2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid vs 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was a testament to Jeep's commitment to its iconic design heritage. The vehicle featured the brand's signature seven-slot grille, now enhanced with active shutters for improved aerodynamics and fuel efficiency. The Grand Cherokee 4xe was available only as a two-row, five-passenger SUV, with a trim lineup that included the base 4xe, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. The Overland trim, in particular, offered a luxurious feel with leather seats, wood and metal accents, and bronze contrast stitching. However, the interior was marred by an abundance of hard plastic materials, which raised concerns about durability and noise over time.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid embraced a bold and modern design, riding on the N3 platform shared with the larger Kia Sorento. The new model was longer, taller, and wider than its predecessor, offering increased rear-seat legroom. The Sportage Hybrid's front end was radically styled with angular LED headlights and "boomerang" LED daytime running lights, setting it apart from other vehicles. Inside, the Sportage Hybrid featured a clean, minimalist design centered around a large optional infotainment display. While the base models had cloth seats, higher trims offered SynTex artificial leather, which felt somewhat cheap. The interior also included gloss black plastic trim, which quickly accumulated fingerprints and glare.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe was powered by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine with a 400-volt, 17-kWh battery pack. This setup delivered an impressive 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the output of Jeep's 5.7-liter V8 engine. The Grand Cherokee 4xe featured standard four-wheel drive, managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission, and offered a total driving range of 470 miles. The vehicle's battery provided 25 miles of all-electric driving range, and the Grand Cherokee 4xe was equipped with regenerative braking and E Select powertrain modes for efficient driving. However, its towing capacity was limited to 6,000 pounds, less than the V6- and V8-powered models.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid utilized a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a single electric motor, producing 227 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The powertrain was shared with the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, but the Sportage Hybrid offered slightly more horsepower. The base LX trim came with standard front-wheel drive, while the EX and SX-Prestige trims were all-wheel drive only. The Sportage Hybrid provided smooth and predictable acceleration, with a seamless transition between electric and gasoline power. The vehicle's transmission was well-tuned, offering smooth shifts and quick responses. The Sportage Hybrid had a maximum towing capacity of 2,000 pounds, which was 500 pounds less than the non-hybrid version.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe, unlike its gas-powered counterpart, was not available as an L model with a third row of seats. However, it offered ample space for passengers, with 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space that expanded to 70.8 cubic feet with the second row folded. The vehicle's air suspension allowed for quick adjustments, making loading and unloading easier. Despite the hot Texas weather during testing, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's standard heated steering wheel promised comfort in colder climates.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid, while slightly less spacious than the non-hybrid version, remained competitive in its segment. It offered more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids, but less headroom for rear passengers. The Sportage Hybrid featured a dual-level cargo floor, providing 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with them folded. The vehicle's interior was thoughtfully designed, with a rotary shift knob, large storage bins, and clever cupholders that adjusted to different sizes.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe boasted the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, an Android-powered interface with customization options like the My Pages feature. The vehicle included multiple screens, such as a 10.25-inch front-passenger display and a frameless digital driver information display. A wireless charging pad was optional, while four USB ports were standard. The Grand Cherokee 4xe also offered optional dual rear-seat entertainment screens and a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo, which was standard on the Summit Reserve trim.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The EX model upgraded to a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige featured a panoramic display combining the touchscreen with a digital instrument cluster. The Sportage Hybrid included touch controls and analog knobs for audio and climate adjustments. Higher trims offered additional USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe offered a mix of standard and optional advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Standard features included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rear parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection-collision assist, night vision, front parking sensors, and a 360-degree surround-view camera. A hands-off driver assistance feature suite was announced but required additional hardware.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid's safety features varied by trim level. The base LX trim included forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and safe-exit warning, while the SX-Prestige offered adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot view camera, a 360-degree camera system, Remote Smart Parking Assist, and Highway Driving Assist. Competitors like the Honda CR-V Hybrid and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered adaptive cruise control as standard.