Compare the2022 Nissan PathfinderVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Pathfinder and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Pathfinder has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 21st in reliability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 6 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder gets better fuel mileage than the Grand Cherokee L:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Pathfinder uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee L with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Nissan Pathfinder as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee L.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The Nissan Pathfinder may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 750 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

The Pathfinder is 7.2 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Pathfinder easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The design of the Nissan Pathfinder amounts to more than styling. The Pathfinder has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .324 Cd. That is significantly lower than the Grand Cherokee L (.357) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Pathfinder get better fuel mileage.

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee L can only carry up to 7.

The Pathfinder has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 3 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .5 inches more third row headroom, 3.8 inches more third row hip room and 6.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pathfinder’s middle and third row seats recline. The Grand Cherokee L’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Pathfinder has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The Pathfinder’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

The Pathfinder has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.