2020 Jeep Wrangler vs 2019 Jeep Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee had a significant design overhaul compared to its predecessor, which had a polarizing look. The new front-end design adopted a more conventional headlight-above/fog-light-below configuration, replacing the previous isolated daytime running lights and fog-light-like headlights. The rear also saw changes, with the license plate frame moved to the center of the rear hatch, giving it a more modern look. Inside, the Cherokee's cabin remained largely unchanged, maintaining a sensible and logical control layout similar to a downsized Grand Cherokee. The interior was practical, with plenty of storage compartments and a design that worked well for everyday use.

In contrast, the 2020 Jeep Wrangler retained its iconic look with circular headlights, a seven-slat grille, and boxy styling. The Wrangler's industrial look was further emphasized by exposed hinges and bolts, and the removable top added to its rugged persona. Inside, the Wrangler's cabin had a retro look with circular climate vents and gauges, making the most of its ergonomic shortcomings. The Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door version, was particularly popular, offering more practicality while retaining the ability to remove the doors and fold down the windshield.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options. The base 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque, standard on the Latitude, Latitude Plus, and FWD Limited. The 3.2-liter V6, making 271 horsepower and 239 pound-feet of torque, was standard on the 4WD Limited, Overland, and Trailhawk, and optional on other trims. The new-for-2019 turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine delivered 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, available across the lineup except for the base Latitude. All engines were paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Cherokee offered several 4WD systems, including Active Drive I, Active Drive II, and Active Drive Lock, with the latter providing a locking rear differential for off-road capability. 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, returning 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler came with a base 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 6-speed manual or an 8-speed automatic transmission. A turbocharged 4-cylinder engine was also available, making 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. New for 2020 was a 3.0-liter V6 turbodiesel engine, delivering 260 horsepower and an impressive 442 pound-feet of torque. The diesel engine provided excellent low-speed performance and highway overtaking capability. The Wrangler's off-road prowess was unmatched, with features like locking front and rear differentials, a disconnecting front sway bar, and various off-road modes. Fuel economy for the diesel engine was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the most efficient gas-powered version, the 4-cylinder turbo with the 8-speed automatic, returned 21 mpg city, 22 highway, and 21 combined.

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, although its sensor was sometimes finicky. Cargo space was limited, with just 25 cubic feet available and 54 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was below average for the compact crossover class.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, the four-door version, offered more practicality than the standard two-door Wrangler. The Wrangler's doors could be removed, and the windshield could be folded down, with a small tool kit provided for these tasks. The most popular feature was the removable roof, available in various configurations, including a soft top, a hardtop, and the Sky One-Touch roof. With the rear bench lowered flat, the Wrangler Unlimited provided about 72 cubic feet of cargo space, less than less-capable SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, in the Latitude and Latitude Plus trims. Higher trims came with an 8.3-inch Uconnect system. The latest version of Uconnect offered crisper graphics, improved responsiveness, and pinch-to-zoom on the navigation system. The touchscreen menu had a great layout, with customizable screens and drag-and-drop functionality.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler's Sport and Sport S trims featured a basic 5-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth and USB connectivity. The Rubicon and Sahara trims came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, offering a more robust Uconnect system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sahara and Rubicon could also be equipped with an 8.4-inch Uconnect system, adding navigation, HD Radio, real-time traffic and weather updates, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and automatic high beams. The 8.4 Uconnect package also included an Alpine premium audio system with a large subwoofer.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with front and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera with dynamic guidelines, 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, and rear parking sensors. Higher trims could be equipped with a Technology Group, adding forward-collision avoidance and mitigation, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, automatic rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control, along with a self-parking feature.

The 2020 Jeep Wrangler included standard safety equipment such as airbags, electronic roll mitigation, and a backup camera located on the hub of the external spare tire. Optional safety packages were available, with the base package adding rear parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection for $895. The Advanced Safety Group, priced at $795, included adaptive cruise control and full-speed forward-collision warning. Automatic high beams were also available.