I’ve had the distinct pleasure of spending time with many Jeep products over the years. And many of those have been the fabled Cherokee; Trailhawk, Overland, and most recently the Grand Cherokee L. That last one, the 2021 Grand Cherokee L was indeed quite Grand. I spend a great week with it and even took a short road trip, something that Grand Cherokee is made for. It moved near the top of my all-time favorite vehicles list. It can’t get better than that I thought. Turns out it can and did.
That 2021 Grand Cherokee came my way in the first week of September last year. At the end of that same month, Jeep debuted the 2022 Grand Cherokee, and I had to wait until January of 2022 to have a week with it. It was worth the wait.
Here’s what happened: That 2021 Grand Cherokee L was indeed new but a three-row model and was part of the fifth generation for the brand. The rest of the 2021 Cherokee lineup was the fourth generation and all two rows (and looking back at them now, looked a bit dated). For 2022 the rest of the fifth-generation, two row, debuts. These new models are shorter and have less cargo room than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L but have all the goodness I found in the L model (dropping the L puts shortens the Grand Cherokee from 204 inches to 193.5 and the passenger volume from 129.1 cubic feet to 144.6). Don’t confuse all this Cherokee talk with the Wagnoneer, which is more expensive SUV from Jeep.
This mid-sized SUV comes in five variants: Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland and Summit. As with other vehicles you add more as you move up the line except for the Trailhawk, which is loaded with off-road upgrades.
Under the hood two powertrains carryover from the last generation, a V6 and a V8 and new is a plug-in hybrid system Jeep calls the 4xe.
Caraganza First Drive Review 2021 Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve: Oh how I missed you
The 2022 for my recent week was (like the 2021 L) the top-of-the-line Summit with the Reserve Package with hand-wrapped, quilted Palermo leather, open-pore Waxed Walnut wood, the great sounding 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system with the 10-inch subwoofer, 21-inch wheels to name a few and there was the also the 10.25-inch frameless digital gauge and cluster that can be programmed and the cabin looked just as upscale as the last. There was also a night vision camera and a digital rearview mirror.
New for the 2022 was a 10.25-inch front passenger touchscreen which was pretty mind blowing to me and a favorite for anyone who got a chance to go for a ride. My favorite of course was the seat massager, which the front seat passenger also got to enjoy. Also like the L, this being a Jeep there is a little doubt going off road wouldn’t be an issue; my tester was 4-wheel drive meaning the Grand Cherokee had the Quadra-Drive II Jeeps most advanced off-road package with rear electronic limited slip-differential and an active transfer case. There’s also Jeeps’ Quadra-Lift air suspension that adds electronic adaptive damping. The system not only adjusts the height for maximum performance, but it automatically adjusts the shock tuning to changing road conditions.
Finally, my latest tester had a head-up display and Jeep’s Active Driving Assist system which according to Jeep allows for hands-free automated driving in certain scenarios, though I profess to not having the courage to do so just yet.
I could drone on and on about the goodness that is the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Whether it’s the L version (7 passenger) or not (5 passenger), the Grand Cherokee is a “Grand” example of all that is good about a SUV. I’ve always said that an SUV should be able to do more than just deliver kids to soccer practice, and Jeep always leaves little doubt they can do just that.
I just hope it’s not too long before I get another week with one.
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4X4
MSRP: $59,365
MSRP (as tested): $69,395
Engine (as tested): 3.6-liter V6 293 horsepower @6400 rpm, 257 lb-ft. torque @4000 rpm
Transmission: 8-speed shiftable automatic
Fuel Milage (EPA): 19 city, 26 highway, 22 combined
Fuel Mileage (as tested mixed conditions): 24 mpg
Base Curb Weight: 4784 lbs.
Exterior Dimensions (inches)
Wheelbase: 116.7 121
Length: 193.5 204
Width, without mirrors: 77.5
Height: 70.9
Front Track Width: 65.4
Rear Track Width: 65.4
Minimum Ground Clearance: 10.9
Liftover Height: 30.4
Interior Dimensions (inches)
Passenger / Seating Capacity: 5
Total Passenger Volume: 144.6 (cu. ft.)
Front Head Room: 39.9
Front Leg Room: 41.3
Front Shoulder Room: 59.2
Front Hip Room: 57.4
Second Row Head Room: 39.4
Second Row Leg Room: 38.2
Second Row Shoulder Room: 58
Second Row Hip Room: 56.3
Cargo Space/Area Behind Front Row (cubic feet): 70.8
Cargo Space/Area Behind Second Row (cubic feet): 37.7
Cargo Space/Area Behind Third Row (cubic feet): 37.7
Maximum Towing Capacity (pounds): 6200
Maximum Trailer Weight, dead weight hitch (pounds): 5000
Maximum Tongue Weight, dead weight hitch (pounds): 500
Maximum Trailer Weight, weight distributing hitch (pounds): 6200
Maximum Tongue Weight, weight distributing hitch (pounds):620
Warranty
Basic: 3 Years/36,000 Miles
Drivetrain: 5 Years/60,000 Miles
Corrosion: 5 Years/Unlimited Miles
Roadside Assistance: 5 Years/60,000 Miles
Greg has been published in major publications across the country including the Los Angeles Times, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul, published in 2010, and the Christmas edition in 2016. He wrote as the NASCAR, Formula 1, Auto Reviews and National Veterans Affairs Examiner for Examiner.com and has appeared on Fox News. He holds a BS degree in communications, a Masters degree in psychology and is currently a PhD candidate majoring in psychology. He is currently the weekend Motorsports Editor for Autoweek.