2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a longer version of the standard two-row Grand Cherokee, extending 11.4 inches to accommodate a third row of seats. Its wheelbase was also five inches longer, 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's design choices, including the seven-slot rectangular grille and U-shaped wheel arches, maintained the brand's recognizable aesthetic while modernizing the lighting and improving the paint finish and panel fit. The high-end Summit and Summit Reserve trims added black roofs, larger wheels, and more chrome, with new paint colors like Ember, Hydro Blue, and Midnight Sky introduced for 2022.

Inside, the Grand Cherokee L offered a luxurious experience, with dual high-resolution screens, real wood, aluminum, quilted Nappa leather, and a faux-suede roof. The interior layout was reminiscent of a Mercedes, emphasizing style and tactile quality. Even in all-black, the interior provided enough detail and contrast to keep passengers comfortable. The lighter tan leather option required extra care to maintain its pristine appearance, but overall, the interior exuded luxury.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid rode on the N3 platform, shared with the larger Kia Sorento, resulting in a size increase over the 2022 model. It was 7.1 inches longer, with a 3.4-inch longer wheelbase, benefiting rear-seat legroom. The new Sportage was also about an inch taller and half an inch wider than its predecessor. The styling took bold risks, featuring a radically styled front end with angular LED headlights and "boomerang" LED daytime running lights, giving it a distinctive face. The Sportage Hybrid LX came with standard 17-inch alloy wheels, while other models had 18-inch wheels. The interior was designed around a large optional infotainment display, with a clean, minimalist look that contrasted with the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid's ruggedness.

The Sportage Hybrid's interior featured SynTex artificial leather, promoted as an "animal-free" alternative to real leather, though it felt somewhat cheap. The steering wheel was still wrapped in real leather. The SX-Prestige trim included gloss black plastic trim and silver metallic finish, which looked nice initially but quickly accumulated fingerprint smudges and glare.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered two familiar engine options: a 3.6-liter V6 and a 5.7-liter V8, both paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The V6 engine produced 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, but it felt insufficient for the vehicle's weight, especially when fully loaded. The V8, available on higher trims, delivered 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, providing a more satisfying driving experience. The V6 achieved an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined, while the V8 was less efficient at 14/22/17 mpg. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis was a standout feature, offering stellar ride composure and steering feel. The optional air suspension provided a range of ride height settings, enhancing both comfort and off-road capability. The maximum towing capacity was 6,200 pounds for RWD models and 7,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid utilized a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and a single electric motor, producing a combined 227 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. The base LX trim offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) with optional all-wheel drive (AWD), while the EX and SX-Prestige trims were AWD-only. The powertrain delivered smooth and predictable acceleration, with seamless transitions between electric and gasoline power. The well-tuned transmission provided smooth shifts and quick responses, contributing to a quiet cabin and comfortable ride. The Sportage Hybrid's steering, however, felt nonlinear and artificially heavy in Sport mode. The maximum towing capacity was 2,000 pounds, slightly less than the non-hybrid version.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, known for its simplicity and straightforward graphics. Physical switches separated climate, seat climate controls, and stereo functions from the touchscreen, providing ease of use. The Laredo and Altitude trims came with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, while higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The Grand Cherokee L provided ample space in all rows, with second-row captain's chairs standard for six-person seating. A panoramic roof, large windows, and multiple USB ports enhanced the travel experience. However, the air vents were too small, requiring the fan to be kept on high, which was quite loud.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid offered slightly less headroom and cargo space than the non-hybrid version but remained competitive in its segment. It provided more front-seat headroom than the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4 hybrids but less for second-row passengers. The dual-level cargo floor added flexibility, with 39.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.7 cubic feet with them folded. The Sportage Hybrid's interior featured a rotary shift knob, freeing up space between the front seats. Phones could be placed in a large bin with USB ports and optional wireless charging, while the cupholders had adjustable rings for different cup sizes.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a range of premium features on upper trims, including multiple massage modes for the 16-way power adjustable front seats, a head-up display, night vision with pedestrian and animal detection, and a 360-degree camera system. The navigation system could take over the instrument panel, providing a zoomed-in view of upcoming corners. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with the ability to connect two phones simultaneously. New for 2022, an optional 10.3-inch touchscreen was available for the front passenger, along with dual 10.1-inch touchscreens with Amazon Fire TV for rear-seat passengers. Standard safety features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The EX model featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen, while the SX-Prestige had a panoramic display combining the touchscreen with a digital instrument cluster. The panoramic display was visually impressive and user-friendly, though Android Auto didn't utilize the entire screen. Kia added touch controls below the screen, which could switch between audio and climate controls. Hybrid models included four standard USB-C ports, with additional rear USB-C ports, wireless phone charging, and an upgraded Harman Kardon audio system available on higher trims.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L had not been tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) at the time. Standard safety features included driver and passenger knee airbags, a rear seat alert, trailer sway control, and various driver aids.

The 2023 Kia Sportage Hybrid had not yet received crash-test ratings from the NHTSA or IIHS due to its recent redesign. The base LX trim included standard forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and automatic high beams. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring, while the SX-Prestige offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, a blind-spot view camera, a 360-degree camera system, and Highway Driving Assist.