Hyundai Tucson vs Jeep Grand Wagoneer

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was built on a new platform and offered in a long-wheelbase version in the U.S., featuring two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front showcased Hyundai's new vehicle face, with a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When lit, these lights formed a distinctive shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird's wings. The Tucson's side profile borrowed design cues from the Hyundai Elantra, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Tucson sported toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs, except in the base model, giving it a standout appearance among compact SUVs. The Tucson rode on 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim, with high-end models featuring premium fascias, skid plates, and a panoramic sunroof. Inside, the Tucson's cabin was well-appointed, offering stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, with sport combination and leather-trimmed options available on higher trims. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered design contributed to a sense of spaciousness.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar appearance with traditional SUV styling, including a tall hood, broad shoulders, and an upright profile. However, the Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, featuring laser-etched knurling in the slots. The Grand Wagoneer rode on 20-inch wheels as standard, with 22-inch wheels optional, and its wheel center caps were protected by acrylic glass. Underneath, it boasted a new body-on-frame architecture with independent front and rear suspension, an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared interior styling with the Wagoneer but offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials. It featured 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with heated/ventilated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. While not particularly thrilling, it was competent and efficient, targeting 28 mpg combined. The hybrid powertrain, however, was the standout, providing 226 total system horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, making it more powerful than competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Tucson Hybrid achieved impressive fuel efficiency, with 37 mpg in the city, 36 mpg on the highway, and 37 mpg combined. All-wheel drive was standard on the hybrid and available on ICE models, performing admirably in off-road testing. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, thanks to a 13.8-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was equipped with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, featuring cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, impressive for a vehicle weighing around 6,400 pounds. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included the Quadra-Lift air suspension system, allowing for adjustable ride height and improved off-road capability. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer could tackle challenging terrain, boasting a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle. It could ford up to 24 inches of water and was equipped with skid plates for added protection. Despite its powerful engine, the Grand Wagoneer was best suited for a leisurely pace, as its size and weight made it feel ungainly at higher speeds.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior that rivaled its competitors, such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims, along with lumbar support. Heated and ventilated front seats, memory settings for the driver's seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat were also available. The Tucson's new platform allowed for increased passenger and cargo space, offering more rear legroom than the RAV4 and comparable headroom to other compact SUVs. With a 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area, it provided ample space for a family of four on road trips. The rear seats featured a 60-40 split-folding bench, and a dual-level cargo floor was available on ICE models, with a hands-free liftgate offered on mid-grade trims and above.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer accommodated seven passengers with standard second-row captain's chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It offered more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than rivals like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80, although front-row space was more limited. With 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed, the Grand Wagoneer provided ample storage for most configurations. However, its 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space with all rear seats folded fell short of competitors. The Grand Wagoneer boasted a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, while a 360-degree camera system aided visibility.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with a robust set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was positioned in front of the driver. Moving up to the SEL/Blue trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control. A 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen was available, but required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit, housing climate control and media functions. While the touchpoints were responsive, the lack of physical differentiation made it challenging to operate while driving, necessitating reliance on steering wheel controls and voice commands.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a comprehensive infotainment system, including a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two phones. A 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot supported up to eight devices. Second-row passengers enjoyed a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen for climate control, with an optional rear-seat entertainment system adding two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer boasted a larger 12-inch touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer, with a second screen for seat massagers and other functions. A row of buttons separated the screens for quick access to important functions. An optional 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger allowed control of navigation and rear-seat entertainment. Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto enabled streaming and smart-home integration. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, based on Android, offered over-the-air updates, though the screen response was occasionally slow.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested by the IIHS or NHTSA. It featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, including forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional safety options included blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera system, and remote parking assist. Hyundai provided a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and a 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary maintenance.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came standard with a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and advanced driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, with a hands-free version planned for future release, limited to certain highways and featuring driver monitoring.