2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Toyota Sienna

The 2022 Toyota Sienna sought to reinvent the traditional minivan appearance by incorporating SUV-like styling. Despite its distinctive sliding side doors, which unmistakably indicated its minivan identity, Toyota strived to give it a more assertive front end and streamlined side profile. The engineering effort to bury the sliding door channels and integrate styling elements into the rear fender supposedly achieved a more robust stance. The Sienna featured 17-inch wheels standardly, with options to scale up to 18-inch and 20-inch wheels in higher trims.

Inside, the Sienna avoided the common minivan feel with a more uncluttered and sophisticated design, ample storage solutions, and thoughtful passenger accommodations. The front cabin provided practical features like the under-console storage, large door pockets, and plentiful cup holders. The minivan offered ample seating with options for second-row captain’s chairs with ottomans and a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that could be stored for more cargo space.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, being the shorter, sportier version of the 2021 Grand Cherokee L, stuck closely to its Jeep heritage. With its seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches, it hearkened back to the first Jeep SUV, the 1963 Wagoneer. This new Grand Cherokee borrowed much from the Grand Cherokee L but was available as a more agile two-row version. Buyers could select from trims like Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve.

Each Grand Cherokee trim offered visual consistency with the Jeep design tradition, including the option for a contrasting black roof. Quality was evident throughout the cabin, from the basic but substantial feel of the cloth-seat Laredo to the luxurious finishes and features in the Summit Reserve. The Grand Cherokee styling effectively blended nostalgia with modernity, offering a pleasing look that appealed to a range of consumers.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna came as a hybrid-only model, carrying over this feature from the previous model year. Its 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, combined with two electric motors, outputted 243 horsepower, driving either the front wheels as standard or all four wheels as an option. The AWD system used an additional electric motor to power the rear wheels, eliminating mechanical complexity. The Sienna used a CVT, which Toyota claimed provided smooth and efficient power delivery.

Owners could choose from four drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. The handling benefited from the Toyota Next Generation Architecture (TNGA) platform with a front suspension, steering, and independent rear trailing arm suspension, making highway cruising comfortable and capable. Fuel economy stood as a significant victory for the Sienna, achieving 36 mpg in the city, on the highway, and combined for the FWD version, slightly less for AWD models.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a broad powertrain lineup, including a standard 3.6-liter V6 generating 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, and a beefier 5.7-liter V8 producing 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The Grand Cherokee's tow rating was impressive, with the V6 capable of 6,200 pounds and the V8 boosting it to 7,200 pounds when properly equipped.

Three different 4WD systems were available. Quadra-Trac I, suitable for light off-roading, came standard on Laredo, Altitude, and Limited with the V6. Quadra-Trac II, for more demanding conditions, featured 4-Hi and 4-Lo settings and was available on Overland with either engine. For the most challenging terrains, Quadra-Drive II featured a two-speed transfer case and could transfer up to 100% of engine output to a single rear wheel, standard on Trailhawk and Summit Reserve, and optional on Summit.

Fuel economy estimates ranged from 17 mpg combined for the V8 with 4WD to 21 mpg for the V6. The off-roading Trailhawk variant came with specialized equipment like 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, a Quadra-Lift air suspension with up to 11.3 inches of ground clearance, and skid plates, among others, making it Jeep's rugged adventurer.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna excelled as a family workhorse. It was capable of transporting a full 4x8 sheet of plywood inside, with cargo capacity measurements of 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second, and up to 101 cubic feet behind the first row. Both side sliding doors and the rear tailgate were power-operated with foot-motion triggers, enhancing convenience for families.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating comfort and a sense of quality across its trims. Higher trims brought luxury features like ventilated seats, massagers, and a heated steering wheel. However, the Grand Cherokee's rear legroom felt limited, especially when compared to its three-row sibling, the Grand Cherokee L. Cargo capacity was generous for a two-row SUV, offering 37.7 cubic feet behind the back seats and up to 70.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna boasted a range of standard and optional tech features. Standardly equipped with a 9-inch touchscreen, the Sienna supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM, but lacked wireless capability for the smartphone integrations. Bluetooth, a color multi-information display, and various telematics services were included. Advanced features like a 12-speaker JBL system, a rear-seat entertainment system, digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display enriched higher trims.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was technologically advanced across all trims. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured up to five interior touchscreens and supported over-the-air updates. An 8.4-inch touchscreen was standard in most trims, expandable to 10.1 inches in higher grades. Wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Alexa integration, SiriusXM, and dual-device Bluetooth connectivity were standard. Beyond infotainment, features such as a head-up display, Night Vision, and a camera-based rearview mirror underscored its tech-savvy nature.

The 2022 Toyota Sienna earned high safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA. Standard safety tech included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping systems, automatic emergency braking, and several airbag and child-seat anchor points, along with a rear-seat reminder feature.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee came fortified with advanced driver assistance systems and an improved safety structure, extensively using high-strength steel and aluminum. Active Driving Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous system, and Intersection Collision Assist were notable features. Although not yet rated at the time, Jeep aimed for an improvement over the prior model's crash-test results.