2020 Honda Pilot 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 offered a blend of form and function, with plenty of storage compartments and a user-friendly design.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Pilot featured dynamic styling consistent with the rest of the Honda lineup. It had thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille, with a subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows that masked its size. The cabin was modern and spacious, with a semi-digital instrument panel and a comfortable, refined feel. However, it did use hard plastics in some areas, which was a drawback compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot's trim levels ranged from the base LX to the luxurious Black Edition, each offering various features and upgrades.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offered a range of engines, starting with the base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that produced 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque. This engine was standard on the Latitude, Latitude Plus, and the FWD Limited. 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 generated 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. This engine was optional across the lineup, except for the base Latitude. All engines were paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, and the Cherokee offered several 4WD systems, including Active Drive I, Active Drive II, and Active Drive Lock. The Cherokee's towing capacity was impressive, with the V6 engine capable of towing up to 4,500 pounds and the turbocharged engine up to 4,000 pounds. Fuel economy varied, with the most efficient variant being the turbo engine with FWD, achieving 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission on the LX, EX, and EX-L trims, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition received a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Pilot's V6 provided strong acceleration and was well-suited for real-world driving, though it lacked the athleticism of some competitors. The Pilot featured Honda's Intelligent Traction Management System, offering drive modes for various conditions, including Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand. While not designed for serious off-roading, the Pilot's AWD system provided added confidence in adverse conditions.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee's interior was highly functional, with a control layout that allowed for easy adjustments without taking your eyes off the road. Storage solutions were plentiful, including deep pockets in the front doors, a tray by the shifter, and a deep center console. The Cherokee offered an optional hands-free power liftgate, though its cargo space was limited, with just 25 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 54 cubic feet with the seats folded. These figures were below average for the compact crossover class.

The 2020 Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while higher trims featured second-row captain's chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Pilot's third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and higher offered one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot provided 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which was competitive with rivals like the Toyota Highlander and Kia Telluride. The Pilot also featured numerous storage spaces for family gear, and higher trims included a power liftgate and hands-free power tailgate.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen on the Latitude and Latitude Plus trims, while higher trims featured an 8.3-inch Uconnect system. Both systems supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offered crisp graphics, improved responsiveness, and pinch-to-zoom functionality on the navigation system. The Uconnect system was praised for its user-friendly interface and customizable screens.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's base LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen, while all other trims came with an 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Display Audio system, however, was criticized for its confusing layout and lack of a tuning knob. Higher trims included HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Cabin Control Remote Capability, allowing rear-seat passengers to control the stereo via a smartphone app. The Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims offered an upgraded 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system, mobile hotspot capability, and a wireless charging pad.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with front and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, electronic stability control, electronic roll mitigation, hill-start assist, keyless entry with a panic button, and trailer-sway control. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, rear parking sensors, forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, automatic rain-sensing wipers, adaptive cruise control, and a self-parking feature.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Additional safety features included front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and the best crash test score of Good from the IIHS, along with a Superior rating in crash prevention technology.