So, you’re thinking of picking up a spanking new Jeep Grand Cherokee. Understandable. The venerable ride has been consistently popular for many years now, what with its classic looks and excellent off-road capability. But before you decide, you’re wondering: what’s new about the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee? Read on for that and more.
The Issue
While Jeep Grand Cherokee fans were delighted with introduction of the 2021 three-row Grand Cherokee L, many continued to wonder when the two-row fourth-generation Grand Cherokee would see changes. After all, it had been some 11 years. Well, wonder no more, as Jeep has finally redesigned the long-in-the-tooth model.
The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee
What’s new for this model year? Well, for one thing, the new standard two-row Grand Cherokee has been elongated by 3.7 inches and is an inch wider, with a lower roofline than the model it replaces. And that’s just for starters. The ride’s wheelbase – 116.7 inches – is two inches longer, and the track width gains 1.4 inches.
Despite those changes, the Grand Cherokee still looks like, well, a Grand Cherokee. Jeep may not be shy about improvements, but it isn’t crazy. It knows not too mess too much with a good thing. So, proportions here are the same overall.
Still, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, while not exactly big and round, is pleasingly tumescent, and has a longer hood and somewhat forward-tilted nose and traditional seven-slot grille. Oh, and because the side glass is now a half-inch lower, the driver has more visibility.
What’s wild is that this model is 250 pounds lighter than the outgoing model. How Jeep pulls that off is a wonderment, but really, it comes down to advancements. For instance, there’s more strong steel in the unibody, and the liftgate is comprised of a combo of composite materials and aluminum. In fact, aluminum abounds throughout the GC.
Because the vehicle is lighter, and the engine is mounted lower, handling is improved. What’s more, because of changes to the front and rear suspension, you get better steering, cornering, and yes, a smoother ride with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
What About the Trailhawk?
Ah, yes. The lineup’s showcase model, the Trailhawk has 11.3 more inches of ground clearance along with a redesigned front fascia that improves the approach angle. Other improvements include the addition of the top-of-the-line Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive system, 18-inch Goodyear Wrangler Territory AT tires, a better off-road camera, and an automatic crawl control system. And even with all that, the SUV plays nice on asphalt.
And the Grand Cherokee’s Interior?
Jeep went all out here, with much-improved materials and a more refined design. Plus, rear passengers get a tad more legroom, and so many bells and whistles – Uconnect 5 infotainment, for example — are now standard. In the Trailhawk on up, the front-seat passenger can watch movies with no distraction to the driver since the display is angled away. The co-pilot can also select music, use the map, and see what back-seat passengers are viewing.
All GC’s come standard with rear park-assist sensors, rear cross-path detection, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, and more.
The five trim levels are Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, and Summit.
In all, the upshot is that while Jeep’s new two-row Grand Cherokee can still go off road with aplomb – no loss of brawn there – the ride is markedly more polished and improved overall. What’s new about the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee? Plenty, and then some. And we don’t blame you a bit for wanting one.
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