2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT trim did not impress with its new XRT treatment. It lacked a suspension lift and more aggressive tires, which would have made it more convincing. The side steps, while useful for roof rack access, impeded entry and exit and reduced the breakover angle for off-roading. The XRT trim, priced between the SE/SEL and the turbocharged Limited/Calligraphy trims, came with either FWD or AWD, starting at $34,095. The test vehicle, in Portofino Gray with a black cloth interior, offered little visual contrast and felt like an old black-and-white image. However, the interior patterns and brightwork made the cabin a pleasant place to be, demonstrating thoughtful design and high quality for the price point.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, with its Hydro Blue exterior and High Altitude package, featured blacked-out grille, logos, and door handles, along with dark gray 21-inch wheels. The black leather interior with gold stitching and matte-finish light walnut trim added boldness. The U-shaped fenders and square greenhouse were classic Jeep, while modern elements like slim LED lighting and body-color bumpers with integrated exhaust tips gave it a contemporary look. The upper trims boasted impressive interiors, with 90 percent of the materials feeling justified for a $70,000 truck. The polished black dash hid an optional touchscreen, and the gear selector and driving mode toggles felt appropriately damped. The diamond-patterned stitching and aluminum speaker grilles added to the classy feel.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. With nearly two tons of curb weight, the engine was adequate for freeway speeds and cruising but lacked the power for quick acceleration or climbing hills. The eight-speed automatic transmission performed well, with simple pushbutton controls for gear selection. The Santa Fe offered Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the default Smart mode best suited for low-demand driving. The test vehicle averaged 22.3 mpg, with an official EPA rating of 24 mpg. The ride quality was good, with excellent suspension isolation and a remarkably quiet cabin. The handling, steering, and braking were fine, making the Santa Fe feel secure and under control.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's weakest element was its standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The engine was noisy and lacked low-end torque, making it feel underpowered for the heavy SUV. The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was recommended, 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 chassis felt solid and stiff, with confident handling and a pliable ride. The steering could be quicker, but the handling topped the class. Jeep offered three 4WD systems, with the air suspension allowing for up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT included dual-zone automatic climate control with a Clean Air ionizer and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat was comfortable, but the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The rear-seat accommodations were excellent, with plenty of room for a family of four and features like rear side-window shades and USB charging ports. Storage space was adequate, with a hands-free power-opening “Smart Tailgate” that could sense when you were standing with the key fob. The Santa Fe offered 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 72.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, with standard second-row captain's chairs. The Summit and Summit Reserve trims included a center console with two tiers of storage, four-zone climate control, and heated rear seats. The third row was tight for adults but suitable for kids under 12. The driver’s seat offered good sight lines and visibility, with two rows of buttons for audio, climate control, and other functions. Cargo space was ample, with 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was simple to use, with large power/volume and tuning knobs, clean on-screen graphics, and logical menu structures. The test vehicle did not have the infotainment system upgrade, but previous experience with Hyundai’s larger touchscreen system showed it to be among the class leaders. The Santa Fe also included digital key technology for Android-based smartphones and a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system.

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. The Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. All systems ran Uconnect 5, which was quick and easy to use despite some legibility issues. The McIntosh sound system, with 19 speakers, was good but lacked surround imaging from the rear speakers. The Grand Cherokee L also offered night vision, Active Driving Assist, and a passenger screen that could play video and music independently from the rear entertainment system. Amazon Fire TV was available to stream from the Jeep’s LTE connection.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT came with numerous standard safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Junction Turning Detection system and Safe Exit Assist were also standard. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L scored a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for models built after May 2023 and five stars from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover score. 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, backup camera washer, and 360-degree cameras. Night vision and Active Driving Assist were available on higher trims.