2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2022 Ford Expedition

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, sharing its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, presented a traditional SUV aesthetic. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile, reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. Distinguishing itself from the Wagoneer, the Grand Wagoneer boasted a standard black roof, a unique hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, adorned with laser-etched knurling in the slots. Standard 20-inch wheels, with optional 22-inch wheels, had acrylic glass coverings to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture, shared with the Wagoneer, allowed for independent suspension and incorporated lightweight materials like an aluminum hood and doors.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared design elements with the Wagoneer, such as an integrated infotainment touchscreen and a two-spoke steering wheel. However, it offered more luxury with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and optional higher-grade Palermo leather. The interior featured aluminum and American Walnut wood trim, with seat controls placed high on the doors, akin to Mercedes. The dashboard prominently displayed “Grand Wagoneer” on the passenger side, ensuring occupants never forgot the vehicle they were in.

The 2022 Ford Expedition underwent several updates, including exterior styling revisions and enhanced infotainment technology. The front showcased a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear featured revised taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. Redesigned wheels were introduced across the model lineup. The Expedition was available in various trims, including XL STX, XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum, with standard and extended-length body styles. Prices ranged from just over $55,000 to nearly $84,000. A new Timberline trim catered to off-road enthusiasts, offering features like standard 4WD, all-terrain tires, and off-roading tech for around $72,500.

Inside, the Expedition featured a redesigned dashboard housing the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The latter boasted a large 15.5-inch touchscreen display. The SUV offered an available 12.4-inch digital instrumentation display, which was included in the leather-lined Limited Stealth Edition. The test model's MSRP was $80,155, including options like 4WD, extra-cost paint, the Stealth Package, and a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package. Despite its F-150 pickup-grade plastic trim, the Expedition Limited Stealth Edition compensated with leather seats, soft padding, and impressive technology.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, impressive for a vehicle weighing around 6,400 pounds. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Sand/Mud.

The Grand Wagoneer’s Quadra-Lift air suspension system, standard on this model, was height-adjustable, providing up to 10 inches of ground clearance. This enabled a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle. Jeep claimed the Grand Wagoneer could ford up to 24 inches of water and was equipped with skid plates for off-road protection. Despite its powerful V8, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace, as higher speeds resulted in a bouncy ride and imprecise steering. Its size was a limiting factor off-road, and it did not receive Jeep’s “Trail Rated” badge.

The 2022 Ford Expedition was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. The engine drove the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with 4WD as an option. Fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving, and the Expedition could tow between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds, depending on the model and equipment. The twin-turbo V6 offered addictive power, with a signature sound different from a traditional V8. However, pushing the accelerator resulted in increased fuel consumption, with observed fuel economy at 16.2 mpg, below the official EPA rating of 18 mpg.

The Expedition’s driving dynamics could have benefited from the adaptive damping suspension available on higher trims. The 22-inch wheels and 285/45 tires contributed to a sometimes harsh ride quality, though they improved handling and grip. Despite its size, the Expedition was surprisingly easy to park, thanks to excellent visibility, parking sensors, and a 360-degree camera system. On the highway, the Expedition excelled, offering a quiet and comfortable ride, making it ideal for long road trips.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, space in the front was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer offered 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats provided 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space, less than its rivals.

The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. Forward visibility was somewhat limited by the hood, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2022 Ford Expedition excelled in interior comfort, offering easy access with available power running boards. It provided ample space for passengers, with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats. The wide console housed a large storage bin, hidden cupholders, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Second-row captain’s chairs offered plenty of legroom, with climate controls and overhead air vents for added comfort. The third-row seat was easy to access and provided good leg support, though headroom was tight for taller passengers.

Cargo space behind the third row measured 19.3 cubic feet, with the option to fold the third row for 57.5 cubic feet of space. The Expedition Max offered even more cargo capacity, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row and 121.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Expedition’s thoughtful design included features like a small lip to prevent items from rolling out when the liftgate was opened.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a comprehensive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. It included a McIntosh audio system, simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two phones, and a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer also offered a separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, with Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto.

The Grand Wagoneer used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, featuring an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates. While the system offered a range of features, the screen was sometimes slow to respond, and the instrument cluster’s graphics were considered plain. However, the head-up display was clear and legible.

The 2022 Ford Expedition introduced Ford’s next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system included a 12-inch touchscreen, while Sync 4A offered a larger 15.5-inch touchscreen with a single physical dial for stereo volume. Both systems featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with Wi-Fi hotspot access, and natural voice recognition. Sync 4A added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, and a choice of Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems.

Sync 4A was sophisticated but had some quirks, such as difficulty restarting Apple CarPlay and issues with the voice-recognition system. The system’s user interface occasionally led to accidental activation of the defroster function. The Expedition also offered an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV and Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 for easier trailer reversing.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came equipped with a range of standard safety features, including a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. A hands-free version was planned for future release.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered three Ford Co-Pilot360 collections of driving-assistance systems. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver monitoring system, and automatic high-beam headlights. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-centering assist, and new features like intersection assist and evasive steering assist.

The King Ranch and Platinum trims included Co-Pilot Assist 2.0, with a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. Ford’s BlueCruise hands-free driving technology was available, operating on approved highways. While adaptive cruise control performed smoothly, the lane-centering assist had issues, such as steering the vehicle to the side of the lane and issuing unnecessary warnings. These issues could lead to driver confusion and irritation.