings from the IIHS in all crashworthiness tests. However, the Kona's child-seat anchors received a "Marginal" rating, preventing it from achieving Top Safety Pick status.

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. Higher trims offered additional safety features, such as automatic parking and traffic sign recognition.