2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Buick Encore GX

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was an extended version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, adding 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. This extension also included a five-inch longer wheelbase, providing more legroom in the second row and wider rear doors. The additional length and mass were seamlessly integrated into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated in comparison. Jeep's decision to release the L model first in 2021, before the two-row version in 2022, contributed to this perception.

The Grand Cherokee L maintained Jeep's recognizable design elements, such as the seven-slot rectangular grille and U-shaped wheel arches, while modernizing the lighting and improving the paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims featured black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, enhancing the vehicle's elegant appearance. New exterior paint colors for 2022 included Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky. Inside, the Grand Cherokee L offered luxurious materials like real wood, aluminum, and quilted Nappa leather, creating a high-end feel comparable to a Mercedes.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX, however, did not reflect Buick's storied design history. The rounded exterior surfaces and tall stance gave the Encore GX awkward proportions that failed to convey the high-riding SUV look popular in the market. Even with the optional Sport Touring Package, which added different bumpers, a black mesh grille with red inserts, and 18-inch wheels, the changes were subtle and barely noticeable without a direct comparison to a standard Encore.

Inside, the Encore GX Essence trim included leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, dual-zone climate control, and power-adjustable front seats. However, the extensive use of plastic reminded occupants that the Encore GX was still at the bottom of Buick's model hierarchy. While fit and finish were good, the interior design lacked interest, with a blob-like dashboard and door panels reminiscent of 1990s automotive design. The instrument cluster, with its two round binnacles and small digital display, was the only notable feature.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engine options: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). A 48-volt hybrid system, available on Ram pickup trucks, was not offered for the Grand Cherokee L. However, the 4xe plug-in hybrid, which paired a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, provided 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

The V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, felt underpowered for the Grand Cherokee L's weight, especially when fully loaded. The engine noise was noticeable under acceleration, and the transmission's early upshifts did not help. The V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was a better option, offering a more satisfying driving experience. Fuel economy for the V6 was decent at 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17. The 4xe plug-in hybrid's fuel economy estimates were not yet available.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was a standout feature, providing a stellar ride and handling. The optional air suspension offered five ride height settings, enhancing both on-road comfort and off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee L's driving modes, similar to Land Rover's, allowed the vehicle to adapt to various terrains. The Overland trim, with the Off-Road Group option package, earned the Jeep Trail-Rated badge, making it suitable for rougher trails. The Grand Cherokee L's towing capacity was 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX offered two turbocharged three-cylinder engines: a standard 1.2-liter engine with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 1.3-liter engine with 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, while all-wheel drive (AWD) was optional with the 1.3-liter engine. The FWD models used a continuously variable transmission (CVT), while AWD models had a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The 1.3-liter AWD test car provided stronger acceleration than expected, but power delivery was not smooth, requiring patience to get the most out of the engine. The nine-speed automatic transmission could be caught in the wrong gear, and manual shifting with the toggle on the shift lever was not ideal. The Encore GX excelled in ride comfort and noise reduction, with a well-damped suspension and standard active noise cancellation. However, the driving experience was less impressive, with slow and lifeless steering and significant body roll.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. The interface was sleeker and sharper, with physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions. The Laredo and Altitude trims had an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L offered ample space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat optional. However, the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was loud.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX provided competitive passenger space, with headroom similar to rivals like the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Subaru Crosstrek. The Encore GX had 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, the front seats were placed far inboard, reducing the feeling of spaciousness, and lacked thigh support. The Encore GX made good use of available space for small-item storage, with large door pockets and a space-efficient wireless phone charger. The instrumentation was well-executed, with clear information and an array of hard buttons, though a button for the 360-degree camera view was missing.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a range of premium features on upper trims, including multiple massage modes for the 16-way power adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. New for 2022 were optional touchscreens for the front passenger and rear-seat passengers. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen and 4.2-inch driver information display, with optional built-in navigation, head-up display, wireless phone charging, and an eight-speaker Bose audio system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard. The infotainment system was easy to use, with graphics that looked nicer than many competitors'. However, the Encore GX lacked a fully digital instrument cluster and rear USB ports.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.

The 2023 Buick Encore GX had standard driver assist features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a Teen Driver system. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, automatic park assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, a 360-degree camera system, and a rearview camera mirror. The Encore GX was an IIHS 2022 Top Safety Pick and received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.