2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Lexus RX

The 2022 Lexus RX was available in several trims, including the base 350, F Sport, and L for its gas powertrain, with a hybrid model known as the RX 450h. The RX 350 and F Sport seated five, while the L trim offered a three-row, 7-passenger configuration. The 2022 model continued the modern and sporty design introduced in its 2020 facelift, featuring a revised grille and other exterior enhancements. Among its competitors in the midsize luxury crossover segment, the RX stood out with its aggressive styling, characterized by sharp character lines and angular features that balanced eye-catching design with careful restraint.

The F Sport trim was the most performance-oriented and athletic in appearance, featuring 20-inch wheels, black-housing outside mirrors, dark window trimming, F Sport badging, and a unique front fascia with larger air intakes. The base and L variants came with 18-inch wheels, bi-LED headlights, integrated LED turn signals, a rear spoiler, and LED daytime running lights and brake lights. The RX's interior mirrored its exterior luxury, with nearly a dozen color combinations available, and F Sport models adding sporty elements like model-specific badging and Scored Aluminum trim. However, the center stack felt dated, and the NuLuxe seats in the F Sport trim were less comfortable, with limited lumbar support and challenging driving position adjustments.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L extended the classic Grand Cherokee design by more than a foot, maintaining its tough and upscale look. The Hydro Blue example with the High Altitude package featured blacked-out grille, logos, and door handle tops, along with dark gray 21-inch wheels and black leather with gold stitching. The U-shaped fenders and square greenhouse were quintessential Jeep, while modern elements like slim LED lighting and body-color bumpers with integrated exhaust tips added a contemporary touch. The interior of upper trims was impressive, with 90 percent of materials feeling justified for a $70,000 truck, including a polished black dash with an optional touchscreen, a thick metal dial for the gear selector, and diamond-patterned stitching on the seats and door panels.

The Grand Cherokee L's interior offered a luxurious experience, especially in upper trims, with features like a 10.1-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a McIntosh sound system with 19 speakers. The night vision system and Active Driving Assist provided advanced safety and convenience, while the passenger screen allowed for independent control of navigation, cameras, and entertainment. The Grand Cherokee L's 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 most spacious in its class.

The 2022 Lexus RX 350 was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, while the hybrid RX 450h combined the V6 with two high-torque electric motors for a total output of 308 hp. All RX models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive standard on the RX 350 and all-wheel drive available. The hybrid RX came exclusively with all-wheel drive. Despite its sporty appearance, the RX's real-world performance was underwhelming, with a lackluster engine note and unimpressive acceleration. The F Sport trim, despite its name, did not deliver a truly sporty driving experience.

The RX F Sport included front and rear performance dampers and an optional F Sport Handling package with adaptive variable suspension, sport steering, and a Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management system. However, the differences between drive modes like Sport and Sport+ were minimal, and Normal mode became the default setting. The RX excelled in driving comfort and cabin quietness, absorbing rough patches and providing a serene ride. Fuel efficiency for the RX 350 was 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 combined, with slight variations for AWD and three-row models. The RX 450h hybrid offered better fuel efficiency, with 30 mpg combined, 31 mpg city, and 28 mpg highway.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's standard 3.6-liter V6 engine produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, but it was considered underwhelming for the vehicle's size. The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was recommended for better performance, especially for towing, with a max rating of 7,200 pounds compared to 6,200 with the V6. The V8 also provided a more satisfying engine sound. Fuel economy for the V6 was 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8's ratings were lower at 14/22/17.

The Grand Cherokee L's chassis offered confident handling, with air suspension providing a smooth ride and minimal body lean. The steering could be quicker, but overall handling was top-notch for the class. Jeep offered three four-wheel drive systems, with rear-wheel drive standard on most trims. The Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II systems provided varying levels of off-road capability, with the air suspension allowing for up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance. The Grand Cherokee L was more capable off-road than most competitors, second only to Land Rover in sophistication.

The 2022 Lexus RX's standard two-row configuration offered 99.8 cubic feet of passenger volume, comfortably seating four adults, with a snug fit for five. Front headroom was 39.4 inches, and rear headroom was 39.1 inches, with 44.1 inches of front legroom and 38.0 inches in the rear. The three-row L models had the same wheelbase, resulting in limited space for the third row, suitable mainly for groceries. The RX 350L had a 2/3/2 seating configuration, with optional second-row captain's chairs.

Cargo space in the standard RX was 16.0 cubic feet behind the second row, expanding to 32.6 cubic feet with the second row folded. The three-row models offered only 7.45 cubic feet with all seats upright, 23.03 cubic feet with the third row down, and up to 58.48 cubic feet with both back rows folded. The rear seats did not fold completely flat, and the high load-in height made loading cargo challenging. However, the RX featured thoughtful interior elements like a dedicated smartphone slot, adjustable-height cup holder, quick-access head-up display button, and a flat-bottomed cargo net.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's added length provided more legroom for second-row passengers, with a cavernous feel even for taller individuals. Second-row captain's chairs were standard, with a center console and four-zone climate control available on higher trims. The third row was tight for adults but suitable for children. The driver's seat offered good visibility, with two rows of buttons surrounding the touchscreen for easy access to various controls. However, some legibility issues with the infotainment system's graphics and text were noted.

Cargo space in the Grand Cherokee L was generous, 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 most spacious in its class. The power-folding third row and ample storage options added to its practicality.

The 2022 Lexus RX came with an 8-inch touchscreen display as standard, with a 12.3-inch version available as an option. Despite being moved closer to the driver, the touchscreens were still ergonomically unfriendly, with a lip in front of the screen creating access issues. The touchpad controller was particularly frustrating to use, and the drive mode selector's placement next to it led to confusion. However, the RX offered a range of quality tech features, including six USB ports, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration, wireless charging, Amazon Alexa compatibility, a WiFi hotspot, premium audio systems, navigation, and heated and ventilated seats.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's Laredo and Altitude trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation. 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 available as a standalone option on upper trims. The Grand Cherokee L also offered advanced features like night vision, Active Driving Assist, a head-up display, and a passenger screen that allowed for independent control of navigation, cameras, and entertainment. Amazon Fire TV was available for streaming, and the Grand Cherokee L's tech features were more advanced than many competitors.

The 2022 Lexus RX came standard with the Lexus Safety System 2.0+, which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, a pre-collision system, and intelligent high beams. Additional standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, a head-up display, and Lexus Enform Safety Connect. The RX was named a Top Safety Pick by the IIHS when equipped with optional triple-beam LED headlights but missed the top-tier "plus" designation. The NHTSA gave the RX four stars overall, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal crashes and rollover resistance.

The 2023 Grand Cherokee L scored a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for models built after May 2023, with reinforced frames for higher side-impact test scores. It also received 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 and rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features on higher trims included front cross-traffic braking, a backup camera washer, 360-degree cameras, and night vision. The Active Driving Assist was standard on the Summit Reserve trim.