2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Kia Seltos

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. All trims except the Seltos S included standard all-wheel drive (AWD). Prices at the start of the model year ranged from $22,590 to $28,080, excluding the $1,255 destination charge. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails, with an MSRP of $28,045, including the destination charge.

Inside, the Seltos displayed a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic made the interior look cheap. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs for commonly adjusted features and matte-black buttons with clear markings. Despite some nitpicking, the Seltos was larger, more useful, more refined, and more powerful than many of its direct rivals, making it easy to forget it competed against the Toyota Corolla Cross rather than the Toyota RAV4.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L extended the classic Grand Cherokee design by more than a foot without sacrificing its iconic style. Our Hydro Blue test vehicle featured the High Altitude package, which blacked out the grille, logos, and door handles, and included dark gray 21-inch wheels, black leather with gold stitching, and matte-finish light walnut trim. The U-shaped fenders and square greenhouse were quintessential Jeep, while modern elements like slim LED lighting and body-color bumpers added a contemporary touch.

The interior of the upper trims was impressive, with 90 percent of the materials feeling justified for a $70,000 truck. The polished black dash hid an optional touchscreen, and the gear selector and driving mode toggles felt appropriately damped. The diamond-patterned stitching on the seats and aluminum speaker grilles added to the classy feel. Lower trims lacked some of these details but still offered a dramatically better look and feel than lower-priced competitors like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims came with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a more satisfying turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo engine's torque arrived 3,000 rpm sooner than the naturally aspirated engine, making it more engaging to drive.

The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes. Smart mode balanced fuel efficiency with responsiveness but was unpredictable and slow to respond. Sport mode quickened the powertrain's pulse but sometimes struggled to find the right gear. The AWD system had a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the ground clearance was 7.3 inches. The Seltos was at home in light off-roading conditions but less capable on challenging terrain. The suspension tuning was the least appealing aspect, with the vehicle exhibiting lateral rocking motions and feeling bouncy on undulating roads. Despite these issues, the Seltos was lively in urban environments and easy to park.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's weakest element was its standard 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. The engine groaned and struggled, making it feel underpowered for the heavy SUV. The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was recommended, especially for towing, with a max rating of 7,200 pounds compared to 6,200 with the V6. The V8 also sounded fantastic. Fuel economy for the V6 was 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8's ratings were 14/22/17.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis felt solid and stiff, providing confident handling. The air suspension allowed the vehicle to whisk through corners without excessive lean, and the ride remained pliable. The steering could be quicker, but the handling topped the class. Jeep offered three four-wheel drive (4WD) systems, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) standard. The Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II systems provided varying levels of off-road capability. The air suspension allowed for ground clearance of up to 10.9 inches, making the Grand Cherokee L tougher than most buyers needed.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior that was easy to live with daily. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, making it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The front passenger's seat was not height-adjustable but provided proper leg support. The Nightfall Edition included cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and footroom, rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the back seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, making it feel cavernous. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a center console and four-zone climate control on the Summit and Summit Reserve trims. The third row power-folded up and down, but the second row was manual. The third row was tight for adults but suitable for kids under 12. Sight lines and visibility were good from the driver's seat, with two rows of buttons surrounding the touchscreen for audio, climate control, and other functions. Cargo space was ample, with 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85 cubic feet with both rows folded, making it one of the largest in its class.

For 2022, the Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to the S trim level. This system was standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims, with the SX trim pairing it with a Bose premium sound system. The system included Bluetooth, a navigation system, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. The standard 8-inch touchscreen in the LX and S trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity. The infotainment system was intuitive, with volume and tuning knobs and physical buttons for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating, and it was better to use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. The Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation. All systems ran Uconnect 5, which was quick and easy to use despite some legibility issues. The McIntosh sound system with 19 speakers was good but lacked surround imaging from the rear speakers. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard on all trims. The night vision system was superb, and the Active Driving Assist provided semi-automated control on marked highways. The passenger screen in the dash was a standout feature, allowing the front passenger to control navigation, activate cameras, and watch video independently from the rear entertainment system.

The 2022 Kia Seltos was equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos EX added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the SX trim and an overall rating of four stars from the NHTSA.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L scored a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for models built after May 2023 and five stars in every NHTSA test except for rollover, where it scored four stars. Standard safety features included driver and passenger front knee airbags, forward emergency braking, rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included front cross-traffic braking, a backup camera washer, and 360-degree cameras. Night vision was available on the Summit and Summit Reserve trims, and Active Driving Assist was standard on the Summit Reserve.