2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Volvo XC60

The 2022 Volvo XC60 featured subtle styling updates, including a new front fascia with "air blades" for a sportier look, a redesigned rear bumper that concealed the tailpipes, and new wheel designs. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. The interior remained largely unchanged, maintaining a clean design with a portrait-oriented touchscreen and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design model added some flair with aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, while the Inscription trim level offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler required buyers to choose between a two-door or four-door model and offered a variety of powertrains, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, and plug-in hybrid. The Wrangler came in four core trim levels: Sport, Sport S, Sahara, and Rubicon, with numerous special editions available. Our test vehicle, the High Tide special edition, featured LED exterior lighting, a body-color hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, a Gorilla Glass windshield, and the Xtreme Recon package, which included a 1.5-inch suspension lift, 35-inch tires, and other off-road enhancements. Despite its rugged exterior, the Wrangler's interior was basic, with durable cloth upholstery and a focus on functionality over luxury.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. The B5 combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 added an electric supercharger, boosting output to 295 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 offering standard FWD and optional AWD, and the B6 available only with AWD. The B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), while the B6 achieved the same in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 also offered a plug-in hybrid model, the XC60 Recharge, with 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque, and a Polestar Engineered version with 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 hp at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. The eight-speed automatic transmission was a mandatory $4,000 option, and our test vehicle included the Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system. The EPA estimated 21 mpg in combined driving for the eTorque V6, but our test vehicle averaged 16.8 mpg over a week of driving. The Wrangler's driving experience was unique, with a rough-and-tumble feel, loud cabin, and touchy brakes, but it offered an immersive and adventurous experience that appealed to off-road enthusiasts.

The 2022 Volvo XC60's interior space remained competitive, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average for the segment. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, while plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good forward and rear visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide's raised suspension made entry and exit challenging, especially for shorter individuals. The manual height adjuster for the driver's seat required frequent readjustment. The Wrangler's seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery and a mix of plastic and rubber materials. Visibility was mixed, with some areas requiring leaning forward to see traffic lights and the 35-inch spare tire obstructing the rear view. Rear-seat passengers faced similar entry and exit difficulties but enjoyed good visibility and amenities like air conditioning vents and cupholders. Cargo space was 31.7 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 72.4 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul with a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The new system included Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The system also supported over-the-air software updates and offered full iPhone compatibility, though Apple users might find the Google-based design less intuitive.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide, based on the Sport S trim, featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. While the larger Uconnect 8.4 system offered additional features like satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system, the basic setup met most needs. Our test vehicle included options like remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, and single-zone automatic climate control with a new air filtration system. The Cold Weather Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA for the 2022 model year, but the 2021 model received top ratings from both organizations. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included a Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler High Tide included the Safety Group and Advanced Safety Group, adding blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Wrangler received a three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and Marginal ratings from the IIHS for small overlap and side-impact tests. Headlight performance was rated Poor for standard lights and Marginal for LED upgrades.