2019 Toyota RAV4 vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 showcased a bold, chunky design inspired by the Toyota Tacoma pickup, featuring sharp edges that conveyed a sense of strength and futurism. This aggressive styling was consistent throughout the vehicle, including the side-profile and rear, where the taillights drew inspiration from Toyota’s luxury Lexus brand. The RAV4's character line breaking up the rear C-pillar was a common yet not visually appealing design trait. While the exterior was busy and aggressive, the interior was surprisingly simple and elegant. The cabin featured a floating touchscreen and a “pod” that spanned from the center of the dash to the cupholders. Various trims such as LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, and Limited offered distinct features, from basic elements like steel wheels and power side mirrors to luxury touches like ambient interior lighting and navigation.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite being a decade old, retained a look that was both traditional and timeless. It featured the iconic 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders that are synonymous with Jeep, offering a balanced appearance suitable for both rugged trails and sophisticated settings. Prices began at $32,150 for the Laredo trim and went up to $52,495 for the Summit trim, with more luxurious and performance-focused variants like the SRT and Trackhawk available at higher price points. The Limited X model, priced at $53,275, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, ventilated hood design, sport-themed front bumper, and Granite Crystal-painted 20-inch aluminum wheels. However, the expensive trims revealed some interior disappointments, particularly the prevalence of hard plastic materials that felt out of place in a high-priced SUV.

The 2019 RAV4 came with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with available all-wheel-drive options offering Snow, Sand & Mud, and Rock & Dirt drive modes. The Adventure and Limited trims offered an advanced torque-vectoring AWD system that distributed power to the wheels with the most traction in real-time. However, the engine's low-end power was lacking, making it feel sluggish in stop-and-go situations. The ride quality was decent but unrefined, with a twitchy steering feel and noticeable body roll. Fuel economy figures for the AWD model were impressive, with an observed combined average of 29.3 mpg.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee offered a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This model provided satisfying acceleration with a combined fuel economy of 21 mpg, although testing revealed a slightly lower 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 options were available, including a 707-horsepower supercharged engine in the Trackhawk model. The Limited X trim came with the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system that featured a 2-speed transfer case and Selec-Terrain traction control, enabling it to handle terrains where crossover SUVs struggled. Although its off-road capabilities were commendable, the Grand Cherokee's on-road dynamics were mixed, featuring impressive grip yet transmitting road imperfections through its aging architecture.

The 2019 RAV4's cabin aimed for a clean and upscale look while providing practicality. It offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet when the seats were folded down. Despite a slight reduction from the previous model year, it still outperformed rivals like the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee, although it lagged behind the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. The cabin featured ample storage options, including deep center-console bins and door trays, as well as a thin tray above the glove box.

In contrast, the 2020 Grand Cherokee offered slightly less interior space. It provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seats and 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The front seats were heated, 8-way power-adjustable, and provided a comfortable ride, though the limited trim did not offer ventilated seats. The rear seats featured adequate legroom and rear air conditioning vents, making longer journeys comfortable for passengers. Interior storage options included a handy center console tray, sizable door bins, and convenient grocery bag hooks.

The 2019 RAV4 LE trim came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen running Toyota’s Entune 3.0 infotainment system, which featured Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. Higher trims added additional USB ports, an upgraded reversing camera, and a larger 8-inch screen in the Limited trim. The infotainment layout was simple and user-friendly, with hard dials for major controls, although Android Auto remained unavailable.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee's Uconnect system, featuring an 8.4-inch touchscreen, remained user-friendly and offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, navigation, and SiriusXM services. However, the vehicle’s ride could make it challenging to use the touchscreen accurately. Unique to Jeep, an Off-Road Pages app provided valuable off-road information. The system also offered a WiFi data plan supporting up to eight devices and an optional 9-speaker Alpine sound system, although higher-end audio options were available in other trims.

The 2019 RAV4 came with a comprehensive suite of safety features under Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and dynamic radar cruise control. Additional features like traffic-sign detection and Lane-Tracing Assist were also included, making the RAV4 a leader in standard safety equipment.

For 2020, the Grand Cherokee offered three different collections of advanced driving assistance systems. The standard ProTech I included a reversing camera and rear cross-traffic alert, while ProTech II added advanced features like low-speed forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning. The Advanced ProTech II package offered full-speed forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. However, safety ratings were less impressive, with a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and subpar results in IIHS tests.