2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2020 Subaru Outback

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, 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, giving it an upscale appearance. However, the interior had some drawbacks, such as hard plastic panels and a few build quality issues.

In contrast, the 2020 Subaru Outback aimed for incremental improvements while retaining its winning formula of utility, safety, and performance. Built on Subaru’s Global Platform, it boasted a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The base 2.5-liter engine, with 90% new parts, delivered 182 horsepower and improved fuel efficiency. The 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in higher trims offered 260 horsepower. The exterior changes were subtle, but the interior saw significant upgrades, including an 11.6-inch touchscreen and innovative DriverFocus technology. The Outback was available in seven trims, starting at $26,645, with the top-tier Touring XT priced at $39,695.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 295 horsepower. For more power, buyers could opt for a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, a 425-hp 6.4-liter V8 in the SRT, or 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 trim 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 in testing. On-road, it felt robust, with good acceleration and handling, but the brakes struggled during long descents.

The 2020 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter engine produced 182 horsepower, a 7-hp increase over the previous year, with improved fuel efficiency at 26 mpg city and 33 highway. The 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in XT trims delivered 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in around 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a CVT, which Subaru tuned to mimic a traditional automatic transmission. The Outback's symmetrical AWD system provided consistent power delivery and better handling, with 8.7 inches of ground clearance for off-road capability. However, its approach, departure, and breakover angles limited its off-road prowess compared to the Grand Cherokee.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 5-passenger midsize SUV, offered a roomy interior with comfortable, power-adjustable, and heated front seats. However, rear passengers faced hard plastic front-seatback panels that could be uncomfortable. Storage space was limited, with small bins and trays, but the cargo area provided 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.

The 2020 Subaru Outback, a station wagon, excelled in functionality with 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The interior was spacious, with ample legroom and headroom, even for taller passengers. The low load height and excellent visibility added to its practicality. However, the rear quarters had a significant blind spot, which could be mitigated with optional blind-spot monitoring.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, while higher trims featured an upgraded Uconnect system with improved graphics and faster response. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, voice recognition, and navigation. Pairing a smartphone was easy, and the voice recognition system worked well. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available in higher trims.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen in all but the base trim, which had dual 7-inch screens. The large screen was visually appealing and mostly easy to navigate, but it suffered from lag and buried climate-control functions. The camera resolution was also subpar. Despite these issues, the system had potential and included modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

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, and lane-keeping assist. However, its safety ratings were concerning, with a Marginal rating for small-overlap frontal-impact protection for the driver and a Poor rating for the front passenger from the IIHS.

The 2020 Subaru Outback came with a comprehensive safety suite, including Subaru’s EyeSight system, which had some drawbacks in adverse weather conditions. The DriverFocus system, designed to alert distracted drivers, was problematic, frequently issuing false alerts. Despite these issues, the Outback's standard AWD system and overall safety features were impressive for the price.