2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

With its proven off-road proficiency, impressive on-road comfort, and its three-row cabin, the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a genuine adventure vehicle that can accommodate the entire family. While the midsize SUV is a serene and composed on-road cruiser with loads of comforts and conveniences, models higher up in the range also come with more 4x4-capability-enhancing systems, including three versions of Jeep's 4WD setup. The Grand Cherokee L is luxurious, boasting a larger, more commodious cabin than its standard counterpart, and extends the occupancy rate to seven passengers by virtue of the third row. While it is a compelling offer, there are very many just as compelling midsize three-row SUVs in the USA - the Kia Sorento, GMC Acadia, and Mazda CX-9, to name just a few. Jeep has, however, applied several intriguing new updates for the new model year, but do they improve the Grand Cherokee L's appeal as a family cruiser, or do they just prove to be rather gimmicky?

The latest Grand Cherokee L is commanding, suave, and contemporary - and yet somehow manages to look capable and adventurous, too. Jeep's seven-slot grille defines the front end and is flanked by sleek, standard-fit LED headlights. Lower-spec models sport a black insert grille with floating bright chrome grille rings and a molded-in body-color front lower-fascia with bright chrome lower trim insert. Overland and Summit models sport their own unique grille stylings that incorporate extended chrome surfaces for a more premium aesthetic. All models feature roof rails varying in color - black, gloss black, and fine silver, as you move up through the trim levels. A dual-pane panoramic sunroof comes standard on the Overland and Summit. The Laredo and the Limited ride atop 18-inch alloy wheels which are swapped out for fancier-styled 20-inch alloy wheels on upper trims.

As the extended-wheelbase version of the Grand Cherokee, the Grand Cherokee L bears larger dimensions in just about every regard. It spans an overall length of 204.9 inches with 121.7 inches making up the wheelbase - making the L 15.1 inches longer than the Grand Cherokee and with seven extra inches on its wheelbase. Overall height comes in at 71.5 inches for the Grand Cherokee L. Its 77.5-inch body width, excluding the mirrors, makes it an inch wider than the regular Grand Cherokee L. With the basic suspension, the Cherokee L rides 8.5 inches off the ground, with air suspension elevating it to 10.9 inches.

As one of the only genuine premium off-roaders on the market, it's certainly worthwhile looking at the Grand Cherokee L's approach, breakover, and departure angles. With the basic suspension, those figures come in at 20.6/18.2/21.5 degrees respectively. Opt for the air suspension and those figures increase to 30.1/22.6/23.6 degrees respectively.

Curb weights differ significantly throughout the lineup with the weight of the 2WD models ranging between 4,524 and 4,752 pounds, and 4WD models tipping the scales between 4,658 and 5,279 lbs for the 4WD models.

Jeep presents the 2022 Grand Cherokee L with the same two powertrains that the standard Grand Cherokee SUV has. The default engine is a 3.6-liter naturally-aspirated 6-cylinder unit that's been tuned for 290 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Optionally, there's a 5.7-liter V8 with outputs of 357 hp and 390 lb-ft. Both come paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard and while 2WD drive is also standard across the board, the V8 engine comes with an all-wheel drivetrain as a prerequisite.

Both engines perform superbly in the Grand Cherokee L SUV - both providing enough power for confident and reliable performance whether in urban settings or off the beaten path. But where the V6 is occasionally sluggish, the V8 is a compelling option for its strong grunt and throaty soundtrack, and it's one of the last V8s on the market, with most automakers opting for turbocharged four- and six-cylinder units for their midsize SUVs. The eight-speed auto transmission is the real hero though, delivering quick and smooth shift responses with either of the engines.

The new Grand Cherokee L SUV is not one of the most pleasant cruisers on the road, with other premium SUVs and smaller crossovers offering easier drivability and better handling dynamics. The Grand Cherokee is just large and feels it. Its steering isn't communicative and there's plenty of body roll through the bends. That being said, the Grand Cherokee L does manage to stay impressively composed and soft over most road undulations and speed bumps. There's very little noise and vibration emitted through the cabin via the suspension - so while it's not the easiest SUV to drive, it is definitely one of the most comfortable.

Of course, the Grand Cherokee L isn't as adroit as the regular Grand Cherokee is off-road. With its significantly larger proportions and extended wheelbase, it's just a little more difficult to modulate over rough terrain. It is still quite capable though, with either the entry-spec Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, or Quadra-Drive II systems. Jeep's Selec-Terrain switch includes Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, and Mud/Sand drive modes that optimize the SUV's calibrations for those specific scenarios.

V6 and V8 engines are known for their power and reliability and not for excellent fuel economy returns. The most frugal configuration in the lineup is the V6 engine paired with the 2WD setup, which returns 19/26/21 mpg on the city/highway/combined driving cycles. Consumption figures increase to 18/25/21 mpg with the 4WD system and the V6. With the V8 engine and the 4WD setup in play, you can expect mileage returns of 14/22/17 mpg.

Regardless of which engine is under the hood, every Grand Cherokee L comes outfitted with a 23-gallon gas tank with which the V6-equipped model can travel 483 miles. The V8, meanwhile, can only muster a range of 391 miles with the same amount of fuel.

With its larger proportions and extended wheelbase, the Grand Cherokee L offers plenty of room throughout the cabin for all seven passengers. In the entry-level models, the second-row bucket seats are tip and sliding and the third row can be folded manually. The higher-spec models get an electronic remote release to fold the second-row seats and feature a 50/50-split power-folding third-row bench seat. The front seats offer plenty of adjustability, and while ingress and egress are generally fine, the Cherokee L is a tall vehicle so smaller occupants may struggle slightly to climb inside.

There isn't much room to spare for cargo in the Grand Cherokee L whilst all three rows of its seating are in use. There is 17.2 cubic feet of space offered behind the rear-most seats, which is enough room for all the goodies you need for family road trips. With the third row folded down, however, that room opens up to an expansive 46.9 cu.-ft. That's a good amount more room than what's offered behind the second-row seats of the regular Grand Cherokee (36.3 cu.-ft.). Fold down the second-row seats too, and that room expands further to 84.6 cu.-ft.

In-cabin storage solutions are plentiful, with a full-length front-row floor console coming standard along with two large illuminated cup holders. The center armrest incorporates two small-item storage tiers and there's a front storage bin present that'll fit two wireless devices. On upper trims, the second-row seats are also granted an armrest with two storage tiers and a floor console with two large illuminated cup holders.

Features are plentiful as of the entry-spec model onward with an eight-way power driver's seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and cloth upholstery coming standard in the Laredo. Moving up to the Limited sees the addition of a remote start system, a heated steering wheel, a driver memory system, and heated front and second-row outboard seats. The Overland gets ambient cabin lighting with a five-color selection, front-seat ventilation, an electronic remote release to fold the second-row seating, and a 50/50 power-folding third-row bench seat. The front seats in the Summit are upgraded with 12-way power-adjustability, back-massaging functionality, and memory settings, and four-zone automatic climate control is added.

The driver is granted several advanced assistance systems as standard including adaptive cruise control with stop/go, full-speed collision warning with active braking and pedestrian/cyclist detection, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, hill-start assist, advanced brake assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear park assist sensors, a backup camera, rear cross-path detection, and trailer sway control. The Overland adds on to these with front park assist sensors and hill-descent control while the Summit stretches the list even further with drowsy driver detection, highway assist, intersection collision assist, parallel/perpendicular park assist, a traffic sign recognition system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera.

Infotainment in the Grand Cherokee L is covered by an 8.4-inch digital touchscreen located in the center dash that comes inclusive of AM/FM stereo, HD Radio, and SiriusXM 360L. Running Uconnect 5 software, this widely used infotainment setup is easy to familiarize yourself with. It also comes standard with integrated voice commands, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Amazon Alexa functionality. An in-house six-speaker sound system is standard. Jeep applies some upgrades to the setup as of the Overland model by adding an integrated TomTom navigation system and installing a premium nine-speaker Alpine audio system. In the Summit, you get a bespoke setup comprising a 10.1-inch digital touchscreen. On the priciest trims, a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system with a 950-watt amplifier can be equipped. Another option is the 10.25-inch interactive passenger display, a feature that is standard on the Summit Reserve.

A couple of recalls affected the 2021 Grand Cherokee L, with issues including inoperable headlights, disabled airbags, malfunctioning automatic high beams, and a faulty rearview camera. At the time of writing, no recalls were announced for the 2022 model.

Nevertheless, J.D. Power awarded the 2022 Grand Cherokee with an above-average Quality and Reliability rating of 84/100. As it is so similar to the Grand Cherokee L, we expect a similar rating for the latter.

Jeep covers the Grand Cherokee L with a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty and a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty.

Neither the NHTSA nor the IIHS has subjected the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L to review for an official safety rating. The NHTSA has put the regular Grand Cherokee through its paces though, awarding it five stars overall, four out of five for frontal and rollover tests, and full marks in the side crash evaluation.

Regular drivers and off-road enthusiasts alike admire the regular Jeep Grand Cherokee for its versatile and well-rounded nature. While the 2022 Grand Cherokee L does share the same traits as the regular version - with the benefits of a longer wheelbase - it may make a little less sense to some, particularly those who appreciate the SUV for its off-road prowess. Jeep extensively outfits the L with off-roading equipment, especially at the higher-spec levels, but with its notably larger dimensions and extended wheelbase, it just won't be as adroit as the regular version has proven to be. What those inflated proportions has done, however, is make the Grand Cherokee L one of the most commodious midsize three-row SUVs money can buy. So while it may not cater ideally to the 4x4 fans, it will certainly appeal to a family with a passion for adventure. It comes with numerous creature comforts and conveniences, and Jeep even offers some cool new tech elements centered around the entertainment of the passengers. Some may, however, argue that a passenger-side infotainment touchscreen and rear-passenger screens may be needless, considering the reality of smartphones. Whatever the case, the Grand Cherokee L is an impressive modern-day adventure vehicle that doubles down as a comfortable everyday family cruiser.

In Laredo form, the price of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee L comes in at $38,890. One step above this is the Altitude at $43,445 followed by the Limited at $45,210. The Overland goes for $54,805, the Summit is $58,865, and the Summit Reserve - the only one to get 4x4 as standard - comes in at $64,865. On models without 4x4, you can add this drivetrain for another $2,000. Of course, the V8 engine will also add to the bill on select 4x4 models. For instance, this engine upgrade will cost $3,295 on the Overland 4x4.

All prices are exclusive of any tax, licensing, and registration fees, as well as Jeep's $1,795 destination charge.

When it comes to Jeep vehicles, we'd typically recommend that shoppers opt for the model that either best satisfies their needs in off-roading performance or the model that optimizes comfort, convenience, and luxury, and if they can afford it, the model that offers the best in both. But with the Grand Cherokee L being the larger and extended version of the Grand Cherokee, it's more of a passenger-focused SUV that we feel would make sense to prioritize comfort and convenience when choosing a model from the lineup. In this regard, the Limited makes the most sense with its heated steering wheel, heated front and second-row seats, and Capri leather upholstery adding to comfort, as well as its remote start system and power-adjustable front seats adding to convenience. The starting price of the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUV in this guise comes in at $45,210. The Limited is also installed with Jeep's Selec-Terrain drive modes which can be fully utilized with the Quadra-Trac II system with the 4x4 setup opted in.

Not only is the Kia Telluride an accomplished three-row SUV, but it's also one of the best family SUVs one can buy under $50,000. It's not as large or as spacious as the Grand Cherokee L, but it is still impressively commodious for a midsize SUV. It's fitted with a generous number of desirable features and technology. The 291-hp V6 motor under its hood is refined and a lot more fuel-efficient than the Jeep's V6 and V8 motors. It's more pleasant to drive than the Grand Cherokee L as it feels more like a compact car on the road than a bulky 5-door Jeep SUV. The Jeep is a lot more expensive but it is also a lot more luxurious. Along with its attractive pricing, oodles of features, and capacious cabin, the Kia Telluride has also earned itself some impressive safety ratings and a solid reliability track record. All in all, the Kia Telluride is the SUV to go for if you're looking for value and a truly comfortable family SUV. If you want a flashy premium vehicle and to bask in utter opulence, then the Grand Cherokee L is the better bet.

If the Grand Cherokee L isn't fancy enough for you, then the new Wagoneer may just be the Jeep to reach your expectations. In terms of performance, the Wagoneer comes equipped with the same 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that the higher-spec variants of the Grand Cherokee L do, but this V8 is also augmented by a 48-volt mild-hybrid eTorque system that provides an additional 130 lb-ft of torque lower down in the engine's rev range. This makes it one of the most powerful luxury SUVs in the segment with outputs of 392 h and 404 lb-ft. The result is a towing capacity of up to 10,000 lbs, easily surpassing the 7,200-lbs maximum of the Grand Cherokee L. In terms of comforts and conveniences, the Wagoneer comes extensively loaded with top-end features and tech from the outset, and also comes comprehensively installed with advanced driver-assist features and safety equipment. Starting at around $20,000 more than the Grand Cherokee L, the Wagoneer is far more expensive. But it's also one of the most comfortable and advanced SUVs on the road, so we'll take it if money was no object.