2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Land Rover Defender

The 2022 Land Rover Defender retained its distinctive exterior styling, with a boxy profile, tailgate-mounted spare tire, and flat hood that visually tied it to the original version and classic Series Land Rovers. Despite these retro callbacks, the design was thoroughly modern, featuring rounded corners for better aerodynamics and recessed LED headlights that gave the Defender a unique personality. The modern Defender was also much larger than its predecessor, offering improved interior space and ergonomics.

Inside, the Defender balanced rugged character with modern comfort. The interior featured a mix of leather upholstery and suede, exposed screws, and bare metal, which added to its rugged appeal without seeming cheesy. The driving position was more comfortable than the original, with better headroom and legroom, and good outward visibility. The Defender's interior design emphasized functionality, with a large center-console storage bin and optional refrigeration, making it practical for both everyday use and off-road adventures.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, redesigned for the model year, offered a two-row version that mirrored the extended-length Grand Cherokee L. Available in various trims, from the basic Laredo to the luxurious Summit Reserve, the Grand Cherokee catered to a wide range of preferences. Prices ranged from $37,390 to $63,365, excluding a $1,795 destination charge. The new Grand Cherokee's styling drew inspiration from the 1963 Wagoneer, featuring a forward-leaning grille, lowered beltline, and tapered rear roof pillars. A black roof option and a limited selection of paint colors were available at launch.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee's interior varied by trim level, with the base Laredo offering good quality cloth seats and higher trims like the Summit Reserve featuring premium quilted leather, heated and ventilated seats, and a McIntosh audio system. The Grand Cherokee's interior was designed to improve visibility, especially when off-roading, and the available panoramic sunroof added an airy feel to the cabin. Rear-seat room was tight for adults with long legs, but the Grand Cherokee L offered more legroom and cargo space. The two-row Grand Cherokee provided 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 70.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered three powertrains: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mild-hybrid powertrain with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft, and a new-for-2022 V8 engine producing 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. The V8 could accelerate the Defender 90 from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 149 mph. All Defender models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case.

The Defender's V8 model featured an electronic active rear differential, Dynamic drive mode, and unique transmission and suspension tuning for sportier handling. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. The Defender's off-road prowess included a 4WD system with low range, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance with the optional air suspension. The Defender also had an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) and came with either a V6 or a V8 engine. The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, with a tow rating of 6,200 pounds. The available 5.7-liter V8 engine generated 357 hp and 390 lb-ft, increasing the towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. Three different 4WD systems were available: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II, each offering varying levels of off-road capability.

The Trailhawk trim was the most off-road capable, featuring Quadra-Drive II, an electronic locking rear differential, Quadra-Lift air suspension with up to 11.3 inches of ground clearance, and improved approach, breakover, and departure angles. The Trailhawk also had Selec-Terrain driving modes, Selec-Speed off-road cruise control, and a forward-facing off-road camera. The Grand Cherokee's V6 engine was preferred for its balance of efficiency and performance, while the V8 offered a thrilling driving experience at the cost of fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee's ride quality was excellent, and it felt more nimble and athletic than the larger Grand Cherokee L.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender featured 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were surprisingly comfortable in the two-door Defender 90 model. However, accessing the rear seats was challenging, and cargo space was limited. The four-door Defender 110 model offered more versatility, with two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. The three-row model provided 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and 70.4 cubic feet with the second row folded. Two-row versions had 18.1 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 51.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The Defender's interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a massive center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration. Optional exterior cargo solutions included a basket-style roof rack and cargo boxes that mounted to the side pillars.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a comfortable interior for the driver and front passenger, with higher trims providing heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel, and front seat massagers. The base Laredo trim featured good quality cloth seats. The Grand Cherokee's redesign improved visibility, especially when off-roading, and the available panoramic sunroof added an airy feel to the cabin. Rear-seat room was tight for adults with long legs, but the Grand Cherokee L offered more legroom and cargo space.

The two-row Grand Cherokee provided 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 70.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The three-row Grand Cherokee L offered even more cargo space, with 46.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 84.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came standard with the Pivi Pro infotainment system, featuring a 10-inch central touchscreen and wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity. A 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster was standard on all trims except the base model, and an 11.4-inch touchscreen was newly available for 2022. The graphics and menu layouts were user-friendly, but the touchscreen required a firm touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system, which was particularly useful for off-roading.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a tech powerhouse, offering a comprehensive head-up display, Night Vision system, camera-based rearview mirror, and up to five interior touchscreens. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, standard on all trims, featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and voice recognition were standard. The Grand Cherokee also offered a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV integration.

The Uconnect 5 system provided a configurable Home display and easy access to main menus, with voice recognition technology that worked well. The larger 10.1-inch touchscreen complemented the standard 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and available 10-inch head-up display. The optional 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger allowed for additional entertainment and assistance to the driver.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came standard with lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition with speed-limit adapter. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured an extensive collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and a safety cage composed of aluminum and high-strength steel. The Grand Cherokee included Intersection Collision Assist, Active Driving Assist for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving, and a hands-free version of Active Driving Assist coming in 2022. The new Grand Cherokee's crash-test performance remained to be seen, but the extensive use of high-strength materials suggested improved safety.