2023 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a longer version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, extending 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. The wheelbase was also stretched by five inches, providing more legroom in the second row and wider rear doors. This extra 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. 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 and improved the paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, with new exterior paint colors like Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee L offered a luxurious experience with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof. The interior layout felt premium, reminiscent of a Mercedes in style and quality. Even in all-black, the interior had enough detail and contrast to keep passengers comfortable. The lighter tan leather option added a touch of luxury, though it required passengers to be mindful of cleanliness. Overall, the Grand Cherokee L's interior was a significant upgrade, justifying its higher price compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 retained its distinctive design, combining Volvo's current design language with a flat-roofed profile that emphasized its SUV nature. The exterior was clean and free of unnecessary detailing, with hidden tailpipes on gasoline models to align with Volvo's pro-electrification ethos. For 2023, Volvo updated the XC40's exterior with new pixelated "Thor’s Hammer" headlights, a more angular front bumper, and new wheel designs. The XC40 Recharge was easier to identify with its new sealed-off grille borrowed from the C40 Recharge.

The XC40 shared Volvo’s Compact Modular Architecture (CMA) platform with the C40 Recharge and Polestar 2, making it the only CMA-based model in the U.S. available with a combustion engine. The interior maintained a minimalist design with attractive touches like thin air vents framing the central touchscreen and scalloped elements housing the door handles and speaker grilles. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard, with an optional air purifier. Leather upholstery was available, with vegan leather for Recharge models. The XC40 Ultimate test vehicle featured a panoramic moonroof and an Orrefors crystal shift knob, though the all-black interior felt more utilitarian than luxurious.

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 was a superior option, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, delivering 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

The test vehicle had the V6 engine, which produced 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This engine 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 never allowed them to settle. The V8, available only on higher trims with 4WD, offered a healthier 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque and sounded much better. Fuel economy for the V6 was decent at 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was worse at 14/22/17. Estimates for the 4xe plug-in hybrid were not yet available.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was a standout feature, offering stellar ride composure and steering feel. The optional air suspension provided adjustable ride heights and varied between soft and firm settings. The vehicle handled with precision, and the air springs offered five ride height settings, including an Access height for easier entry and exit and two off-road modes for up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance. The driving modes modulated various systems for different terrains, making the Grand Cherokee L capable on rougher trails, especially with the Overland trim's Off-Road Group option package. The maximum towing capacity was 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2023 Volvo XC40 introduced mild-hybrid powertrains, adding a 48-volt electrical system and a 13-horsepower integrated starter generator to assist the gasoline engine and improve fuel economy. The base B4 powertrain combined the mild-hybrid system with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 197 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque. The B5 models had a more powerful 2.0-liter turbo-four rated at 247 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B4 being FWD-only and the B5 AWD-only.

Volvo claimed the B4 and B5 models could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 8.1 seconds and 6.1 seconds, respectively. The B5 test car felt reasonably quick, though the accelerator pedal required extra initial pressure, making smooth starts tricky. Once moving, the combination of electric assist and turbo boost provided ample power. The XC40 was electronically limited to a top speed of 112 mph for safety.

The XC40's high level of refinement stood out, handling corners with composure and absorbing bumps like a more expensive vehicle. The chassis tuning gave the XC40 a calm demeanor, setting it apart from mainstream competitors. While it didn't offer a sport driving mode, the option to increase steering firmness was available, though it made small corrections more difficult.

The XC40 Recharge added more power with its two electric motors producing a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft of torque, achieving a zero to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and an EPA-rated 223-mile range. The Recharge also had a higher towing capacity of 4,409 pounds compared to the B5 AWD model's 3,500 pounds.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a sleek and sharp interface. Physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions were easy to use, with a damped click for a premium feel. The central rotary shifter was intuitive, and there was ample storage, including a wireless phone charging bin and a large central cubby.

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. Some legibility issues were noted with small graphics and text, and occasional lag when switching menus. The Grand Cherokee L offered plenty of 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 ample USB ports enhanced comfort, though the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was loud.

The 2023 Volvo XC40, while marketed as an SUV, was better suited for solo commuting than carpooling. It offered reasonable space among its competitors, with ample rear-seat headroom and shoulder room. Legroom was average, but the generous shoulder room made the second-row middle seat usable. Volvo listed 20 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded, less than some competitors. A power tailgate and keyless entry were standard on higher trims.

The XC40's interior storage was good, with scalloped door panels creating flexible storage options and a large center console storage bin and phone tray. The minimalist design included attractive touches like thin air vents and scalloped elements for door handles and speaker grilles.

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 UConnect seamlessly integrated with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. New for 2022 were optional touchscreens for the front passenger and rear-seat passengers with Amazon Fire TV.

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

The 2023 Volvo XC40 adopted the Android-based infotainment system from the XC40 Recharge, using Google apps for navigation and voice recognition. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and 9-inch touchscreen were standard, with a 13-speaker Harman Kardon audio system available on higher trims. The infotainment experience was similar to other Volvo models with the Android system, though users who preferred Apple might not find it as satisfying.

The minimalist design meant a lack of analog controls, with most functions controlled via the touchscreen. This included activating seat heaters and selecting driver-assist features, which could be cumbersome to navigate.

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 Volvo XC40 reflected Volvo's safety reputation with standard features like lane keep assist, automatic emergency braking, Oncoming Lane Mitigation, traffic sign recognition, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. Upgrading to higher trims added features like front parking sensors, a 360-degree camera system, adaptive cruise control, and Pilot Assist.

The IIHS gave the 2023 XC40 top "Good" ratings in most crash tests but an "Acceptable" rating in the updated side-impact test. The NHTSA awarded the gasoline XC40 a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and a four-star rollover rating.