2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

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 reminiscent of the smaller 2021 Grand Cherokee L. The Grand Wagoneer distinguished itself with a standard black roof, model-specific hood, front fascia, and grille. Its 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, with an aluminum hood and doors, and a composite tailgate to save weight. Inside, the Grand Wagoneer offered high-end features like 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.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, redesigned in 2019, adopted a more substantial and blocky appearance, moving away from its softer crossover styling. It featured a trapezoidal grille adapted from Toyota's truck line, surrounded by beveled and angled bodywork to frame the headlights. The angular theme extended to the interior, with a multi-tiered dashboard featuring beveled cutouts for visual interest. The layout was typical for vehicles of its time, with an infotainment touchscreen atop the dash and physical buttons and knobs for primary controls. Materials quality was average for its class and price, with hard plastics and lightly padded surfaces. The base model and new Woodland trim opted for a downmarket urethane steering wheel and center armrest, while most other trims offered a leather covering. Build quality was strong, with no detectable creaks or squeaks over rough pavement.

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, impressive for its roughly 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 Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system with five drive modes: Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Sand/Mud. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system was standard, offering height adjustability for off-roading, highway driving, or easier ingress and egress. With a maximum ground clearance of 10 inches, it boasted a 25-degree approach angle, 24-degree departure angle, and 22-degree breakover angle, and could ford up to 24 inches of water. Despite its powerful V8, the Grand Wagoneer was best driven at a stately pace, as its ride became bouncy at higher speeds, and its steering was imprecise.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor/generator, mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) driving the front wheels. A second electric motor provided all-wheel drive, producing a combined 219 horsepower and accelerating to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds. This made it about half a second quicker than the standard RAV4, while the plug-in hybrid RAV4 Prime reached 60 mph in 5.5 seconds. The RAV4 Hybrid's brakes operated smoothly, with regenerative braking charging the hybrid battery during initial pedal strokes and physical brakes engaging under more aggressive stops. Its suspension provided a smooth ride over moderate bumps and potholes, delivering confident cornering without being sporty. The RAV4 Hybrid's driving dynamics were calm and effortless, similar to its 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 the Cadillac Escalade, Lincoln Navigator, and Infiniti QX80, though front space was more limited. With 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space with all rows in place and 70.9 cubic feet with the third row stowed, it surpassed its rivals in commonly used configurations. However, its 94.2 cubic feet of cargo space with all rear seats folded was less than the Escalade's, Navigator's, and QX80's. The Grand Wagoneer had a maximum towing capacity of 9,850 pounds, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its extra weight. It featured a standard sunroof, four-zone automatic climate control, and large storage bins, though forward visibility was limited by the hood.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided ample front seat space for larger passengers, while the rear seats accommodated average-sized adults. It offered slightly more rear headroom than the Honda CR-V or Kia Sportage, but less legroom. With 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, it was only slightly smaller than the non-hybrid RAV4. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, though shorter owners might find it challenging to reach them. The RAV4 excelled in interior storage, with a wide dashboard shelf, phone tray, large cupholders, and a spacious center armrest bin. An optional wireless charging pad was not available at the time due to a chip shortage.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster with 3D graphics, 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 center console touchscreen, 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 functions like seat massagers. It could be equipped with a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, controlling navigation and entertainment. The Uconnect 5 infotainment system, with an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates, was standard, though the screen response was slow, and the instrument cluster graphics were plain.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received a new infotainment system with modern graphics and logical menus. Most trims had an 8.0-inch display, while higher trims upgraded to a 10.5-inch touchscreen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an optional wireless charging pad. The system supported over-the-air updates and included a Wi-Fi hotspot. The top trim featured a fully digital instrument panel, and the Limited trim had an 11-speaker JBL audio system. The base six-speaker audio system provided decent clarity and power.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA. It came with standard safety features like a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, 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 hands on the wheel, with a hands-free version planned for certain highways.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid received five stars from the NHTSA for overall and side crash protection, and four stars for frontal and rollover crash tests. The IIHS awarded it a Top Safety Pick, with "Good" ratings in most tests and "Acceptable" in new moderate overlap frontal and side-impact tests. All RAV4 Hybrid models included Toyota's Safety Sense 2.5 suite, with features like forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and a traffic sign reader. The XLE trim added a blind-spot monitor, and the Limited trim included parking sensors with automatic braking. Optional features included a surround-view camera system and digital rearview mirror.