2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2019 Jeep Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee's redesign addressed many polarizing aspects of its predecessor. The previous styling of the Cherokee was rumored to have Fiat influences, evident from similar design elements seen in models like the Fiat 500L, 500X, and even the overseas Fiat Panda. The original KL generation debuted without much resemblance to anything else on the road, making it unique but not universally accepted.

For 2019, Jeep opted for a more traditional design approach. The new front-end features a normalized headlight configuration with typical headlight-above and fog-light-below placement, moving away from the isolated daytime running lights and misleading fog-light headlight setup that previously polarized opinions. The rear of the vehicle also saw significant improvements; Jeep relocated the license plate frame to the center of the rear hatch, making the Cherokee's back-end design far less "slab" and more conventional for a modern compact SUV.

Inside the 2019 Cherokee, the cabin layout remained largely unchanged, retaining a resemblance to the Grand Cherokee. This design includes a sensible control layout, creating a comfortable, practical interior with numerous storage compartments. The trims ranged from the base Latitude with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen to the luxurious Overland with chrome accents and premium leather.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee carried over a decade-old design that still managed to look precisely right for both rugged trails and upscale environments. The traditional Jeep styling cues, like the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders, created a balanced appearance that appealed to a wide demographic. The Grand Cherokee’s design made it an attractive choice for buyers across various income levels and social classes.

Starting at $32,150 for the Laredo and going up to $52,495 for the Summit, the Grand Cherokee offered eight additional variants. The high-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions catered to the luxury and performance market, priced at $68,895 and $87,400 respectively.

The Limited X model tested came with every option except for a V8, towing package, and CD player. Featuring a sleek Slate Blue Pearl paint, ventilated hood design, sport-themed front bumper, and impressive 20-inch aluminum wheels, the Grand Cherokee boasted a mild-custom look that it wore well. Despite the attractive exterior finish, the interior disappointed with hard plastic surfaces that were unbefitting of an SUV over $50,000.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee introduced a new turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, joining the lineup alongside the carryovers. The base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder produced a modest 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, standard on the Latitude and Latitude Plus and the FWD Limited. Higher trims like the 4WD Limited, Overland, and Trailhawk came with a robust 3.2-liter V6 engine making 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque.

The new turbocharged 2.0-liter engine delivered 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, notable for its stop-start capability, though it was somewhat noisy during full acceleration. A 9-speed automatic transmission came standard across the lineup, with power routing to either the front or all four wheels, complemented by several available 4WD systems like Active Drive I, Active Drive II, and Active Drive Lock for enhanced off-road performance.

The Cherokee’s Trailhawk trim featured an off-road suspension with added ground clearance and unique visual accents. The Trailhawk was particularly adept for trail-climbing while maintaining decent on-road manners.

Towing capacity was commendable too, with the V6 variant towing up to 4,500 pounds and the turbocharged model managing 4,000 pounds. For drivers focused on fuel efficiency, the turbo engine with FWD achieved 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined.

Equipped with a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower, the 2020 Grand Cherokee came with an 8-speed automatic transmission, delivering satisfactory acceleration and a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg. However, real-world tests showed a slightly lower average of 19.4 mpg. For those wanting more power and not concerned about fuel costs, three V8 engines were available. The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 produced 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, while the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT churned out an impressive 475 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. Topping the range was the Trackhawk’s supercharged 6.2-liter V8, boasting 707 hp and 645 lb-ft, with a claimed 0-60 mph time of just 3.5 seconds.

The Grand Cherokee included both RWD and various 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk trim being the most off-road capable. The Limited X model tested featured the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system with automatic operation and a 2-speed transfer case, enhancing its off-road credentials, despite its 20-inch wheels and all-season tires. Even with its substantial power, the driving dynamics were mixed, with excessive movement from the suspension on rough pavement, yet maintained the rugged appeal of a traditional SUV.

The 2019 Cherokee interior retained a well-organized, functional layout, similar to the previous model years and shared with other Jeep models. It offered ample storage solutions such as deep pockets in the front doors and a sizable center console. For 2019, the Cherokee included an optional hands-free power liftgate, although the sensor's reliability was occasionally inconsistent.

Jeep claimed to have improved cargo space, but the Cherokee provided just 25 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 54 cubic feet with them down. These figures were below average for the compact SUV class, far less than rivals like the Honda CR-V, which offered 37 cubic feet standard and 75 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee, seating five, had 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this placed it on the smaller side for midsize SUVs, it offered more room than the Cherokee.

In terms of comfort, the Limited X trim featured heated, 8-way power-adjustable front seats but lacked ventilated options. Rear passengers, including children, found sufficient comfort and legroom, and adults appreciated the generous thigh support. Notable features included USB ports and rear air conditioning vents. Interior storage was decent, with handy trays and door-panel bins compensating for a smaller center bin and glovebox.

Jeep equipped the 2019 Cherokee with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen standard on the Latitude and Latitude Plus, progressing to an 8.4-inch screen on higher trims. The fourth-generation Uconnect system introduced sharper graphics, improved responsiveness, and features like pinch-to-zoom for navigation. The touchscreen had a logical layout, with dock buttons for major functions and customizable screens.

While some rivals implemented advanced features like wireless charging, Uconnect's ease of use and reliability continued to set it apart as a top-performing infotainment interface.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee’s Uconnect system, with its 8.4-inch touchscreen, featured comprehensive functionality, including Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM services, and navigation. However, its effectiveness could be hampered by the Grand Cherokee's sometimes bumpy ride, making it difficult to select on-screen buttons accurately.

In terms of premium sound, the Limited X offered a 9-speaker Alpine system, which was good but not as impressive as the optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available in higher trims. Unique additions like the Off-Road Pages app provided drivers with detailed off-road metrics, adding a layer of utility for adventurous drivers.

The 2019 Cherokee came standard with a comprehensive array of airbags, stability control, keyless entry with a panic button, and a reversing camera. Also available were safety and driver-assistance features, like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors with the SafetyTec Group package. Higher trims offered a Technology Group package that included advanced features such as forward-collision avoidance, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control.

For the 2020 Grand Cherokee, Jeep provided three advanced driving assistance packages. The standard ProTech I package included a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The ProTech II package added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more, while the Advanced ProTech II package included full-speed collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and semi-autonomous parking assist.

Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee's crash-test ratings were underwhelming, receiving a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and less favorable scores from the IIHS.