2020 Subaru Outback vs 2019 Jeep Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee underwent a significant redesign to address the polarizing styling of its predecessor. The previous generation, rumored to have Fiat origins, featured unconventional design elements that didn't resonate with all buyers. Jeep designers took a clean-slate approach, resulting in a more conventional front-end design for 2019. The new look included a typical headlight-above/fog-light-below configuration, replacing the isolated daytime running lights and fog-light-like headlights. The rear of the Cherokee 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 plenty of storage solutions, making it practical for everyday use.

In contrast, the 2020 Subaru Outback focused on incremental improvements while maintaining its winning formula of utility, safety, and performance. The sixth-generation Outback was built on Subaru's Global Platform, providing a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The base 2.5-liter engine received significant updates, with 90% new parts and direct injection, resulting in a 7-horsepower increase. For those seeking more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine from the Ascent was available in higher trims. The exterior changes were subtle, with noticeable updates to the head- and taillights. Inside, the 2020 Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen for all but the base trim, along with innovative tech like DriverFocus, which used facial recognition to adjust settings between drivers and alert distracted or sleepy drivers.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee offered a range of engine options, 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 the front-wheel-drive Limited. The 4-wheel-drive 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. All engines were paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, with power routed to either the front wheels or all four wheels through various 4-wheel-drive systems. 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 front-wheel drive, achieving 23 mpg city, 31 highway, and 26 combined.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured an upgraded 2.5-liter engine with 182 horsepower, a 7-horsepower increase over the previous year. This engine offered 26 mpg city and 33 highway, a 1-mpg improvement in both categories. For those seeking more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the XT trims produced 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, allowing the Outback to reach 60 mph in around 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Subaru tuned to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, reducing the typical CVT drawbacks. The Outback's symmetrical all-wheel-drive system provided consistent power delivery and improved handling, both on and off-road. With 8.7 inches of ground clearance and upgraded X-Mode on the Onyx XT, the Outback was capable of handling various terrains, although it wasn't as rugged as a Jeep.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee's interior featured a highly functional control layout, carried over from the previous year. The layout was shared with other Jeep models, making it easy to operate controls without taking your eyes off the road. The cabin offered plenty of storage solutions, including deep pockets in the front doors, a tray by the shifter, and a deep center console. The Cherokee also added an optional hands-free power liftgate for 2019, although the sensor was sometimes finicky. However, the Cherokee's cargo space was limited, with just 25 cubic feet available behind the rear seats and 54 cubic feet with the seats folded down, which was below average for the compact crossover class.

The 2020 Subaru Outback, on the other hand, excelled in interior space and functionality. The Outback offered 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The rear seats could be easily folded via handles at the rear of the trunk. The increased width between the rear wheels contributed to the overall volume increase. The Outback's interior was spacious enough to accommodate taller passengers comfortably, with ample legroom and headroom. Subaru's attention to proportion also resulted in excellent visibility, although the rear quarters had a noticeable blind spot. The Outback's design prioritized functionality, making it a practical choice for families and outdoor enthusiasts.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. This screen was available on the Latitude and Latitude Plus trims, while higher trims received the larger 8.3-inch Uconnect system. The fourth-generation Uconnect system offered improved graphics, responsiveness, and pinch-to-zoom functionality on the navigation system. The touchscreen menu was well-organized, with customizable screens and drag-and-drop features for easy access to frequently used functions. Uconnect continued to set the standard for user-friendly infotainment systems.

The 2020 Subaru Outback introduced a tablet-style, 11.6-inch touchscreen, which was visually impressive and easy to navigate. However, the system suffered from lag, affecting nearly every screen and function, including navigation, radio, and volume controls. The climate-control functions were also somewhat buried, making them less accessible. Additionally, the camera resolution was subpar, especially given the large screen. Despite these issues, the Outback's infotainment system had potential, but it needed improvements to address the lag and camera quality.

The 2019 Jeep Cherokee came standard with a comprehensive array of safety features, including 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 packages included the SafetyTec Group, which added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, and rear parking sensors, and the Technology Group, which offered forward-collision avoidance and mitigation, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, automatic rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control. The Technology Group also included a self-parking feature for both parallel and perpendicular spots.

The 2020 Subaru Outback's safety suite was impressive, with standard all-wheel drive and a range of safety features. However, the DriverFocus system, designed to alert distracted or sleepy drivers, was problematic. The system frequently issued alerts even when the driver's eyes were on the road, making it more of a distraction than a safety aid. Subaru's EyeSight system, which used optical sensors, also had its drawbacks, as it could be obstructed by weather conditions or direct sunlight. Despite these issues, the Outback's safety features were generally robust, but improvements were needed for the DriverFocus system.