2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 presented a more subtle and less flashy appearance compared to its competitors like the Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator. Mercedes avoided a gaudy grille, unlike the BMW X7 or Lexus LX. The interior of the GLS 450, while basic by GLS standards, still exuded luxury with leather upholstery, a panoramic roof, and ambient lighting. The digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen were well integrated, framed nicely by the upright dashboard.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, with its extended length to accommodate a third row, maintained an elegant and recognizable Jeep design. The seven-slot rectangular grille and U-shaped wheel arches were classic Jeep, while modernized lighting and improved paint finish added a touch of sophistication. The interior of the Grand Cherokee L was luxurious, featuring dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, and quilted Nappa leather. Even in all-black, the interior offered enough detail and contrast to keep passengers comfortable and visually stimulated.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS 450 was powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and Mercedes’ EQ Boost mild-hybrid system. This setup produced 362 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, with an additional 21 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque available from the electric motor in short bursts. The GLS 450’s inline-six engine provided smooth and sufficient power, but the air suspension exhibited poor body control, leading to a less comfortable ride. The GLS 450 had a maximum towing capacity of 7,700 pounds, which was competitive but not class-leading.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The V6 produced 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, which felt insufficient for the vehicle’s weight. The V8, available on higher trims, delivered 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, providing a more satisfying performance. The Grand Cherokee L also offered a 4xe plug-in hybrid option with 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The chassis of the Grand Cherokee L was stellar, with excellent ride composure and steering feel. The air suspension offered five ride height settings, enhancing both on-road comfort and off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee L had a maximum towing capacity of 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came standard with a seven-seat configuration, with an optional six-seat version featuring captain’s chairs. The second-row seats could slide forward and fold for access to the third row, and the standard bench seat could slide fore and aft as one piece, increasing legroom by 3.4 inches. The GLS offered 17.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in place, expanding to 84.7 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. The air suspension could lower the vehicle for easier loading and unloading, but the touchscreen was too far away to reach easily, and the center console had grab handles with no obvious purpose.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a sleek and sharp interface. Physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions were easy to use, and the central rotary shifter was intuitive. The Grand Cherokee L offered plenty of space in all rows, with second-row captain’s chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat optional. A panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports enhanced passenger comfort. However, the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was quite loud.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS came with the MBUX infotainment system, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connectivity, navigation, SiriusXM satellite radio, and natural-language voice recognition. The 13-speaker Burmester audio system was standard, with an optional head-up display. The voice recognition system was the easiest to use, while the touchpad controller was too sensitive. The graphics were good, but the navigation system had some issues, such as suggesting a route that would have added an hour to a trip.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered premium features on upper trims, including multiple massage modes for the front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, and Uconnect would automatically bring up preferred apps when a phone was connected. New for 2022, Jeep added an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers. Adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors were standard.

The 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLS included standard safety features such as forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, a driver-attention monitor, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, a surround-view camera system, Crosswind Assist, parking assist, and Pre Safe. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and second-row side airbags. Advanced driver-assistance features were also optional. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of publication.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.