2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2020 Toyota RAV4

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 trim levels, each catering to different needs, from style to off-roading capability, 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, a squeaky driver’s door panel, and a loose-feeling center console storage lid.

In contrast, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 underwent a redesign in 2019, giving it a bolder and more angular appearance. The Adventure trim improved off-roading capability with a torque-vectoring AWD system, multiple driving modes, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The new TRD Off-Road trim took things further with smaller, lighter matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and a TRD suspension setup. The test vehicle, painted in Lunar Rock gray with a white roof, featured TRD logos, rubber floor mats, and a rubber cargo mat. The RAV4 TRD Off-Road, priced at $42,902, included dealer-installed accessories and offered a blend of ruggedness and urban utility.

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, Selec-Terrain driving modes, and hill descent control. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Grand Cherokee averaged 18.3 mpg, falling short of the 21-mpg rating. The SUV offered robust acceleration and better-than-expected handling, but the brakes struggled during long descents. The Trackhawk version, with its 707-hp engine, provided astounding performance but at a cost, averaging 13.1 mpg and starting at $88,395.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 featured a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The RAV4 Hybrid, a separate model, delivered 219 horsepower and up to 40 mpg in combined driving but was not available in the TRD Off-Road trim. The 8-speed automatic transmission generally performed well, though it occasionally struggled with gear selection. The TRD Off-Road model included a torque-vectoring AWD system, multi-terrain select settings, and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The RAV4 handled various terrains with ease, and the TRD suspension smoothed out urban speed humps. The test vehicle averaged 23.4 mpg, missing the EPA estimate of 27 mpg. While the all-terrain tires were not ideal for fast mountain driving, the RAV4 excelled in both off-road and urban environments.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 5-passenger midsize SUV, offered comfortable power-adjustable and heated front seats. However, backseat passengers with long legs found the hard plastic front-seatback panels uncomfortable. The SUV provided air conditioning vents, dual USB ports, and a 115-volt power outlet for rear passengers. Storage space was limited, with small door-panel bins and a center console storage bin. Cargo space measured 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 made entry and exit easy with well-placed seating hip points. The 8-way adjustable driver's seat provided a low and sporty driving position, while the front passenger seat, though lacking height adjustment, offered good thigh support. The TRD Off-Road trim featured SofTex upholstery, which could trap sweat, but the Weather Package added heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Rear passengers enjoyed generous legroom, air conditioning vents, and USB ports. Interior storage was ample, with a dashboard shelf and substantial cargo space—37.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 69.8 cubic feet with the seat folded down. The test vehicle also had a robust roof rack and an optional hands-free power liftgate.

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 an iPhone was easy, and the voice recognition system performed well. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, while higher trims offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4's technology was user-friendly and practical. Depending on the trim, the infotainment system featured a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen display with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. A 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was free for three months or 2GB of data. The TRD Off-Road trim included an 8-inch display, and the Technology Package added wireless smartphone charging, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a digital rear-view mirror. The voice-recognition system was particularly impressive, accurately responding to commands.

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

The 2020 Toyota RAV4 included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, featuring a Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, radar adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert with steering assist, front and rear parking assist with automated braking, and blind spot assist with rear cross-traffic alert. Toyota also provided a free 1-year subscription to Safety Connect services. The RAV4 received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though only models with full LED, curve adaptive headlights achieved this. Other models had Marginal headlight performance.