Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile, reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. However, the Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly, with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, with an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered a luxurious experience with 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and higher-grade Palermo leather options, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

In contrast, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport embraced a "modernist" and "reductive" design, emphasizing clean and simple lines. While it lacked flashy factory options, it offered a Firenze Red paint color and diamond-turned, multi-spoke 23-inch wheels for those seeking attention. The test vehicle arrived in Eiger Gray paint with silver 23-inch wheels and a subtle Black Exterior Pack, exuding understated luxury. Inside, it featured a Deep Garnet over Ebony theme with aluminum and shiny black trim. The Range Rover Sport was available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, with various optional packages. Notable design highlights included premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights. The interior boasted a luxurious, high-tech appearance with Ultrafabrics and Windsor leather upholstery, creating an intoxicating fragrance.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, despite its hefty 6,400-pound weight. It came standard with four-wheel drive, including the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering height adjustability for various driving conditions. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer boasted impressive off-road capabilities, including a 25-degree approach angle and the ability to ford up to 24 inches of water. However, its size and weight made it feel ungainly on the road, with a bouncy ride at higher speeds and imprecise steering.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and driver-focused engagement. It offered a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 395 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque in the SE Dynamic model. The Range Rover Sport SE P360 delivered 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) drivetrain was available in the Autobiography P440e, providing 434 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque with an estimated 51 miles of electric driving range. The Range Rover Sport also offered a 523-hp twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 engine in selected early-build models. The SUV's 395-hp inline-six provided ample power, accelerating to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and an Intelligent All-Wheel Drive system, with a towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. The Range Rover Sport's fuel efficiency was commendable, averaging 22.3 mpg on evaluation routes. It boasted a new vehicle architecture with increased torsional stiffness and adaptive damping air suspension for improved ride comfort and handling. However, it struggled to match the driving dynamics of sport-tuned SUVs from competitors like Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80. However, space in the front row was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer offered 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. With all rear seats folded, it provided 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. The standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate limited forward visibility.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport retained the Range Rover Command Driving Position, offering a tall, airy feel with a low dashboard and thin roof pillars. The air suspension could kneel for easier entry and exit. The front seats were comfortable, with 20-way power-adjustable options, heating, and ventilation. A massage feature, soft-closing doors, and a heated steering wheel were available. The rear seat, while improved, remained tight for taller passengers, with hard front seatback panels and narrow door openings. The back seat provided excellent support but had a reclined angle. The cargo area offered 31.9 cubic feet of space, expandable to 53 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Range Rover Sport featured a power liftgate, air suspension controls for easier loading, and a full-size spare tire.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch center console touchscreen, and an optional rear seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer, with a second screen for seat massagers. A 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger controlled navigation and entertainment. Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto allowed passengers to stream content. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, based on Android, offered over-the-air updates but had slow response times and plain graphics.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and connected services. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform was often confusing and frustrating to use. The system struggled with voice commands, failing to provide accurate directions to nearby locations. The Range Rover Sport offered impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power, along with Active Noise Cancellation. A wireless smartphone charging pad was available but challenging to access.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet received crash-test ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included 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.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was equipped with advanced driving assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. It also featured automatic high-beam headlights, a driver monitoring system, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system with ClearSight Ground View. Remote Park Assist allowed the SUV to park itself using a smartphone app. The adaptive cruise control and steering assist were less responsive and smooth than expected, particularly on freeway curves with inconsistent lane lines.