2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L distinguished itself by its elongated body, accommodating a third row of seats with an 11.4-inch length increase over the standard two-row Grand Cherokee. The wheelbase also stretched by five inches, offering more second-row legroom and access through wider rear doors. This extended design integrated seamlessly, making the regular two-row Grand Cherokee feel truncated in comparison. Jeep initially launched the L model in 2021, which created a staggered perception when the two-row version debuted a year later.

The Grand Cherokee L was unmistakably a Jeep from every angle, showcasing key design elements like the seven-slot grille, U-shaped wheel arches, and a blunt front end, albeit modernized with slimmer, brighter lighting and refined paint finishes. Available in trims from the base Laredo to the high-end Summit Reserve, every version looked impressive. The higher-end Summit and Summit Reserve added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome details. In 2022, Jeep introduced three new paint colors: Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee L's interior quality rivaled luxury brands, featuring dual high-resolution screens, authentic wood, aluminum trims, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof. The layout felt worth the extra spending. Even with an all-black interior, the detailing and contrasts kept the cabin feeling upscale. Opting for lighter tan leather mandated cleanliness to maintain its luxurious appeal.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid, redesigned for that year, aimed for a subtler approach. On the outside, differentiating a standard RX 350 from the RX 350h hybrid was nearly impossible without noting the badging. Even with attractive 21-inch wheels, the RX 350h Luxury test vehicle lacked any hybrid-specific markings, which many appreciated for its subtlety. Meanwhile, the RX 500h F Sport Performance stood out thanks to its Copper paint job, blacked-out grille, more aggressive bumper designs, and signature matte-black 21-inch wheels.

While Lexus’ RX line has always been popular, the 2023 models still retained a rather blunt-nosed design that carried too much visual weight over the front wheels. The result, amplified by a wheelbase stretch, was an SUV that visually looked smaller despite its dimensions being comparable to its predecessor. Inside, Lexus adopted a minimalist approach with fewer physical controls and advanced ambient lighting, leading to a cleaner look.

Outfitted with Macadamia semi-aniline leather and Ash Bamboo wood trim, the RX 350h Luxury looked high-class. The RX 500h F Sport Performance came with all-black interiors accented with artificial suede and dark gray aluminum, with options for a striking Rioja Red upholstery for a splash of color. Despite the cleaner interior and more modern technology, the RX’s front-heavy weight distribution and less generous cargo room behind the rear seats somewhat dulled its appeal.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two traditional powertrains: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission available in rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). A 48-volt hybrid system was notably absent in the Grand Cherokee L but available in the Ram trucks. The Grand Cherokee L's 4xe plug-in hybrid version combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 17.3-kilowatt-hour battery pack, and two electric motors, producing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque.

Our test model, equipped with the V6 engine, produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, yet felt insufficient for the vehicle's size. Accommodating a full cabin, the V6 required high revs, resulting in a noisy and coarse driving experience. Fuel efficiency for the V6 was reasonable, clocking in at an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8’s figures were less impressive at 14/22/17 mpg. Despite these drawbacks, the price point advantage might not offset the lack of performance for every buyer.

Dynamically, the Grand Cherokee L’s chassis provided stellar ride comfort and steering precision uncommon for an SUV this size. Equipped with optional air suspension, the vehicle offered different heights suitable for various terrains and situations, ensuring a composed ride whether on rough trails or highways.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid's powertrain was significantly modernized. The RX 350h utilized a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine combined with a hybrid system, which produced 246 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque. This powertrain was less powerful than the outgoing RX 450h's 308 horsepower V6 hybrid system but promised improved fuel efficiency, expected to average 36 mpg combined.

The RX 500h F Sport Performance variant featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine paired with a traditional six-speed automatic transmission, yielding an impressive 366 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This model boasted sporty performance, accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.9 seconds and provided a unique Direct4 AWD system enhancing driving dynamics. Though it provided exhilarating performance, the RX 500h F Sport Performance only managed to achieve a combined fuel economy of 27 mpg, which, based on our driving tests, reflected a real-world figure closer to 20.9 mpg.

Both RX hybrid models featured adaptive damping suspension for better handling, and the RX 500h included an exclusive Dynamic Rear Steering system. While the RX 350h maintained a quiet and efficient drive with decent gas mileage, it was the RX 500h F Sport Performance that truly shined in terms of driving excitement and agility.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured Jeep’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system, noted for its simplicity, clear graphics, and easy-to-use physical switches for essential functions. Lower trims included an 8.4-inch touchscreen, whereas higher trims received a larger 10.1-inch display. Not without its quirks, the system often lagged and had legibility issues with smaller graphics. A notable feature was the spaciousness—the third row could comfortably accommodate adults, and the second-row captain’s chairs enhanced the interior's usability. However, the small air vents were a drawback, necessitating high fan settings to maintain air circulation.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid boasted more fuel efficiency and comfort. Its Luxury trim offered ten-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats. The climate control system was highly effective, providing a comfortable environment even on warm days. The RX 500h F Sport Performance featured eight-way power-adjustable seats with larger bolsters for additional support. Placing the hybrid battery pack beneath the rear seat raised the seats higher, impacting headroom but improving leg support and legroom.

Cargo space in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L was 29.7 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 84.6 cubic feet with both the third and second rows folded down, accommodating ample gear for family road trips. The Lexus RX Hybrid offered 29.6 cubic feet of storage behind the rear seat, expanding to 46.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down, which was an improvement over its predecessor and paralleled the standard RX 350, ensuring the hybrid powertrain's placement did not compromise cargo volume.

The Grand Cherokee L offered an array of advanced features, especially in upper trims, which included massage modes for front seats, head-up displays, night vision, and a high-quality 360-degree camera system. The Active Driving Assist system, although not available on the test vehicle, was noted for its efficient handling on marked highway lanes. High-end trims also offered rear-seat entertainment systems with Amazon Fire TV, accommodating the tech-savvy family’s needs.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid integrated a brand-new infotainment system, addressing longstanding technology gaps. However, to make full use of the Lexus Interface, owners needed to activate trial subscriptions for connected services. Features like the Intelligent Assistant digital voice assistant provided a modern touch, but some limitations, such as the inability to view multiple menus simultaneously and reflections on the touchscreen, curbed the system’s convenience.

The Lexus head-up display, while helpful, posed distraction issues, particularly for drivers wearing polarized sunglasses. Meanwhile, the dual-function control pads on the steering wheel, necessitated by the head-up display, added complication instead of streamlining the user experience.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had yet to be tested by NHTSA or IIHS. Standard features included driver and passenger knee airbags, rear seat alerts, trailer sway control, and a suite of driver assistance aids such as adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist.

The 2023 Lexus RX Hybrid came with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, which offered advanced driver assistance systems, including motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, intersection turn assistance with front cross-traffic alert, and curve-speed reduction technology. Drivers appreciated the Proactive Driving Assist, which maintained safety distances and managed speeds on hill descents through regenerative braking. However, its front cross-traffic alert system and curve-speed technology had some functionality quirks, and the driver monitoring system could be triggered unintentionally.