2020 Honda Pilot 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 various 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. However, the interior had some drawbacks, such as hard plastic panels and a few build quality issues.

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the dynamic styling of the current Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. Its modern cabin included a semi-digital instrument panel, with analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges and a digital screen for other information. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, though it used hard plastics in many areas. The Pilot was available in six trims: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The EX trim, recommended by CarGurus, added features like remote start, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and tri-zone climate control. The higher trims offered additional luxury and convenience features, with the Black Edition providing unique black-painted wheels and accents.

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. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Grand Cherokee's fuel economy was disappointing, averaging 18.3 mpg during testing. The SUV handled well on pavement, with robust acceleration and better-than-expected handling, though the brakes struggled during long descents. The Trackhawk version offered astounding performance but at a high cost and low fuel efficiency.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine 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. The Pilot's ride was refined and comfortable, ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, but the system's controls were not intuitive. The Pilot's V6 provided strong acceleration for real-world driving, making it a capable and reliable choice for families.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 5-passenger midsize SUV, offered a roomy cabin with comfortable power-adjustable and heated front seats. However, the hard plastic front-seatback panels were uncomfortable for backseat passengers with long legs. The SUV provided air conditioning vents, dual USB ports, and a 115-volt power outlet for rear passengers. Storage space was limited, with small bins and cup holders, though the cargo area was usefully shaped. The Grand Cherokee offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2020 Honda Pilot featured a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while higher trims offered second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Pilot's third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and higher provided one-touch fold-down rear seats for easy access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to its rivals. The SUV had plenty of storage spaces for family needs, and higher trims included a power liftgate and hands-free power tailgate. The second-row captain’s chairs provided a helpful passage for kids and a separation zone if needed.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Higher trims featured an upgraded 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 Honda Pilot LX trim included a 5-inch color LCD screen and a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system's layout was confusing, and it lacked a tuning knob. All but the LX trim included HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Cabin Control Remote Capability. Higher trims offered navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system. The Elite and Black Edition trims also included a wireless charging pad.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered modern driver-assistance and collision-avoidance technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and available 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 3-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Standard safety features also included front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment included parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring. 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 for crash prevention technology.