2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Honda HR-V

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 blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. Jeep introduced the L first as a 2021 model, delaying the two-row version until 2022, which 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, but modernized the lighting to be slimmer and brighter. The paint finish and panel fit were notably improved. All trim levels, from the base Laredo to the loaded Summit Reserve, looked impressive, with the high-end trims featuring black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. For 2022, Jeep added new exterior paint colors: Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky. The interior was luxurious, with high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof, making it feel like a high-end vehicle.

The 2023 Honda HR-V received a significant styling update, losing some of the quirky charm of its predecessor but gaining a more sophisticated and modern appearance. The lowered beltline and simplified detailing contributed to a sleeker look, with cleaner lines and fewer interruptions. The black molding strips on the roof were removed, and the windshield wipers were tucked under the hood's lip. The example tested was in a dusky, oceanic gray-green called Nordic Forest Pearl, one of two new colors for 2023.

Standard 17-inch silver alloy wheels were featured on the HR-V, with EX-L models getting Shark Gray wheels and the Sport trim receiving 18-inch black alloy wheels. The Sport trim also included a black rear spoiler, chrome exhaust, and a more aggressive grille. Inside, the new seats were covered in black or gray cloth by default, with the Sport trim adding black seats with orange contrast stitching, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated front seats, heated side mirrors, and illuminated vanity mirrors. The EX-L trim offered perforated leather seats with additional shoulder support, dual-zone climate control, a power moonroof, and an eight-way power driver’s seat, creating a comfortable and upscale cabin.

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 was available on Ram pickup trucks but not on the Grand Cherokee. 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 test vehicle had the V6 engine, which produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. However, the V6 felt underpowered for the vehicle's weight, requiring high revs to summon power, which resulted in engine noise permeating the cabin. The transmission's early upshifts didn't help, and while Sport mode kept the revs high, it didn't allow them to settle. The V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was a better option, available only on the Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims with 4WD.

Fuel economy for the V6 was decent, with an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17. Estimates for the 4xe plug-in hybrid were not yet available. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was impressive, with a taut and direct steering feel. The optional air suspension provided a range of ride heights and varied between soft and firm settings. The vehicle handled well on rough roads, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2023 Honda HR-V featured a single powertrain option: a 2.0-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque, an improvement over the previous model. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) included a Step-Shift function to mimic traditional automatic transmission sounds, but paddle shifters were no longer available.

Drivers could choose from Normal, Snow, or ECON drive modes, with Sport mode engaged by pulling the shifter back a notch. Snow mode adjusted the transmission and throttle response for better traction, while ECON mode optimized fuel efficiency. Sport mode kept the engine in the power band but didn't affect steering response. Despite updates to the cabin for noise reduction, the HR-V was still noisy at moderate and high speeds.

The HR-V was available with front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The new front and fully independent rear suspensions and widened tracks made the SUV fun to drive on mountain roads, though it lacked power. Competitors like the Kia Seltos, Ford Bronco Sport, and Subaru Crosstrek offered multiple powertrain options, including turbocharged engines.

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 central rotary shifter was easy to learn, and there was a large bin for wireless phone charging and a big central cubby under the armrest.

The Laredo and Altitude trims came with 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. A panoramic roof, large windows, and USB ports made long journeys comfortable. However, the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was loud.

The 2023 Honda HR-V, a subcompact SUV, felt comfortably sized and well thought out. The center console featured a shelf for drive mode controls, parking brake, and hill-descent control, with two USB ports for cord storage. The fastback design sacrificed less than half an inch of rear-seat headroom, with 39.4 inches in the front (38.4 with the moonroof) and 38.0 inches in the rear. Cargo space was 24.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55.1 with them folded, slightly smaller than the previous model.

The Magic Seat was gone, but the new hinge design allowed for a higher seating position and a nearly flat floor when folded. The HR-V had 98.7 cubic feet of passenger volume in LX and Sport trims and 97.3 in EX-L, with front legroom improved to 41.9 inches.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered 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, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless. New for 2022 were optional touchscreens for the front passenger and rear-seat passengers.

Standard features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. The Summit trims added automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition. The Summit Reserve came with a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, while lower trims had nine-speaker or six-speaker systems.

The 2023 Honda HR-V's infotainment system now rose above the dash, with physical knobs for power and volume. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across the lineup, with wireless versions on the EX-L trim. All HR-Vs had a 7-inch digital gauge cluster and a 7-inch color touchscreen, while the EX-L had a 9-inch display and a wireless charging pad. The 9-inch system offered programmable shortcuts and a Smart Shortcuts feature.

Standard features included three USB-A ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a four-speaker audio system. Sport trims had a six-speaker system, Smart Entry, remote start, and walkaway auto lock. The EX-L added an eight-speaker system, WiFi capability, and SiriusXM and HD Radio.

The 2022 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 Honda HR-V came standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), including adaptive cruise control, collision-mitigation braking, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision warning. New features for 2023 included traffic-sign recognition, traffic jam assist, and automatic high-beams. A driver-attention monitor was standard, and Sport and EX-L trims had a blind-spot information system. The EX-L also had front and rear parking sensors and low-speed braking control.

The 2023 HR-V had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but the 2022 model received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and mostly "Good" scores from the IIHS. Updates for 2023, including new airbags, aimed to improve safety ratings.