2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Hyundai Palisade

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L aimed to deliver a harmonious extension of its two-row counterpart by tacking on an additional 11.4 inches to house a third row of seats. Its wheelbase also stretched five inches, enhancing second-row legroom and providing wider rear doors. Jeep first introduced the L version in 2021, making it look almost seamless, causing the standard Grand Cherokee to appear truncated. Visual elegance and the instantly recognizable Jeep DNA were hallmarks of the Grand Cherokee L. Signature elements like the seven-slot rectangular grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and a blunt front end remained but were modernized with slimmer and brighter lighting. High-end trims like the Summit and Summit Reserve further flaunted their opulence with black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome. A diversified color palette for 2022, including Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky, added fresh appeal.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee L further elevated luxury with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum accents, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof. With thoughtful design and superior materials, the interior felt premium and sophisticated. Even in darker shades, the Jeep maintained visual interest, and in lighter tans, it commanded a level of care beginning with wiping feet before entry.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Palisade showcased a more commanding presence after its styling update. The front fascia was emboldened with new headlights and a squared-off grille, projecting strength. LED accents and headlights were standard, with LED taillights being included on SEL models and above. The top-tier Calligraphy trim distinguished itself with premium rear accent lighting, body-color bumpers, a unique glossy black and chrome grille, and a wider rear spoiler. It also introduced a new trim, XRT, featuring a dark grille, roof cross rails, and black 20-inch wheels. Robust Emerald served as a new hue for the Calligraphy, encapsulating subtlety rather than dramatic flair.

The Palisade's interior embraced luxury and functionality, much like the Jeep. It boasted premium Nappa leather in the Calligraphy and offered a lighter, open feel with a dual-pane sunroof. The horizontal quilting and dash lines evoked a Mercedes-like sophistication. Materials were high-quality across trims, with premium touches extending even to cloth seats in the base SE model. Heated and ventilated seats graced higher trims, providing comfort in both first and second rows, with heated seats even available in the third row.

Both the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and the 2023 Hyundai Palisade delivered robust performance, but their approaches were distinct.

The Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engines: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and a 5.7-liter V8 with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. A 4xe plug-in hybrid was also introduced, featuring a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack, generating 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. However, the hybrid system's performance was yet to be tested at the time.

Our test model’s V6 engine fell short, feeling underpowered for a vehicle of this weight, and the engine noise intruded into the cabin. The transmission’s early upshifts didn’t help, making manual mode via paddle shifters preferable, albeit not perfect. Conversely, the V8 provided a more enjoyable driving experience, thanks to its ample power and more agreeable sound.

Fuel economy was better with the V6, achieving an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The V8 lagged at 14/22/17 mpg.

Riding on an excellent chassis with optional air suspension, the Grand Cherokee L showcased stellar ride composure and steering feel. Its varied ride height settings added versatility, adapting to various driving conditions and terrains with ease, although rough terrains required all-terrain tires available on specific trims.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade, on the other hand, stuck to a single engine option: a 3.8-liter V6 delivering 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was competitive within the class, easily exceeding even some of its closest rivals. The Palisade’s eight-speed automatic transmission featured paddle shifters and either front-wheel or optional all-wheel drive, which proved effective even on light off-road courses.

While less off-road-focused, the Palisade prioritized comfort, offering a smooth ride that's more valuable to its primary audience. It managed towing up to 5,000 pounds and introduced Tow Mode in AWD trims for optimized shifting. Fuel economy for the Palisade was competitive, with 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined for FWD models, and slightly lower figures for AWD.

Interior space is a key factor for family-oriented SUVs like the Grand Cherokee L and the Palisade, and both delivered admirably in this domain.

The Grand Cherokee L’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system was known for its simplicity and sleek interface. Physical switches for climate, seat controls, and stereo settings made it user-friendly. The Laredo and Altitude trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel, while upper trims boasted a 10.1-inch touchscreen. However, graphical legibility and occasional system lag were noted.

Roomy and accommodating, the Grand Cherokee L provided ample space for all passengers, not skimping on third-row comfort. Standard second-row captain’s chairs or an optional 60/40 bench seat added flexibility. Features like a panoramic roof and multiple USB ports made long trips enjoyable, although air vent placement and fan noise were issues.

The Palisade’s interior space was equally impressive. It could comfortably seat seven or eight, offering 44.1 inches of front legroom, 42.4 inches in the second row, and 31.4 inches in the third. Its utilitarian design included one-touch seat slide, HVAC vents in all rows, and a host of cupholders. Cargo space was commendable: 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 45.8 cubic feet with the second row folded, and 86.4 cubic feet with all seats down. A hands-free smart liftgate added convenience.

Both SUVs were excellently designed for passenger comfort, although the Palisade took the lead with more intuitive controls and better rear air circulation.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L packed a suite of high-tech features, particularly in upper trims. It boasted 16-way power-adjustable front seats with multiple massage modes, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, an active driving assist system, and a crystal-clear 360-degree camera system. Uconnect allowed for seamless switching between phone apps and in-car navigation, while optional touchscreens for rear passengers made it highly tech-friendly. Safety tech included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and various standard and optional assistants depending on the trim.

The 2023 Hyundai Palisade took a giant leap in technology. It became the first Hyundai to offer WiFi hotspot capability as standard along with a new 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a premium Harman Kardon sound system, and up to seven USB charging ports. The Palisade also introduced a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims and a robust suite of remote control features via the Hyundai Bluelink app. The innovative Digital Key 2 Touch offered seamless interaction with both Android and Apple devices, ensuring full compatibility and convenience.

The Grand Cherokee L’s safety kit included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and a host of driver aids, although it lacked crash-test ratings from organizations like NHTSA and IIHS.

In contrast, the Hyundai Palisade was awarded the Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS for its 2022 model, suggesting a high level of safety for the updated 2023 version. Standard Hyundai Smart Sense features, including forward collision avoidance, driver attention warning, and intelligent speed limit assist, made it highly secure. Advanced offerings like Highway Driving Assist II and a full-display digital rearview mirror added further credibility to its safety profile.