Jeep Grand Cherokee 2022 Review

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is fully redesigned for 2022. This is Jeep's midsize SUV that has long offered an appealing mix of upscale features and impressive off-road capabilities. The last few years of the previous model had been getting pretty dated, however, so it's good to finally see a new Grand Cherokee on the market.

Don't confuse it with the similarly named Jeep Grand Cherokee L. That SUV debuted for the 2021 model year and has a third-row seat and can seat up to seven passengers. The Grand Cherokee (sans L), as you might have guessed, isn't as long as the L and only seats five. Otherwise, these two Grand Cherokees have a lot of similarities. The fully overhauled interior features Jeep's latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system as well as a new digital gauge cluster display and an optional supplemental display for the front passenger.

Under the hood are two carryover powertrains — the V6 and V8 — plus a new plug-in hybrid system Jeep calls the 4xe. You can fully charge up the 4xe's hybrid battery and drive what we'd estimate to be about 20-25 miles on all-electric power before the gasoline four-cylinder engine switches on. Frequently recharging can significantly reduce the amount of gas you use. As another bonus, the 4xe generates a maximum of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, which is more than the Grand Cherokee's already robust V8. 

Overall, the redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee is a welcome improvement over its long-lived predecessor. But it also might be worth your time to check out rivals such as the off-road-capable Land Rover Defender, classy Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport or even a luxury midsize SUV such as the BMW X5.

Which Grand Cherokee does MatoCar recommend?

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a midsize SUV that is sold in five trim levels: Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland and Summit. The trims generally follow a typical ladder structure, with the upper levels adding more features to those on the trim below. The exception is the Trailhawk, which has unique off-road upgrades not found on other models.

Three powertrains are available:

• Standard 3.6-liter V6 engine (293 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque)
• Optional 2.0-liter four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain (375 hp, 470 lb-ft) for all trim levels except Laredo; Jeep refers to this powertrain as the 4xe
• Optional 5.7-liter V8 engine (357 hp, 390 lb-ft) for Trailhawk, Overland and Summit trim levels

All powertrains route power to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. V6 models come standard with rear-wheel drive, though four-wheel drive is available. 4WD is included with V8 and 4xe models.

Laredo Highlights of the base model include:

• 17-inch wheels
• LED headlights
• Heated mirrors
• Roof rails
• Keyless entry and ignition
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Digital instrument panel
• 8.4-inch central touchscreen
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration (with wireless connectivity)
• Six USB ports
• Six-speaker audio system

Standard driver aids include:

• Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-set distance between the vehicle and the car in front)
• Lane keeping assist (steers the Grand Cherokee back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker)
• Blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle is in your blind spot during a lane change or while in reverse)
• Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios)
• Rear parking sensors with automatic braking (alert you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking, and can apply the brakes to prevent a collision)

There are three major equipment packages available for the Laredo:

• Lux Tech Group package
• Automatic wipers
• Remote start
• Power liftgate
• Heated steering wheel
• Heated front seats
• Satellite radio
• Wireless charging pad
• 115-volt household-style outlet
• Altitude package
• Contents of Lux Tech Group package
• 20-inch black-painted wheels
• Gloss black exterior accents
• Trailer-tow package
• Class IV receiver
• Four- and seven-pin wiring harness
• Load-leveling rear suspension
• Single-pane sunroof

Limited Upgraded standard features in this trim include:

• Contents of the Laredo's Lux Tech Group package (minus the automatic wipers and wireless charging pad)
• 18-inch wheels
• LED foglights
• Driver's seat memory settings
• Leather upholstery
• Power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Heated rear seats
• Terrain-based drive mode system with five settings (4WD models)

Like the Laredo, the Limited is available with a diverse set of packages and options. These include:

• Lux Tech Group package
• Automatic wipers
• Digital rearview mirror (allows you to see out the back even with a fully loaded cargo area)
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Ventilated front seats
• Second-row sunshades
• Front cross-traffic alert
• Front parking sensors with automatic braking
• Surround-view camera (gives you a top-down view of the Grand Cherokee and its surroundings for tight parking situations)
• Wireless charging pad
• Entertainment Group package
• Navigation system
• 10.1-inch touchscreen
• Nine-speaker Alpine audio system
• Trailer-tow package
• Panoramic sunroof
• 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen
• Rear-seat entertainment system

Trailhawk The off-road-oriented Trailhawk is 4WD-only and adds:

• Goodyear Wrangler Territory all-terrain tires
• Adaptive air suspension with selectable ride height settings
• Electronic rear limited-slip differential
• Electronically disconnecting stabilizer bar
• Hill ascent and descent control
• Front tow hooks
• Front-facing camera (helps navigate obstacles while off-roading)
• Gloss black roof
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Ventilated front seats
• Leather upholstery with faux leather and faux suede accents
• Navigation system
• Nine-speaker Alpine audio system

On the options list for the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk are:

• Lux Tech Group package
• All contents from Limited's Lux Tech Group package
• Hands-free liftgate
• Entertainment Group package
• 10.1-inch central touchscreen
• 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen
• Advanced ProTech Group package
• Front parking sensors with automatic braking
• Surround-view camera
• Night vision camera (displays an infrared image of the area in front of the vehicle to assist while driving at night)
• Hands-free liftgate
• Panoramic sunroof
• 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen

Overland The Overland mixes some of the Trailhawk's upgrades with additional luxury features. It builds off the Limited model and includes:

• 20-inch wheels
• Adaptive air suspension with selectable ride height settings (4WD models)
• Hill descent control (4WD models)
• Two-speed transfer case (4WD models)
• Front tow hooks
• Hands-free liftgate
• Auto-dimming driver-side and rearview mirrors
• Panoramic sunroof
• Power-adjustable steering wheel
• Ambient cabin lighting
• Ventilated front seats
• Upgraded leather upholstery
• Navigation system
• Nine-speaker Alpine audio system
• Front parking sensors with automatic braking

Overland options include:

• Lux Tech Group package
• All contents from the Limited's Lux Tech Group package
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Front-seat massage function
• Passenger seat memory settings
• Entertainment Group
• 10.1-inch central touchscreen
• 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system
• Advanced ProTech Group package
• All contents from the Trailhawk's Advanced ProTech Group package
• Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line on the windshield)
• Active Driving Assist system (allows for hands-free automated driving in certain scenarios)
• Off-Road Group
• All-terrain tires
• Electronic rear limited-slip differential
• Skid plates
• Trailer-tow package
• 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen

Summit The top-level Grand Cherokee comes with:

• Gloss black roof
• Wood-trimmed steering wheel
• 10.1-inch touchscreen
• Front-seat massage function
• Passenger seat memory settings
• Four-zone automatic climate control
• Active Driving Assist system
• Front cross-traffic alert
• Driver attention warning (issues an alert if sensors determine you are becoming fatigued)
• Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with little or no driver intervention)
• Surround-view camera
• Electronic limited-slip rear differential (4WD models only)

Even the top-spec Summit isn't fully loaded right out of the gate. You can further add:

• Lux Tech Group
• Second-row sunshades
• Wireless charging pad
• Advanced ProTech Group
• Head-up display
• Night vision camera
• Digital rearview mirror
• Summit Reserve package
• 21-inch wheels
• Faux suede headliner
• Premium leather upholstery
• Extended use of leather throughout cabin
• Open-pore wood trim
• Ventilated second-row seats
• 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen
• 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system
• Trailer-tow package
• 10.25-inch passenger touchscreen
• 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system