2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2022 Ford Expedition

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

The Grand Cherokee L maintained Jeep's recognizable design elements, such as the seven-slot rectangular grille and U-shaped wheel arches, but modernized the lighting and improved the paint finish and panel fit. All trim levels, from the base Laredo to the loaded Summit Reserve, looked impressive. The high-end 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.

Ford made several changes to the 2022 Expedition, including exterior styling revisions and updated infotainment tech. The front featured a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear received revised taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. Redesigned wheels were introduced across the model lineup. The 2022 Expedition came in various trims, including the new Timberline trim for off-road enthusiasts, which added 4WD, all-terrain tires, suspension modifications, and more ground clearance.

The Stealth Edition packages were available only with the Limited trim, adding black 22-inch wheels, large "EXPEDITION" lettering on the hood, and a mix of blacked-out and body-color exterior trim. The Stealth Performance Package included red-painted brake calipers. The interior featured a redesigned dashboard with the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, the latter with a 15.5-inch touchscreen display. The test model's MSRP was $80,155, including various options like 4WD, the Stealth Package, and a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package. Despite some F-150 pickup-grade plastic trim, the Expedition Limited Stealth Edition impressed with its leather seats, soft padding, and advanced tech.

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 either RWD or 4WD. The 4xe plug-in hybrid, which paired a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack and two electric motors, was not available for the Grand Cherokee L but promised 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

The test vehicle had the V6 engine, which produced 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. However, it felt underpowered for the vehicle's weight, requiring high revs to summon power and producing noticeable engine noise. The V8, available only on higher trims, offered 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque and sounded much better. Fuel economy for the V6 was decent at 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was worse at 14/22/17. The chassis was a standout feature, with excellent ride composure and steering feel. The optional air suspension provided a range of ride heights and settings, making the Grand Cherokee L versatile for different driving conditions. The maximum towing capacity was 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2022 Ford Expedition used a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque in the test vehicle. With 93-octane fuel, it could produce 400 hp and 480 lb-ft. The Stealth Edition Performance Package increased these figures to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft. The V6 engine drove the rear wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission, with 4WD as an option. Fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg combined, and the Expedition could tow between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds, depending on the model and equipment.

The twin-turbo V6 provided addictive power and a pleasing exhaust note, but it guzzled gas when pushed hard, resulting in an observed fuel economy of 16.2 mpg. The sport-tuned suspension in the Stealth Edition Package contributed to a sometimes harsh ride quality, especially with the 22-inch wheels and 285/45 tires. The adaptive damping suspension available on higher trims would have helped reduce impact harshness and bounciness. Despite its size, the Expedition was easy to park, thanks to excellent outward visibility, parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. It excelled on the highway, providing a quiet and comfortable ride, making it ideal for long road trips.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. The interface was sleeker and sharper, with physical switches for climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions. The central rotary shifter was easy to learn, and there was ample storage space, including a wireless phone charging bin and a large central cubby. The Laredo and Altitude trims had an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while higher trims had a 10.1-inch touchscreen. However, there were some legibility concerns with tiny graphics and occasional system lag.

The Grand Cherokee L offered plenty of space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard and a 60/40 split bench seat as an option. A panoramic roof, large windows, and ample USB ports enhanced comfort on long journeys. However, the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was quite loud.

The 2022 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort, with power running boards making it easy to get in and out. The test vehicle had power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a wide console with ample storage. Second-row captain's chairs provided plenty of legroom, and passengers had their own climate controls and overhead air vents. The third-row seat was easy to access and offered outstanding leg support, though headroom could be tight for taller passengers.

Cargo room behind the third row was 19.3 cubic feet, requiring items to be stacked carefully. The Expedition Max offered a larger 34.3 cubic-foot cargo hold. With the third row folded, the standard Expedition provided 57.5 cubic feet of space, while the Max offered 73.3 cubic feet. With both rear rows folded, the Expedition had 104.6 cubic feet of cargo space, and the Max had 121.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a range of advanced features, including multiple massage modes for the 16-way power-adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a 360-degree camera system, and an Active Driving Assist system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were wireless. 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.

Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and rear parking sensors. The Summit trims added automatic parking, front cross-traffic alert, driver attention monitor, and traffic sign recognition. The Summit Reserve came with a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, while lower trims had nine-speaker or six-speaker systems.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured Ford's next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system had a 12-inch touchscreen, while Sync 4A offered a larger 15.5-inch touchscreen. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a Wi-Fi hotspot, natural voice recognition, and a connected navigation system. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless smartphone charging, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems.

Sync 4A had some quirks, such as trouble restarting Apple CarPlay and occasional accidental activation of the defroster function. The Expedition's available dual-touchscreen rear-seat entertainment system featured Amazon Fire TV. The 2022 model also introduced Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 with Trailer Reverse Guidance, making it easier to reverse the SUV with a trailer attached.

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

The 2022 Ford Expedition grouped its driving-assistance systems into three Ford Co-Pilot360 collections. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver monitoring system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, speed-limit-sign recognition, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist. The Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 package, standard on higher trims, included a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. Ford also introduced Road Edge Detection and BlueCruise hands-free driving technology for the 2022 Expedition.