Topic: 2024 midsize PHEV SUV comparo: CX-90 vs Grand Cherokee

[Blueprint]

An orange vs an apple? Not quite. Both of these rigs share key points: monocoque structure, rear-biased architecture, 8-speed automatic transmissions, mechanical awd, 4 cylinder power and identical EV range of 42 km. Plus, the Mazda will soon be available as a 5-seater, while the Jeep already exists in 3-row config, which may very well receive the 4xe drivetrain. Until then, let's peel the apple to find an orange.

https://www.autohebdo.net/editorial/20240125/jeep-grand-cherokee-4xe-vs-mazda-cx-90-phev-2024-match-comparatif/

[Blueprint]

Design

Mazda used many chapters in the book of superlatives to describe the CX-90's styling. But it works. Driving to the photo site, I was following my wife in the Jeep and saw how the light played the Mazda's flanks, all the subtle curves really working under changing angles. The Jeep looks like a rental lot ride in comparison, that fake floating roof being cliché'd to death already. Inside, the more basic Mazda is elegant and devoid of piano black. The Jeep is a carnival of materials, reflections, and cheap materials, despite its near 6-figure price tag. The design is not cohesive, as if all ideas that came out of a brainstorm were crammed together.

Win: Mazda

[Blueprint]

Power

While the powertrain architecture is quite similar here, Jeep chose a stronger turbo four to the Mazda's atmo unit, while the Japanese picked a stronger EV motor vs the American's. In sedate EV city cruising, the Mazda feels lighter, more agile and peppy, while the Jeep feels every pound of its considerable weight. Blend both propulsion systems though and the JGC provides a responsive and entertaining ride, being faster than the old (cancelled) HEMI V8 was.

Win: Jeep

[Blueprint]

Fun to drive

Both opponents ride on all-independant suspensions, but the Jeep has a trick up its expensive sleeve: pneumatic springs with a semi-adaptive brain. You can zig this sumo wrestler through ramps with a stupid grin, despite the snow tires. Add the responsive drivetrain and you'll have fun here in the twisties. The Mazda has the right bones, but the always-heavy steering and stiff Toyo tires take some of the fun out of the equation. The switch to winter rubber after the pics transformed the Mazda, but not to the point of being as fun to drive as the Jeep.

Winner: Jeep

[Blueprint]

Convenience

The Jeep's infotainment is infuriating. Too many menus, too many submenus, unresponsive screen - you spend way too much time tapping away at this mess, and to add insult to injury its surface is the worse fingerprint magnet in history. Mazda's is quite the opposite, with a simple menu structure accessed through a well-located rotary control. Mazda also nailed the general ergonomics, with clean mechanical switches with a logical design that places them where expected. Again, Jeep uses all sorts of control type, colours and textures and splatters the controls all over the place (the irony of the displayed song below is not lost on me). In HGTV speak, this IP is a tear-down.

Winner: Mazda

[Blueprint]

Safety

Ex-aqueo, they both get good scores

Content

There's no denying our executive class JGC has Costco content vs the Mazda's cube dweller convenience store. While the interfaces of the Jeep do like the vacuum cleaner, the content is there and I got massaged while commuting, while my ears enjoyed the fancypants McIntosh 19-speaker stereo. Mazda has a near poverty-spec audio, wired phone mirroring and lacks memory settings for the 10-way driver's seat.

Winner : Jeep

[Blueprint]

Room

3 row vs 2 row, so yeah, this category was spiked from the beginning. But, numbers tell an interesting story: the JGC actually has more cabin volume! And it appears to be from the higher roof, and slightly larger rear seat area. But the Mazda does offer more seats, and more cargo room when in 2-row configuration. Up front, space is quite similar.

Winner: Mazda

[Blueprint]

Comfort

While the Jeep has soft Nappa leather, massages and such, every passenger thought it rode like a truck. The Jeep's Trail-Rated underpinnings make for a heavy unsuspended mass that even passengers can feel, and while the pneumatic suspension offers handling chops, it is far removed from the cloud-like ride that was expected. The Jeep is stiff, bangs on pavement imperfections. The Mazda mostly suffers from its stiff Toyo all-seasons, but otherwise provides actually better seat design, and more isolating suspensions, despite the absence of wallowing.

Winner: Mazda

[Blueprint]

Fuel economy

Both vehicles netted 2.3 l/100 km over their respective weeks and offer identical ranges in EV mode. The gap widens when hybrid operation comes in, as the Jeep's more powerful engine requires more gas when running under strictly dino juice conditions, such as highway travel.

Winner: Mazda

Value

The numbers were close so far, but here the Mazda sends the Jeep to the mat, and it's a hard send. As-tested, you would need to add the as-tested Chevy Trax I reviewed a few weeks ago to the Mazda to reach the Jeep's msrp. And - think of it - the Jeep did not have all the available options, and two trims sit above my tester. Is the JGC worth its 6-figure price tag? Absolutely not. It does not have the refinement required at this price level, not the build quality. While fun to drive and a beast off the road, the Jeep is shamed by the Mazda's elegance, refinement and value pricing. To add insult to injury, the CX-90 opens access to provincial and federal incentives ($6,500 total in QC), while the GC's base msrp is above the treshold - so no rebates.

Winner: Mazda

[Blueprint]

Conclusion

Mazda wins with 82 points to the Jeep's 78. Budget is what really killed the Jeep's momentum here, the pricing being completely out of whack for what you're getting. The 4xe drivetrain is excellent, and the Jeep's abilities as an off-roader aren't questioned. But build quality, questionable design choices, haphazard ergonomics aren't those of a six-figure family car. Mazda has a gem in the CX-90, provided all the new bits prove themselves in the coming years. With its clean design and classy cabin, it makes for one frugal family plug-in.

[sailor723]

I'd agree with your conclusions.....no contest. The idea of a JGC well north of 100K just seems absurd to me. Under all the stuck on fancy bits it's still a Chrysler at heart.....with all that entails in terms of quality and reliability. 

[tortoise]

Solid comparison, thanks for posting it.

The price on the Jeep makes no sense.

Neither does Mazda not having memory settinyg for the seats... That would almost be a deal killer for me.

[Blueprint]

I'd agree with your conclusions.....no contest. The idea of a JGC well north of 100K just seems absurd to me. Under all the stuck on fancy bits it's still a Chrysler at heart.....with all that entails in terms of quality and reliability. 

In full disclosure, most people here know that my CX-90 has had a front diff replacement the week it came out of the dealership, a TSB done and three software recalls. And, of course, I used my own Mazda for the comparo instead of getting the red GS-L from the press fleet - why bother? But the fleet Jeep was hard to date - it got pulled from fleet a few times, and my sources tell me it visits the dealer often...

[Blueprint]

Solid comparison, thanks for posting it.

The price on the Jeep makes no sense.

Neither does Mazda not having memory settinyg for the seats... That would almost be a deal killer for me.

Thanks! 

I just summarized here, the actual story has more details, but Mazda did a fairly nice blend of content in the GS-L, with the vast pano roof and no-hands liftgate. The two things that I really miss in mine are the seat memory (5 drivers at home...) and the GT's Bose stereo. The wireless phone apps don't bother me as I don't use them. And for those reading this, amazon has a carbon copy of the Mazda SD card to activate Navigation ($70 instead of $652 at Mazda). My wife doesn't care for quality sound, and it's her dd. If for me, I'd be tempted with a GT, but it's a $5k step.

[TheHire]

Honestly pretty stoked for Mrs. Hire's Grand Cherokee to show up.

[Blueprint]

Honestly pretty stoked for Mrs. Hire's Grand Cherokee to show up.

Keep a microfiber handy in the cabin 

The basic IP design could be a winner, but ... why scatter everything around, use more cheap easily-scratched KIa-grade piano black at this price and have such a MS365-worthy illogic infotainment system?

Control location team at work:

[sszoomzoom]

I enjoy reading your reviews.

[Blueprint]

I enjoy reading your reviews.

Thanks!

More to come !!

Next one will be from the forum's (and thieves') favourite premium brand 

[ktm525]

I would take a new Lexus GX with a proper engine over either of these offerings. But that's just me. 

[bridgecity]

^ But the new GX doesn't have a V8