2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2022 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar appearance to the lower-level model and the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. It featured traditional SUV styling with a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. The grille leaned forward slightly with laser-etched knurling in the slots, and the wheel center caps had an acrylic glass covering to protect the “Wagoneer” logo. The vehicle's body-on-frame architecture allowed for independent front and rear suspension, and the use of aluminum and composite materials helped save weight.

Inside, the Grand Wagoneer shared styling features with the Wagoneer, such as an integrated infotainment touchscreen, a large rotary shift knob, and a two-spoke steering wheel. However, it offered more convenience features and higher-quality materials. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests, along with heated/ventilated first- and second-row seats and a heated steering wheel. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, complemented by aluminum and American Walnut wood trim. Subtle differences, like seat controls placed high on the doors and the “Grand Wagoneer” inscription on the dashboard, further set it apart from the Wagoneer.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer was available in 2LT, 3LT, Premier, and RS trim levels, with all but the RS featuring a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine and front-wheel or all-wheel drive. The RS trim included a V6 engine and a sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system for improved responsiveness on low-traction surfaces. For 2022, the Blazer saw minor changes, including revised bumper and bodyside trim for Premier versions, redesigned standard wheels, and new package options. Two-tone paint became available for the LT and RS trims.

The Blazer's design drew inspiration from the Camaro, both inside and out, with a sporty and appealing look. The 20-inch wheels enhanced its appearance, though the black trim on the rear bumper gave it an unfinished look. Inside, the Camaro influence was evident in the infotainment and climate control systems, with an 8-inch touchscreen display and innovative temperature adjustment rings on the air vents. However, the interior featured plenty of hard plastic, and the upper door panel trim was notably hard. The RS trim's red interior accents matched the exterior paint, adding sophistication to the Blazer's overall look.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque, with cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy. Paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, it could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, despite its hefty 6,400-pound weight. The Grand Wagoneer came standard with four-wheel drive, featuring the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. It also included the Selec-Terrain system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was standard, offering adjustable height for off-roading, highway driving, and easier ingress and egress. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, the Grand Wagoneer could handle a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle, and it could ford up to 24 inches of water. Despite its power, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a leisurely pace due to its bouncy ride and imprecise steering at higher speeds.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered a standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Blazer RS featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 308 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque, with a dual-clutch AWD system. The V6 engine allowed for a towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds, 1,000 pounds more than the base engine. The Blazer RS felt firm and sporty in city and highway driving, with satisfying acceleration from the V6 engine, though it was often loud and unrefined. The 20-inch wheels provided decent grip, and the steering felt good outside of Sport mode. However, the Blazer's suspension was bouncy, and the nine-speed automatic was slow to downshift in Sport mode. The steering took on an artificial heft in Sport mode, and the Blazer's driving dynamics fell short of its sporty styling. The Blazer RS AWD was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving, but our test vehicle averaged 20.5 mpg.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard second-row captain’s chairs or eight with an optional third-row bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than competitors like the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80, though front-row space was more limited. The Grand Wagoneer offered 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. Folding all rear seats provided 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space, less than its rivals. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins. The Grand Wagoneer’s hood limited forward visibility, but the standard 360-degree camera system helped mitigate this issue.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer was comfortable and practical, with black leather upholstery and red perforations lending a sporty appearance. The steering wheel was pleasing to grip, with power tilt and telescopic adjustment and heating. The front seats offered power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though they lacked side bolsters and thigh support. Dual-zone automatic climate control was available, with effective air conditioning and rear air vents. The back seat was wide and flat, with ample legroom and the ability to slide forward and back for added cargo or passenger space. Storage space was impressive, with a large glove compartment, center armrest bin, and door panel shelves. The Blazer had a power rear liftgate, with hands-free operation available on RS and Premier trims. The cargo area offered 30.5 cubic feet of space, expanding to 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was small for a midsize crossover SUV.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a standard infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a McIntosh audio system, and a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot. Second-row passengers had a 10.25-inch touchscreen for climate control, and an optional rear-seat entertainment system added two 10.1-inch screens. The Grand Wagoneer had a larger touchscreen than the standard Wagoneer and a second screen for seat massagers. A separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger was available, along with Amazon Alexa connectivity and Fire TV for Auto. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system featured an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates, though the screen was slow to respond, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system was user-friendly, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, high-resolution graphics, and easy-to-use menus. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an upgraded system offering satellite radio and connected navigation. Connected services included an OnStar Safety and Security plan and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The infotainment system was easy to use, with separate stereo volume and tuning functions and climate controls. Enhanced voice recognition and connected navigation were impressive, and the test vehicle had wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Bose audio system. The Blazer also featured rear parking sensors, a high-resolution reversing camera, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. Standard safety features included a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, intersection collision assist, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, traffic-sign recognition, and two levels of driver-assistance systems. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel. A hands-free version was planned for certain highways, with driver monitoring to prevent misuse.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. A rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology were also standard. Available safety upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Blazer's advanced driving assistance systems worked well, with smooth adaptive cruise control and effective lane-keeping assistance. However, the IIHS did not give the Blazer a “Top Safety Pick” rating due to its headlights.