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The Jeep Grand Cherokee nameplate has been around since the George H.W. Bush presidency. But, the Grand Cherokee now in its new fifth generation is making waves and could be the best yet. It’s won several awards already this year, and now it can add a Newsweek 2022 Autos Award as the best two-row SUV. What makes this new generation of Grand Cherokee the greatest Jeep SUV according to Newsweek?

Why is the Grand Cherokee the best 2022 two-row SUV?

We’re sensing a pattern here that most of the vehicles to earn awards in the Newsweek 2022 Autos Awards are all new-for 2022, or at least significantly redesigned. The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee is no different. The Grand Cherokee is all-new, from the ground up, and that means it’s designed for new engines, like the plug-in hybrid 4xe variant, as well as a host of new off-road goodies.

Newsweek called out the Jeep for its towing capacity, at 7,200 pounds, which puts it in the top of its class. Also, the mag likes the new 4xe (say four-by-e) plug-in version that has a 25-mile range on electric-only power. But then Jeep made the Grand Cherokee positively elegant on the inside with an interior that rivals some of the nicest on the market. It also comes in a longer L variant that has a third row of seats for seven or eight people.

What engines can I get in the 2023 Grand Cherokee?

The 4xe version of the Grand Cherokee can tow 6,000 pounds.
2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve 4xe | Jeep

The 2023 Grand Cherokee comes with several engine options. Newsweek praised the PHEV, or plug-in hybrid, 4xe version for its 56 MPGe mileage. With its electric motors, it makes a stout 375 horsepower and a diesel-shaming 470 lb-ft of torque. For 2023, you can order it with two engine choices, the venerable 3.6-liter V6 or the longstanding 5.7-liter Hemi V8, and either comes with an 8-speed automatic.

How much is a fully-loaded 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee?

2022 Summit Reserve interior
Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve | Jeep

The base Grand Cherokee, in Laredo trim, starts at $42,595. Four-wheel drive is a $2,000 option. From there, you can get the Attitude, Limited, Overland, and Summit for $63,270. The 30th Anniversary version 4xe starts at $66,255.

The Summit Reserve interior could be one of the nicest in the SUV world, and it could challenge Mercedes, Audi, Cadillac or even Jeep’s Grand Wagoneer for luxury touches. But then, it’s $72,000. The Summit Reserve gets Palermo leather seats, which are heated and cooled and include a diamond inlay pattern. The dash is covered in long strips of wood, and the vinyl covering from the Laredo is replaced by more piano black and a secondary screen for the passenger. Even the steering wheel has wood trim.

To compete with the best traditional luxury brands, Jeep also had to bring the technology. In the Summit Reserve, the Advance ProTech Group IV package adds not just a heads-up display, but a cool night-vision camera with pedestrian and animal detection. It also adds a digital rear-view mirror, and an interior rear-facing camera so you can watch the shenanigans in the back seat. You can also add rear-seat entertainment and a wireless charging pad.

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5 Reasons the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee Is Topping the Sales Charts

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Writer - Sedans & Coupes

Dan Mayfield

Dan joined MotorBiscuit in 2022 with over 20 years of experience in journalism and a lifelong passion for anything related to the automotive industry. He grew up wrenching a 1949 Ford pickup truck and an MGB with his dad, learning how not to wire a fuel pump (he inadvertently set the MGB on fire).

After earning a bachelor’s degree in photojournalism from the University of New Mexico, Dan has contributed his expertise to a range of local outlets, including the City of Albuquerque, US Eagle, and the Alliance for Local Economic Prosperity.

On weekends, Dan spends Saturdays enjoying “cars and coffee” chats and, on Sundays, he’s watching the Route 66 Cruise roll through town. He also races motorcycles, and it’s not unusual to find him elbows-deep in his latest cafe racer build.

Taking advantage of the local desert terrain, Dan also enjoys exploring and driving off-road in his trusty Ram Rebel pickup truck, which provides personal insights into his contributions to our Trucks, SUVs, & Crossovers coverage. Dan strives to give our readers unique information about the dynamic automotive market, reading anything that has to do with cars, trucks, bikes, 4X4s, and, in his words, “everything with a motor.”

Dan has earned a number of accolades from the Public Relations Society of America, and is a University of Southern California, Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism Fellow.