2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L 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 the original, offering more interior space and improved ergonomics. The interior design emphasized rugged character with bare metal and exposed screws, along with a mix of leather and suede upholstery that seemed more practical for off-road use.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L extended the classic Grand Cherokee design by more than a foot without sacrificing its iconic style. The Hydro Blue model with the High Altitude package featured blacked-out grille, logos, and door handles, along with dark gray 21-inch wheels and black leather with gold stitching. The interior of upper trims was impressive, with polished black dash, metal gear selector dial, and diamond-patterned stitching on the seats. Despite some hard plastics and rougher-grained leather, the overall feel was justified for a $70,000 SUV. The Grand Cherokee L offered a more luxurious experience compared to lower-priced competitors.

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 models used a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case. The Defender was comfortable on pavement, with a suspension that absorbed bumps well and minimized noise from the 22-inch tires. Off-road, it had impressive capabilities with a 4WD system, good approach, departure, and breakover angles, and up to 11.5 inches of ground clearance. The Defender also had an 8,201-pound maximum towing capacity.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but it was considered underwhelming. 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. 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 chassis provided confident handling, and the air suspension allowed for smooth cornering and a pliable ride. The Grand Cherokee L offered three 4WD systems, with the most advanced being Quadra-Drive II, which included a low-range transfer case and limited-slip differential. The air suspension could adjust ground clearance up to 10.9 inches, making it a capable off-roader.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender offered 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats, which were comfortable but challenging to access in the two-door Defender 90. The four-door Defender 110 model was available in two-row, five-seat, and three-row, seven-seat configurations. Three-row models had 11.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, 35.4 cubic feet with the third row 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 interior design emphasized functionality, with a large caged storage space below the dashboard and a sizable center-console storage bin that could be equipped with refrigeration.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, with standard captain's chairs and an optional 60/40 bench seat. The third row was tight for adults but suitable for children. The driver's seat offered good sight lines and visibility, with two rows of buttons surrounding the touchscreen for easy access to various controls. 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. This max cargo space was at the top of the class, significantly larger than the Grand Cherokee's 71 cubic feet.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender came with a standard 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, with an optional 11.4-inch touchscreen available. The interface was user-friendly, though the screen required a firm touch to respond. Optional features included a 14-speaker Meridian audio system, head-up display, and a surround-view camera system that was particularly useful for off-roading.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's Laredo and Altitude trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation that displayed full-screen maps on the instrument panel. All systems ran Uconnect 5, which was generally 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. The Grand Cherokee L offered advanced tech features like night vision, Active Driving Assist, and a passenger screen that could play video and music independently from the rear entertainment system.

The 2022 Land Rover Defender included standard driver-assist tech such as lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control were optional. The Defender had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, which was not unusual for luxury vehicles.

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