2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review: Detroit’s Most Wanted

Design | Consolation | Expertise | Efficiency | Security | Gasoline Economic system | Pricing

Rising up in metro Detroit, you study a number of truths: The potholes will kill you, the Detroit Lions are utter trash (however rattling it, they’re Detroit’s trash!), and everybody loves the Jeep Grand Cherokee. That final one surprises you? It shouldn’t.

Ask anybody from southeastern Michigan, and no matter age, race, gender, socio-economic standing, or stage of automotive enthusiasm (even essentially the most indifferent Detroiter has a minimum of a fundamental understanding of or curiosity within the trade), they’ll profess their love for Jeep’s bread-and-butter SUV. It’s a automotive school children aspire to personal, a dependable steed for the realm’s households, and a secure standing image for the double-income no-kids set. Backside line, Detroiters love the Grand Cherokee.

That’s unlikely to vary with the redesigned 2022 mannequin. That includes the identical updates launched on the three-row Grand Cherokee L – itself an more and more frequent sight on Detroit roads – the brand new Grand Cherokee is as enticing a proposition because it’s ever been.

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• Exterior Shade: Velvet Purple
• Inside Shade: International Black
• Wheel Dimension: 20 Inch

Considered from the entrance, the Grand Cherokee is sort of indistinguishable from the three-row L mannequin. Each automobiles share a chiseled fascia, highlighted by Jeep’s conventional seven-slat grille and slim headlights. I really like the way in which the grille angles ahead from the underside to the highest, and the sliver of chrome trim that helps and connects the underside of the grille with the headlights. They’re little styling particulars that improve the Grand Cherokee’s face.

Much less profitable are the skinny taillights, barely tweaked from the L. Principally white and with LED accents that make the so-called ribbon of sunshine all the fashion in automotive design at the moment, the change from the three-row can’t assist the Jeep’s underwhelming again finish. The black strip that connects the lamps and holds the smallish badge doesn’t do any favors, nor does the refined floating roof impact on the D-pillar.

The place the two-row Grand Cherokee makes its design case is in profile, with proportions that really feel extra balanced and acquainted. Total, the three-row L is 11.4 inches longer and its wheelbase spans 121.7 inches to the two-row’s 116.7, and whereas greater is best from a sensible standpoint, this seems much more just like the Grand Cherokees that I recurrently encounter on Detroit’s roads.

Get your finest stunned Pikachu face prepared, as a result of like the outside, the inside of the Grand Cherokee is just about an identical to the three-row I drove final 12 months. Throughout that take a look at, I complained that there’s too vast a spot between the cabin the underside and high half of the GC lineup, with the Laredo and Restricted utilizing onerous plastic on the decrease door panels and on the skin of the middle console. Because it seems, all it takes to cover the low-end fashions’ cheapness is choosing the black inside scheme.

Whereas a budget stuff stays in low site visitors areas, the darker end dulls the fixed reminder of the Restricted’s place within the trim hierarchy, making it simpler to deal with the matte wooden, splashes of painted silver, and enticing leather-based sprint topper that comes commonplace on the Restricted. The strong metallic gear dial and drive mode selector is a incredible contact, however the piano black end that surrounds them ought to be the identical matte wooden discovered on the sprint and steering wheel. In the meantime, plasticky buttons on the middle stack mar the in any other case spectacular match and end.

Seating Capability: 5
Seating Configuration: 2 / 3
Cargo Capability: 37.7 / 70.8 Cubic Toes

Fling open both of the Grand Cherokee’s entrance doorways and also you’ll discover vast, well-padded seats which might be considerably missing on total assist. Eight-way adjustability and an influence telescoping steering rack imply drivers of all sizes and styles ought to discover a comfy seating place. The Restricted trim features a heated steering wheel – a godsend throughout a Michigan January – and heated entrance and rear seats as commonplace.

Talking of the again seats, you’ll solely discover a three-abreast bench with guide 60/40 folding. That’s a departure from the Grand Cherokee L’s commonplace second-row captain’s chairs, however one which is smart contemplating the 37.7 cubic toes of cargo area that replaces the folding third row. But when it’s essential to haul cargo, the L is a more sensible choice, having fun with a 10-cubic-foot benefit with the second row in place overthe short-wheelbase mannequin. There are small variations in total area between the 2 Jeeps, as properly, however nowhere as dramatic as within the trunk.

The scale distinction between two- and three-row has little impression on experience high quality, regardless of the usual Grand Cherokee’s 116.7-inch wheelbase (down from 121.7 within the L). Jeep limits its ride-enhancing air suspension to the Trailhawk, Overland, and Summit trims, however there’s nonetheless a regular multi-link association on each my Restricted’s axles and the experience is wholly acceptable due to it. The Grand Cherokee renders small imperfections invisible and even bigger bumps elicit little greater than a strong thud with little impression on the steering or total sense of stability.

My tester added the optionally available five-spoke 20-inch wheels and 265/50 tires. Even if you happen to’re involved about experience high quality, I’d nonetheless go for these optionally available alloys over the usual 18-inch wheels and their 265/60 tires – the consolation enhancements from the marginally bigger sidewall can’t overshadow how significantly better the optionally available wheels look. And even with the bigger rolling inventory, the Grand Cherokee retains a decent lid on suspension noise and tire roar.

Middle Show: 10.1-inch Touchscreen
Instrument Cluster Show: 10.3 inch
Wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto: Sure/No

Regardless of the rock-solid status of the outdated Uconnect 4 infotainment system, our experiences with Jeep’s newer, extra trendy infotainment system have been, properly, buggy. Seyth Miersma recounted his woes within the Grand Wagoneer, which mirrored a few of the issues I had on the primary drive. So the truth that I made it a whole week within the Grand Cherokee with out an infotainment meltdown is a shock.

When it’s working, Uconnect 5 is a incredible setup, that includes enticing graphics, fast responses, and a logical structure. The Grand Cherokee Restricted’s commonplace display, an 8.4-inch unit, is serviceable, however check out the housing and it’s clear Jeep meant for the optionally available 10.1-inch show to stay there. Skinny-ish bezels and excellent proportions make the touchscreen a horny centerpiece to the Jeep’s cabin. All Grand Cherokees include a regular 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster with a variety of adjustability. A number of data pages and two separate gauge configurations imply there’s a setup for everybody.

My tester additionally provides an optionally available 10.3-inch touchscreen in entrance of the passenger. Sure, this pattern of sticking one other show simply an inch or two away from the principle display is extreme and pointless. I couldn’t justify the $1,095 expense, however on the very least the display is aware of inputs and appears fairly good. And thru some neat trickery, it’s not viewable from the driving force’s seat.

Customary wi-fi Apple CarPlay is a given in 2022, however the Grand Cherokee does one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than. Usually, if you happen to use CarPlay for navigation, it operates independently of the built-in navigation, which means you gained’t see navigation prompts or instructions within the instrument cluster. That’s not the case within the Jeep, although, which shows Apple Maps instructions as clearly because the built-in TomTom-based nav system. CarPlay was already a horny different to Uconnect, and this simply helps solidify that place.

• Engine: 3.6-liter V6
• Output: 293 Horsepower / 260 Pound-Toes
• Transmission: Eight-Pace Automated

Like a lot else, the Grand Cherokee’s powertrain lineup mirrors that launched within the Grand Cherokee L (which itself dates again to the last-gen mannequin). A 3.6-liter V6 and an eight-speed computerized is the one pairing accessible on the bottom Laredo and Restricted, in addition to all two-wheel-drive fashions. A 5.7-liter V8 is an optionally available further on the four-wheel-drive Overland and Summit trims, in addition to the Trailhawk (which is just accessible with four-wheel drive).

I wasn’t an enormous fan of the three.6-liter engine after I drove it within the Grand Cherokee L. It felt wheezy and underpowered there, however throughout my take a look at of the two-row, the outdated Pentastar felt extra energetic, significantly whereas accelerating from 55 to 75 miles per hour. The engine was extra responsive, and the 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque felt extra available.

However regardless of the higher exhibiting, I’m struggling to understand Jeep’s determination to restrict the V8 and its 357 hp and 390 pound-feet to high-dollar fashions. For as a lot because the chilly temperatures helped throughout this take a look at, the fact is that rivals just like the Ford Explorer and Hyundai Santa Fe, through turbocharging or hybrid powertrains, supply sharper efficiency and/or increased effectivity for related cash.

The Grand Cherokee does stand out, although, if you happen to’re planning to tow. My four-wheel-drive V6-powered tester can handle as much as 6,200 kilos, 600 kilos greater than even the stoutest Explorer. And if you happen to take my recommendation and snag the V8, that determine jumps to a best-in-class 7,200 kilos. You’ll want a pickup or bigger body-on-frame SUV to exceed that.

Past the powertrain, the Grand Cherokee stood out for the efficiency of its ZF-sourced eight-speed computerized. This was an ideal gearbox approach again when Jeep added it in 2011 and it stays a wonderful selection at the moment, with crisp gearchanges and easy, clever downshifts forward of onerous acceleration.

After we examined the three-row Grand Cherokee for the inaugural Motor1.com Star Awards, the assured dealing with was one in all its greatest promoting factors. That spectacular agility is on show with the two-row Jeep, too, with predictable, composed physique motions, well-weighted and exact steering, and a chassis that’s all too joyful to barrel right into a nook. It’s refreshing conduct from a automobile with actual off-road chops.

As for the tough stuff, Jeep doesn’t do a lot for Laredo or Restricted clients. The model’s vaunted Path Rated badge solely applies to the Overland, Trailhawk, and Summit trims, with my Restricted not even providing an possibility pack so as to add issues like an upgraded differential or unbderbody safety. Disappointing.

• Driver Help Stage: SAE Stage 2 (Palms-On)
• NHTSA Score: 5 Stars Total
• IIHS Score: Rated (Not TSP/TSP+)

Talking of issues the Grand Cherokee Restricted doesn’t have, let’s discuss energetic security. Jeep is just providing Energetic Driving Help – its soon-to-be hands-free driver support – on the Overland and Summit trims (it’s optionally available on the previous, commonplace on the latter). That’s disappointing not solely as a result of energetic security shouldn’t be restricted to high-dollar merchandise, however as a result of the wonderful integration I’ve skilled in ADA-equipped automobiles appears to fade with out the system.

The Restricted trim, like all Grand Cherokees, comes commonplace with full-speed adaptive cruise management, computerized emergency braking with pedestrian and bicycle owner detection, and lane-keep help with lane centering. That’s a formidable roster of ordinary tools, but it surely by no means actually gels the way in which the assists have in vehicles with Energetic Driving Help. Specifically, I discovered myself reaching for the lane-keep help button, as a result of it stored making an attempt to make corrections when none have been wanted. In keeping with Jeep, fashions with ADA have a special management module. I want it have been current right here.

• Metropolis: 19 MPG
• Freeway: 26 MPG
• Mixed: 22 MPG

Heavy redesign apart, the 2022 Grand Cherokee is just barely extra environment friendly than the automobile it changed (and shared powertrains with). However whereas the general stats may look disappointing, there’s trigger for hope, as Jeep is introducing a plug-in-hybrid Grand Cherokee 4xe that ought to enhance on these figures.

• Base Worth: $38,325 + $1,795 Vacation spot
• Trim Base Worth: $46,835
• As-Examined Worth: $56,780 (est)

The 2022 Grand Cherokee begins at simply over $40,000 in two-wheel-drive Laredo type, however this Restricted begins at $48,835 (together with a $1,795 vacation spot cost and the $2,000 four-wheel-drive system). As the quantity trim, it arrives well-equipped – I wouldn’t kick an optionless Restricted out of my driveway. However my take a look at mannequin provides each accessible further.

A few of these are definitely worth the coin. It is best to completely snag the $2,295 Luxurious Tech Group II, which provides every thing from upgraded Capri leather-based upholstery and ventilated entrance seats to a surround-view digicam and proximity entry. I’d shell out $1,075 for the ten.1-inch middle touchscreen, too, however the $1,095 passenger-facing show is a bridge too far. The $1,835 panoramic sunroof is an proprietor’s selection merchandise – dwelling in Michigan, the place it’s grey and frozen for half the 12 months, I’d move. And yeah, you need the 20s, too. Out the door, you’d be taking a look at a $56,780 Jeep.

There are undoubtedly compelling options at that value, particularly if you happen to worth straight-line pace. Each the Ford Edge ST and Explorer ST outgun the Jeep’s V6 with out cresting $50,000, when you’ll discover loads of turbocharged torque within the $44,000 Hyundai Santa Fe Calligraphy. And if off-roading is your sport, the $52,000 Toyota 4Runner TRD Professional is rather more succesful for rather less cash.

However none of those merchandise possess the Jeep’s experience/dealing with stability, the promise of hands-free driving (ultimately), or after all, the model cachet. Few automobiles can match the Grand Cherokee on that final level, and it’s one value fastidiously contemplating throughout your procuring course of.