Land Rover Range Rover Sport vs Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport was often described using fancy terms like “modernist” and “reductive.” These, essentially, signified a clean and simple design approach. However, this minimalistic style wasn’t exactly what those seeking attention-grabbing luxury SUVs preferred. The Range Rover Sport offered limited elements to make it flashy right from the factory—a Firenze Red paint option and multi-spoke 23-inch diamond-turned wheels being the notable exceptions. Yet, there was an anticipation of an SVR model in the future, possibly equipped with a twin-turbocharged V8 and more vivid paint choices.

Our test vehicle arrived in a subdued Eiger Gray with 23-inch silver wheels and a Black Exterior Pack, showcasing an elegant, albeit understated, aesthetic. Inside, the Deep Garnet over Ebony theme, aluminum trim, and shiny black accents exuded a subtle luxury. Available in SE P360, SE Dynamic P400, and Autobiography P440e specifications, the Range Rover Sport aimed for refined elegance over ostentation. Despite the lack of a black-painted roof, the test vehicle featured premium LED headlights, flush-mounted door handles, and surface LED technology in the taillights.

On the opposite end, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L stood out with its bold design elements. The first Grand Cherokee's debut at the 1992 Detroit auto show had set the stage for its ongoing popularity. Jeep managed to lengthen the Grand Cherokee L by more than a foot without compromising its tough, upscale look. Our Hydro Blue test model, equipped with the High Altitude package, sported a blacked-out grille, logos, and dark gray 21-inch wheels. The black leather with gold stitching and matte-finished light walnut interiors showcased a bolder aesthetic.

The Grand Cherokee L’s U-shaped fenders, square greenhouse, and slim LED lighting combined timeless Jeep elements with modern touches. Inside, the upper trims looked impressive with details like diamond-patterned stitching on the seats and aluminum speaker grilles. While not every interior piece matched Mercedes-grade quality, the refined look and feel justified the $70,000 price tag. The Grand Cherokee L aimed to deliver a more lavish and bold vibe compared to the Range Rover Sport’s subtle luxury.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport aimed to balance refinement and comfort with driver-focused engagement. Achieving this dual personality proved challenging, especially when pitting its off-roading prowess against agility on winding roads. The vehicle’s ability to cover rugged terrains while delivering a composed drive on curvy roads was a testament to Land Rover's engineering efforts.

The SE and SE Dynamic models featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 355 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque in the SE, and 395 hp and 406 lb-ft in the SE Dynamic. The PHEV version, standard in the Autobiography P440e, delivered 434 hp and 406 lb-ft while offering up to 51 miles of electric range. Earlier builds featured a 523-hp twin-turbo V8, but this option was temporarily off the menu.

With adaptive damping air suspension, the new Range Rover Sport offered a 35-percent increase in torsional stiffness, four-wheel steering, and numerous driving aids like Dynamic Response Pro. Our test vehicle accelerated energetically to 60 mph in 5.4 seconds and offered a decent towing capacity of 7,716 pounds. Fuel efficiency exceeded expectations, averaging 22.3 mpg on evaluation routes. However, on curvy roads, it struggled to compete with sport-tuned SUVs from Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.

In contrast, the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's standard V6 engine was its weakest performance link, producing only 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a better option for towing with its 357 hp and 390 lb-ft, sounded fantastic but fared poorly in fuel economy at 14/22/17 mpg. While the Grand Cherokee L lagged in engine performance, its chassis compensated with solid, confident handling, especially with air suspension.

Jeep offered three four-wheel drive systems, all permanent 4WD, enhancing its off-road toughness. The Grand Cherokee L felt solid and technically capable off-road, rivaling even Land Rover in sophistication.

The redesigned 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport maintained a tall, airy feel in its cabin, thanks to the Range Rover Command Driving Position. The air suspension could kneel, aiding easy entry and exit, with 20-way power-adjustable front seats providing comfort. However, the rear seats were less hospitable despite improvements in legroom and knee clearance. Narrow door openings made entry and exit cumbersome, and the deeply bucketed seats had overly reclined angles, forcing a slouched posture.

Cargo capacity in the Range Rover Sport was moderate, offering 31.9 cubic feet behind the rear seats and a maximum of 53 cubic feet with seats folded. While our test vehicle's full-size spare took up cargo space, additional storage solutions were available, including a deep bin under the center armrest and integrated straps to secure smaller items.

The Grand Cherokee L’s extended length significantly improved interior space, especially in the second row, where even tall passengers found ample legroom. Standard second-row captain's chairs and an optional 60/40 bench seat offered flexibility. The third row, suitable for kids, was less spacious for adults. The interior, with two rows of buttons surrounding the touchscreen, felt user-friendly but had some legibility issues.

Cargo space in the Grand Cherokee L was superior, with 17 cubic feet behind the third row, 47 cubic feet behind the second-row seats, and a maximum of 85 cubic feet, topping the class. This impressive cargo capacity, combined with flexible storage solutions, made the Grand Cherokee L exceptionally practical and spacious compared to the Range Rover Sport.

The 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport featured a 13.7-inch digital instrumentation display and a 13.1-inch touchscreen infotainment system with haptic feedback. Standard amenities included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. However, the Pivi Pro infotainment platform often proved confusing and frustrating, failing to assist accurately with voice commands.

Despite its technological shortcomings, the Range Rover Sport boasted impressive Meridian audio systems with up to 29 speakers and 1,430 watts of power. The Active Noise Cancellation system enhanced ride comfort, filtering out road noise while accentuating the powertrain's sound in Dynamic mode. However, accessing the wireless smartphone charging pad proved cumbersome.

On the other hand, the Grand Cherokee L's Uconnect 5 system, while user-friendly, had some legibility issues. The lower trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen, while the upper trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen with standard navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard across all trims. The optional McIntosh sound system, though not perfect, provided decent audio quality.

Advanced features in the Grand Cherokee L included superb night vision and Active Driving Assist for semi-automated control on highways. The passenger screen, polarized to prevent driver distraction, allowed independent video and music control, contributing to a high-tech, user-centric experience.

The Range Rover Sport came equipped with numerous advanced driving aids, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. Features like adaptive cruise control and steering assist were available but sometimes lacked responsiveness. The parking assist technology allowed the SUV to park itself under remote direction. However, the steering assist technology performed poorly, especially on freeway curves with inconsistent lane markings.

The Grand Cherokee L earned high safety ratings, securing a Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for models built after May 2023. It also scored five stars in most National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests, except for rollover. Standard safety features included forward and rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features like front cross-traffic braking and 360-degree cameras enhanced safety further. Night vision was exclusively available on higher trims.