2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2022 Lexus NX

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer, resulting in a similar traditional SUV styling. It featured a tall hood, broad shoulders, trapezoidal wheel arches, and an upright profile. However, 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 interior boasted high-end materials and convenience features, including 24-way power front seats with memory, massage, lumbar support, and four-way power headrests. Nappa leather upholstery was standard, with higher-grade Palermo leather available, along with aluminum and American Walnut wood trim.

The 2022 Lexus NX, redesigned and available in four model series, offered a distinct Lexus design with its signature spindle grille and refined styling details. It was longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor, providing more passenger and cargo space. The NX featured a minimalist interior design, moving away from the previous model's button-heavy dashboard. The NX 350 F Sport stood out with a unique mesh-pattern grille, body-color fender trim, and 20-inch gloss black wheels. Inside, it had sport-bolstered seats and a black headliner. The NX's interior was comfortable, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Luxury trim included a nature-inspired Thematic Ambient Illumination system, and the panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer was powered by a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. It featured cylinder deactivation for improved fuel economy and was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Wagoneer could accelerate from zero to 60 mph in six seconds, despite its roughly 6,400-pound weight. It came standard with four-wheel drive, including the Quadra-Drive II system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was also standard, offering adjustable height for off-roading and improved aerodynamics on highways. The Grand Wagoneer had 10 inches of ground clearance and could ford up to 24 inches of water. However, its size and weight made it feel ungainly at higher speeds, and it was best driven at a stately pace.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered two electrified versions: the NX 350h hybrid with 239 horsepower and the NX 450h+ plug-in hybrid with 302 horsepower. The NX 350 featured a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. The NX 350 F Sport added Sport S, Sport+, and Custom driving modes, along with an adaptive variable sports suspension. The F Sport felt taut and lean on winding roads, while the NX 350 Luxury offered a softer driving character. The NX 350 could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, and its fuel economy was estimated at 25 mpg in combined driving. The NX's handling impressed, but the turbocharged engine lacked the refinement of German rivals.

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. However, space in the front row was more limited compared to the Escalade and Navigator. The Grand Wagoneer had 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed. Its maximum towing capacity was 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to the Grand Wagoneer's extra weight. Standard features included a sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins.

The 2022 Lexus NX offered more interior room for passengers and cargo, though it felt more intimate from the driver’s seat. The NX was comfortable, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The F Sport trim provided better bolstering for the front seats, while rear-seat passengers enjoyed roomy accommodations with rear air conditioning vents and USB charging ports. The NX's panoramic sunroof extended over the back seat, and the Luxury trim included a Thematic Ambient Illumination system. The NX had 22.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat, increasing to 46.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous pairing for two Bluetooth-enabled phones and had 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 used the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with an Android-based operating system and over-the-air software updates. However, the screen was slow to respond, and the instrument cluster’s graphics were plain.

The 2022 Lexus NX introduced the new Lexus Interface infotainment system, featuring large touchscreen displays, natural voice recognition, and cloud-based features. A 9.8-inch touchscreen was standard, with a 14-inch screen as an option. Both versions included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Voice Assistant technology, and access to connected service subscription plans. A 10-speaker sound system was standard, with a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium surround system available. The new Voice Assistant and Intelligent Assistant systems responded to natural commands, and the NX included a complimentary three-year trial subscription to Drive Connect service. However, the 14-inch touchscreen collected fingerprints and dust, and there was no tuning knob.

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, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and intersection collision assist. Optional features included a driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. Active Driving Assist combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering, requiring drivers to keep their hands on the wheel.

The 2022 Lexus NX included the Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring Risk Avoidance Emergency Steer Assist, Oncoming Vehicle Detection, Oncoming Pedestrian Detection, and Curve Speed Management. The Emergency Driving Stop System brought the NX to a stop if the driver was unresponsive. The NX also had blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and Safe Exit Assist technology. Premium trim added rear pedestrian detection, an adaptive front lighting system, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rear cross-traffic braking. A Vision Package included a panoramic view monitoring system and front cross-traffic alert.