2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2022 Honda Passport's new styling closely resembled the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, especially from the doors forward. This similarity was due to both vehicles sharing a platform, which Honda also used for the Odyssey minivan and the Pilot three-row SUV. Essentially, the Passport was a shorter version of the Pilot, minus the third-row seat and with different styling.

Honda aimed to give the Passport a tougher look with its new nose design, which was applied across all three trim levels: EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. The TrailSport trim, new for 2022, was designed to appeal to off-road enthusiasts, though it was more about aesthetics than actual capability. The TrailSport featured standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes for various conditions. Prices ranged from $37,870 to $45,430, with the TrailSport model we tested priced at $44,095.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was 11.4 inches longer than the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, accommodating a third row of seats. The wheelbase was also extended by five inches, providing more legroom in the second row and wider rear doors. The extra length blended seamlessly into the body, making the standard Grand Cherokee appear truncated. Jeep introduced the L first as a 2021 model, delaying the two-row version until 2022.

The Grand Cherokee L maintained Jeep's recognizable design elements, such as the seven-slot grille and U-shaped wheel arches, but with modernized lighting and improved paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims featured black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. For 2022, Jeep added new exterior paint colors: Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky. The interior was luxurious, with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof, making it feel like a high-end vehicle.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 was smooth and felt stronger than its power ratings suggested, working well with the nine-speed automatic. The EPA rated the Passport at 22 mpg combined for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. Our TrailSport test vehicle averaged 21.3 mpg.

The Passport's AWD system, i-VTM4, featured mechanical torque vectoring, delivering up to 70% of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport performed well on twisty roads, its off-road capabilities were limited. The SUV offered a firm, communicative ride and athletic handling, with good steering feel and excellent outward visibility. However, the brakes could heat up and vibrate during mountain descents, which was concerning given the Passport's 5,000-pound towing capacity.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The V6 produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which felt insufficient for the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The V8, available only on higher trims, delivered 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, providing better performance.

Fuel economy for the V6 was 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was 14/22/17. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was impressive, offering a stellar ride and steering feel. The optional air suspension provided adjustable ride heights and varied between soft and firm settings. The Grand Cherokee L handled well on rough roads, but it was optimized for on-road comfort, with a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds for 4WD.

The 2022 Honda Passport featured large doors and a low step-in height, making it easy to enter and exit. The front seats were large and comfortable, with leather upholstery and heated front seats as standard. The Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The rear passengers enjoyed ample legroom, headroom, and a slightly elevated seating position, with large side windows providing an open and airy feel.

The Passport offered plenty of storage, including a massive center console storage bin, door panel shelving, and rear door cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The Passport's simple utility and comfort made it easy to live with.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. The system included physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions, which were easy to use. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims featured a 10.1-inch touchscreen. However, some legibility concerns and occasional lag were noted.

The Grand Cherokee L offered ample space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat optional. A panoramic roof, large windows, and multiple USB ports enhanced comfort on long journeys. However, the air vents were small and didn't direct enough airflow, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was noisy.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, while the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The system had shortcut buttons for easy navigation, but the lack of a stereo tuning knob was a minor inconvenience. The navigation system was clunky, and Apple CarPlay was preferred for ease of use.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered premium features on upper trims, including multiple massage modes for the front seats, a head-up display, night vision, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, providing a zoomed-in view of the next corner. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless, and two phones could be connected simultaneously. New for 2022, Jeep added an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen for the front passenger and dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers.

The 2022 Honda Passport came with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. However, some functions, like lane-departure warning and lane-centering assist, were intrusive and could be turned off for a better driving experience. The Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for front passenger protection in a frontal-impact collision and rollover resistance, which earned four stars. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings in most respects, with an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not yet been tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. It came standard with driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.