2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe vs 2023 Land Rover Defender

Jeep's 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe continued the brand's tradition of blending heritage with modernity. The iconic seven-slot grille returned, now with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with trim levels including the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, in particular, featured leather seats, wood and metal accents, and heated and ventilated front seats, though it still had some hard plastic materials that raised concerns about long-term durability.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, embraced a boxy, classic truck design reminiscent of the old LR4. The Defender's design included square-jawed faces, rectangular hoods, and abruptly chopped tails. It offered three body styles: 90 (short two-door), 110 (medium-length four-door), and 130 (extended-length four-door). The interior was functional and durable, with rubbers and plastics designed to resist stains and moisture. Despite its high price, the Defender's interior felt basic and barren, though it maintained excellent build quality and fit.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured a plug-in hybrid powertrain with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain provided a total driving range of 470 miles and an impressive 56 MPGe. The Grand Cherokee 4xe offered various driving modes, including Hybrid, Electric, and eSave, and featured regenerative braking for one-pedal driving. It also had two off-road systems: Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II, with the latter offering more advanced capabilities. However, its towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender excelled off-road with its permanent four-wheel drive, Terrain Response 2 system, and air suspension. It offered a choice of engines, including a turbocharged inline-six with 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, and a supercharged V8 with 518 horsepower and 461 pound-feet of torque. The Defender's V8 provided exhilarating performance, but its fuel economy was poor at 14/19/16 mpg. The six-cylinder engine, part of a mild hybrid powertrain, offered better fuel efficiency at 18/23/20 mpg. The Defender's on-road performance was less impressive, with excessive body roll, slow steering, and noticeable wind noise.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered ample space for passengers, with 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 70.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The air suspension allowed for easy loading and unloading, and the vehicle's heated steering wheel was a welcome feature in cold weather.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender provided exceptional seating configurations, with the Defender 90 offering a jump seat for three across in the front, and the Defender 130 accommodating up to eight passengers. The Defender 130 had 77 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row and second row folded, while the Defender 110 offered 79 cubic feet with the seats folded. The Defender also featured large glass windows, including "alpine lights," and a panoramic moonroof on the 130. Buyers could equip their Defenders with various off-road accessories, making it a versatile and practical SUV.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options. It included a 10.25-inch front-passenger display, a digital driver information display, and optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens. The 19-speaker McIntosh stereo was a standout feature, though it was only available on higher trims.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender offered two touchscreen infotainment systems running Pivi Pro software. The standard 10-inch screen and optional 11.4-inch touchscreen were quick and easy to operate. Standard features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, and power-folding mirrors. Higher trims added features like a Meridian stereo, adaptive cruise control, and a head-up display.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe came with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. However, it had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2023 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by U.S. safety organizations but received five stars in Euro NCAP crash testing. It came with six airbags, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic emergency braking. Optional features included a digital instrument panel, head-up display, and a 360-degree camera system.