Compare the2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee LVS 2022 Lexus RXL

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Lexus RXL doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Grand Cherokee L are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RXL doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The RXL doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Grand Cherokee L and the RXL 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Grand Cherokee L its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 36 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The RXL last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance (up to 3 visits) on the Grand Cherokee L for 2 years and unlimited miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RXL (3/unlimited vs. 1/10,000).

There are almost 10 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee L’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Grand Cherokee L has a standard 850-amp battery (700 V8 and 900 V6 Overland/Summit). The RXL’s 580-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the Grand Cherokee L is under the seat, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Grand Cherokee L’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The RXL’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 3 more horsepower (293 vs. 290) than the RX 350L’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6. The Grand Cherokee L’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 49 more horsepower (357 vs. 308) than the RX 450hL’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6 is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Grand Cherokee L V8’s fuel efficiency. The RXL doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The RX 450hL requires premium, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee L has 5.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Grand Cherokee L has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 19.2 gallons).

The Grand Cherokee L has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RXL doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Grand Cherokee L’s brake rotors are larger than those on the RXL:

The Grand Cherokee L stops much shorter than the RXL:

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee L has larger standard tires than the RXL (265/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RXL (275/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee L Summit offers optional 21-inch wheels. The RXL’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Grand Cherokee L has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The RXL doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Grand Cherokee L offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the RXL; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Grand Cherokee L offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The RXL’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Grand Cherokee L offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee L’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The RXL doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee L’s wheelbase is 11.9 inches longer than on the RXL (121.7 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Grand Cherokee L is 1 inch wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the RXL.

The Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 handles at .82 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the RX 350L (27.3 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee L Laredo/Limited has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RXL (8.5 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee L to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s minimum ground clearance is 2.8 inches higher than on the RXL (10.9 vs. 8.1 inches).

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee L uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RXL doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Grand Cherokee L uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RXL doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Grand Cherokee L has 42.1 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RXL (159.1 vs. 117).

The Grand Cherokee L has 1.6 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 8.5 inches more rear legroom, .5 inches more rear hip room, .2 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.5 inches more third row headroom, 6.8 inches more third row legroom and 6.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

The Grand Cherokee L’s cargo area provides more volume than the RXL.

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus RXL is only 3500 pounds. The Grand Cherokee L 4x4 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee L 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee L can be unhitched and driven around locally. The RXL can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Trailer Sway Control is standard on the Grand Cherokee L, using the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the RXL.

The engine in the Grand Cherokee L is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the RXL. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the RXL, the Grand Cherokee L Limited/Overland/Summit offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee L’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The RXL does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Grand Cherokee L’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RXL’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Grand Cherokee L’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the RXL’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Grand Cherokee L’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The RXL doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Grand Cherokee L Overland Lux Tech/Summit has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the RXL.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The RXL doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Lexus RX by over two to one during 2022.