2020 Honda CR-V vs 2019 Jeep Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee underwent a significant redesign to address the polarizing styling of its predecessor. The new front-end design adopted a more conventional look, replacing the isolated daytime running lights and fog-light-like headlights with a typical headlight-above/fog-light-below configuration. The rear also saw changes, with the license plate frame moved to the center of the rear hatch, giving it a more modern appearance. Inside, the Cherokee's cabin retained its sensible and logical control layout, reminiscent of a downsized Grand Cherokee. The interior blended form and function, offering plenty of storage compartments and a user-friendly design.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda CR-V maintained its familiar and fun design, with curvy, car-like lines that resembled Honda's sedan lineup. The CR-V's exterior leaned more towards a station wagon look, defining modern family transportation. Inside, the CR-V's interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with some low-quality plastics. Despite this, the CR-V's cabin was roomy and well-packaged, offering excellent head- and legroom, as well as clever storage solutions.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offered a range of engines, starting with the base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. This engine was standard on the Latitude, Latitude Plus, and FWD Limited trims. The 4WD Limited, Overland, and Trailhawk trims came with a 3.2-liter V6 engine, delivering 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque. A new addition for 2019 was the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, which produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine was optional across the lineup, except for the base Latitude trim. All engines were paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, and various 4WD systems were available, including Active Drive I, Active Drive II, and Active Drive Lock.

The 2020 Honda CR-V simplified its engine lineup by replacing the previous base engine with a 1.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which provided a smooth and responsive driving experience. The CR-V's car-like demeanor was reflected in its excellent road manners, with nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable chassis. The CR-V's low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 30 miles per gallon combined and AWD models managing 29 miles per gallon combined.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee's interior featured a highly functional control layout, with plenty of storage solutions within the driver's reach. The Cherokee added a hands-free power liftgate as an option for 2019, although the sensor was not always reliable. The Cherokee's cargo space was limited, with just 25 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 54 cubic feet with the seats folded down, which was below average for the compact crossover class.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and packaging. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both the driver and passengers. The CR-V's cargo compartment was also spacious, offering 37 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and 75.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The CR-V featured clever storage solutions, including a deep center console with a sliding cover and a two-position load floor in the rear, allowing for maximum cargo space or a flat floor.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen, which included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims featured an 8.3-inch Uconnect system with updated graphics, improved responsiveness, and pinch-to-zoom functionality. The Uconnect system was praised for its user-friendly interface and customizable screens.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age. The base LX trim came with a 5-inch screen, which was undersized and lacking in features. Higher trims featured a 7-inch touchscreen, which still felt small compared to competitors. The CR-V's infotainment system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports in higher trims, and the Touring trim included a wireless phone charger.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, electronic stability control, and more. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the "Honda Sensing" system as standard equipment, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. The CR-V also featured automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and cross-traffic monitoring in higher trims. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).