2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was designed with an extended body, adding 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats compared to its two-row variant. This stretch also resulted in a five-inch longer wheelbase, enabling more legroom in the second row and wider rear doors. Interestingly, the added length and mass integrated so seamlessly into the vehicle's body that the L made the standard Grand Cherokee look somewhat truncated. This was partly because Jeep introduced the L model before the two-row version.

The Grand Cherokee L was praised for its elegance and unmistakable Jeep identity. The seven-slot rectangular grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and blunt front end were classic Jeep features, albeit with modernized, slimmer, and brighter lighting. The paint finish and panel fit were notably improved. The Grand Cherokee L, especially in its high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims, boasted black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, making them visually impactful. For 2022, Jeep added three new exterior paint colors: Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee L aimed high, offering dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof, exuding a sense of luxury akin to that of a Mercedes, albeit without shared parts. The interior, even in all-black, was detailed and contrasting enough to keep passengers visually engaged and comfortable. The lighter tan leather option elevated the luxury feel, making occupants think twice about getting in with dirty hands or feet.

On the other hand, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was described using the terms “modernist” and “reductive.” These were fancy words for a clean and simple design, perhaps not catering to those who preferred their luxury SUVs to be flashy. With limited options for striking modifications from the factory, the Range Rover Sport focused on understated elegance. Our test vehicle, finished in Eiger Gray with silver 23-inch wheels and a subtle Black Exterior Pack, exemplified this approach. Inside, it featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim, emphasizing understated luxury.

The Range Rover Sport was sold in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e trims. Key design elements included premium LED headlights in the slimmest design ever for a Land Rover, flush-mounted door handles, and taillights with surface LED technology. The vehicle also boasted excellent aerodynamics, with a drag coefficient of 0.29. Inside, it sported a luxurious, high-tech appearance characterized by the use of Ultrafabrics, a sustainable material, alongside decadently smooth Windsor leather upholstery.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engine choices: a 3.6-liter V6 or a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and options for rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. For those looking for a hybrid option, a 4xe plug-in hybrid drivetrain was available, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, producing a combined 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

The test vehicle equipped with the V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, struggled with the Grand Cherokee L's weight. The engine needed high revs for adequate power, which made it loud and coarse under acceleration. The V8, producing 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, delivered more satisfying performance and a distinct sound. Fuel economy for the V6 was decent at an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, whereas the V8 dropped to 14/22/17 mpg.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was a highlight, offering excellent ride composure and steering feel. The optional air suspension adjusted seamlessly between comfort and firmness, with five ride height settings catering to various driving conditions. The vehicle's off-road capability included selectable terrain modes and up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance in Off-road 2 mode. Its towing capacity ranged from 6,200 pounds for RWD to 7,200 pounds for 4WD models.

Conversely, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver-focused engagement. The Range Rover Sport offered several powertrain options. The turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six engine, featuring mild-hybrid technology, produced either 355 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque in the SE P360 or 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque in the SE Dynamic P400. The plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain in the Autobiography P440e delivered 434 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque with an estimated 51-mile electric driving range.

Early-build models briefly featured a 523-horsepower twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8. The new electric version, expected in 2024, marked Land Rover's shift towards electrification. Our test vehicle's 395-horsepower inline-six provided robust performance, with acceleration to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. The Range Rover Sport's towing capacity was 7,716 pounds.

The Range Rover Sport's fuel efficiency was impressive, averaging 21 mpg in combined driving, and even achieving 25.1 mpg on some routes. The vehicle's new architecture improved torsional stiffness by 35%, and its adaptive damping air suspension adjusted up to 500 times per second. The Dynamic driving mode, coupled with features like torque vectoring and roll stability control, enhanced the vehicle's on-road performance, though it did not match the handling precision of German competitors. Off-road, the Range Rover Sport excelled with 11.1 inches of ground clearance, impressive approach, breakover, and departure angles, and a wading depth of 35.4 inches.

Jeep's 2022 Grand Cherokee L featured an intuitive Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with separate physical switches for climate and stereo controls. The Laredo and Altitude trims had an 8.4-inch touchscreen and digital instrument panel, while higher trims boasted a 10.1-inch touchscreen. However, some graphics and texts were tiny, making them hard to read, and occasional lag issues were noted.

Spaciousness was a key strength of the Grand Cherokee L, with ample room even in the third row. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with an optional 60/40 split bench seat. The large panoramic roof, many USB ports, and ample legroom added to passenger comfort, although the air vents were undersized and had limited airflow.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained its Command Driving Position, with a tall, airy feel. The air suspension facilitated easier entry and exit. Front seats were comfortable, with adjustable inboard armrests, 20-way power adjustments, heating, and ventilation. However, the rear seat was less accommodating, with limited legroom for taller passengers and hard front seatback panels. Rear occupants enjoyed air conditioning vents, power ports, and manual side sunshades, although the seatback angle was too reclined.

Storage in the Range Rover Sport was decent, though some compartments were impractically shallow. A power liftgate revealed 31.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A full-size spare tire under the cargo floor limited additional storage, but there were handy features like netted pockets and hooks in the cargo area.

Comparatively, the Grand Cherokee L excelled in passenger and cargo space, making it a more practical choice for families or those needing more luggage capacity.

For the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, upper trims came equipped with high-end features like 16-way power-adjustable front seats with multiple massage modes, a head-up display, night vision, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system integrated well with the instrument panel and worked smoothly with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (both wireless). New for 2022 were optional touchscreens for the front passenger and rear-seat entertainment, along with a rear-facing camera showing the second and third rows. Standard driver aids included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring.

The Grand Cherokee L's tech included a crystal-clear 360-degree camera system, automatic parking, and a robust 19-speaker McIntosh stereo on the Summit Reserve trim. Users did report occasional system lag and washed-out graphics in the 4x4 app.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard tech features included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM, and an Online Pack with connected services, but Wi-Fi required an extra-cost data plan. The Pivi Pro platform, designed to learn user habits and personalize the experience, was often confusing and frustrating.

Users experienced difficulty accessing features and found the native digital assistant unhelpful. The Range Rover Sport test vehicle encountered navigation issues, failing to locate basic destinations like Starbucks effectively. Despite these setbacks, the Meridian audio system and Active Noise Cancellation impressed, enhancing the driving experience.

Land Rover's tech inclusion was comprehensive, but its user experience was often cumbersome. The Jeep systems, albeit with some lag issues, were generally more intuitive and user-friendly.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's safety highlights included standard driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various standard driver aids like adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist. However, it had not yet been tested by NHTSA or IIHS.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured numerous advanced driving assistance systems. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additionally, it had a driver monitoring system, front and rear parking sensors, and a surround-view camera with ClearSight Ground View. Wade Sensing was standard for water crossings, and Remote Park Assist allowed for external vehicle parking via a smartphone app.

However, our focus was on the adaptive cruise control with steering assist, which was slow to respond and less smooth than expected. The steering assist technology struggled on freeway curves, requiring driver intervention to maintain a proper course.

Ultimately, both vehicles had extensive safety features, but the Range Rover Sport's semi-autonomous driving aids could be improved for better reliability and performance.