2020 Ford Escape vs 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its classic 7-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and a variety of aluminum wheel designs. The Laredo trim started at $31,945, with an additional $1,495 destination charge, and 4WD added another $2,000. The Grand Cherokee offered 11 additional trims, each catering to different needs, from style to off-roading to luxury and performance. The Limited X trim, priced at just over $50,000, featured a performance vented hood, unique 20-inch wheels, and special leather seats, but the interior had some hard plastic panels and build quality issues.

In contrast, the 2020 Ford Escape presented a sleek, modern design inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The new Escape had a more curvaceous design compared to its predecessor, which impacted cargo space but still made it one of the best-looking small SUVs. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen. The Escape was available in S, SE, SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium trims, with the SE trim offering a great balance of features and value, including an 8-inch Sync 3 infotainment system, automatic climate control, and heated front seats.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee came with a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower. For those seeking more power, options included a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, a 425-hp 6.4-liter V8 in the SRT, and the Trackhawk's 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. An 8-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with three 4WD systems available depending on the trim. The Limited X test vehicle featured the Quadra-Drive II system, 8.6 inches of ground clearance, and Selec-Terrain driving modes. However, the Grand Cherokee's fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 18.3 mpg during testing. The Grand Cherokee excelled on pavement with robust acceleration and decent handling, but its brakes struggled during long descents.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered four engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower, a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower, and two hybrid setups. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid engine produced 198 horsepower, while a plug-in hybrid variant was also available. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids had a CVT. The Escape's steering was direct and taut, providing an athletic feel, and the brakes were strong and responsive. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, with a combined fuel economy of 41 mpg.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 5-passenger midsize SUV, offered a roomy interior with comfortable, power-adjustable, and heated front seats. However, backseat passengers faced hard plastic front-seatback panels that could be uncomfortable. Storage space was limited, with small door-panel bins and a center console storage bin. Cargo space was also on the stingy side, with 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

The 2020 Ford Escape, while losing some cargo space due to its sleeker design, still offered 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 65.4 cubic feet with the backseat down. Hybrid models had slightly less cargo space. The Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats provided a commanding view and good visibility. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims featured a more advanced Uconnect system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, and navigation. Pairing a smartphone via Bluetooth was easy, and the voice recognition system worked well. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, while higher trims offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim had a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, but the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display, although it was a flip-up screen rather than a windshield projection. The latest version of Sync allowed for multitasking, enhancing the user experience. The Escape's tech features were user-friendly and provided a modern touch to the cabin.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered modern driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and available semi-autonomous parking assistance. The Advanced Active Safety Group package added adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and rain-sensing wipers. However, the Grand Cherokee received poor safety ratings from the IIHS and a mediocre rollover resistance rating from the federal government.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a TPMS. It earned the best overall score of Good from the IIHS in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.