2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front featured a parametric grille that hid standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When illuminated, the lights formed a unique shape resembling the wings of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile mirrored the Hyundai Elantra's design, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, with four different wheel designs available. High-end trims featured premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgrading beyond the base model added heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and an optional sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, horizontal lines across the dashboard, and an uncluttered aesthetic that gave a sense of spaciousness.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L extended the classic Grand Cherokee design by more than a foot without sacrificing its iconic style. The Hydro Blue model with the High Altitude package featured a 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 accents. The U-shaped fenders and square greenhouse were quintessential Jeep, while slim LED lighting, body-color bumpers with integrated exhaust tips, and a mild curve to the black roofline added modern elements.

Upper trims of the Grand Cherokee L had 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. Diamond-patterned stitching on the seats and aluminum speaker grilles added to the upscale feel. Lower trims lacked some of these details but still offered a dramatically better look and feel compared to lower-priced competitors like the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, and Chevrolet models.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid engine made the Tucson more powerful than the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

Front-wheel drive Tucsons with the ICE engine had an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 26 mpg in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 mpg combined. Adding AWD reduced these figures to 24 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined. The Tucson Hybrid models were more fuel-efficient, with 37 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV was expected to offer 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, with an estimated 25 miles of all-electric range.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's standard V6 engine produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivered 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds compared to 6,200 pounds with the V6. Fuel economy for 4x4 models was 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined with the V6, and 14/22/17 with the V8.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis provided confident handling, especially with the air suspension, which allowed for five height settings and improved aero at highway speeds. Jeep offered three 4WD systems, with Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II, the latter including a low-range transfer case and limited-slip differential. The Grand Cherokee L was not meant for serious off-roading but was tougher than most competitors.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered a spacious and well-appointed interior, comparable to competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. Standard features included a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available. The new platform provided more room for passengers and cargo, with a 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area.

The Tucson's rear seats offered two inches more legroom than the RAV4, and the cabin had plenty of space for a family of four. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor on ICE models. A hands-free liftgate was available on mid-grade models and up.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, with second-row captain's chairs standard on all trims. The third row power-folded up and down, with power-folding headrests accessible from the main touchscreen. The second row was manual, and the third row was best for kids under 12. Sight lines and visibility were good from the driver's seat, with two rows of buttons surrounding the touchscreen 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 seats, and 85 cubic feet with both rows folded. This max cargo space was at the top of the class, much larger than the Grand Cherokee's 71 cubic feet.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. The larger screen required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the touchpoints on the center console were difficult to use while driving.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's Laredo and Altitude trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation that showed full-screen maps on the instrument panel. All systems ran Uconnect 5, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. The night vision and Active Driving Assist were notable features, with the passenger screen in the dash offering independent video and music playback, navigation control, and access to the "FamCam."

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai offered a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The 2023 Grand Cherokee L scored a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for models built after May 2023 and five stars in NHTSA tests except for rollover, which scored four. 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, 360-degree cameras, and night vision.