2020 Acura RDX vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Acura RDX retained its striking design from the previous year, featuring a beamy, imposing grille and rakish headlights. The large logo within the grille, though comically oversized, fit well within the overall design. The upper character line swooped from the windshield to the rear hatch, intersected by another line that gave the appearance of a large spoiler. Inside, the RDX boasted sharp, precise styling with eye-catching red leather upholstery, creating a strong red-and-black interior aesthetic. Standard features included synthetic leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power moonroof, and a 10.2-inch infotainment screen. The A-Spec model added visual upgrades like unique 20-inch wheels and a diamond pattern grille, while the Advance Package offered premium features such as rain-sensing wipers and ambient cabin lighting.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, still looked right with traditional Jeep styling cues like a 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. It had a balanced appearance suitable for both rugged trails and swanky valet stands, appealing to a wide range of buyers. Prices ranged from $32,150 for the Laredo to $52,495 for the Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions available. The Limited X model, priced at $53,275, featured a ventilated hood design, sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels. However, the interior materials, especially in models priced over $50,000, were disappointing, with an overabundance of hard plastic detracting from the premium feel.

The 2020 Acura RDX was powered by a turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided solid acceleration and a great engine note. Power was managed by a 10-speed automatic transmission, available with front-wheel drive or Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD). The Integrated Dynamics System offered Comfort, Snow, Sport, and Sport-Plus drive modes, adjusting throttle response, shift patterns, and steering feel. The A-Spec model with SH-AWD returned an EPA-estimated 22 mpg city, 27 highway, and 24 combined. Despite the large drive-mode dial and unconventional shifter design taking up dash space, the RDX offered fantastic handling and comfort, making it a versatile performer.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission, providing satisfying acceleration and an EPA-estimated 21 mpg in combined driving. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including a 707-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk, capable of 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The Grand Cherokee offered various 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model equipped for serious off-roading. The Limited X model featured Quadra-Trac II 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case and Selec-Terrain traction control. On pavement, the Grand Cherokee's driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2020 Acura RDX pushed the limits of a compact SUV with a spacious cabin and comfortable, supportive front seats. The second row offered great headroom and decent legroom. Interior storage included large water bottle holders, a pass-through cargo tray with a USB port, and a fold-down center console with cup holders. The RDX provided 29.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 58.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down, making it a practical choice for cargo.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with seating for five, offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the backseat and 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded down. The Limited X model featured heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats, though ventilated seats were not available. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate legroom, rear air conditioning vents, and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a handy tray in the center console and sizable door-panel bins. However, the small bin under the center armrest and limited glovebox space were less impressive.

The 2020 Acura RDX's infotainment system was a letdown, operated via a touchpad called the True Touchpad Interface. This system lacked the logic of competitors, making it difficult to use without constantly looking at the screen. Standard tech features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, two USB ports, a WiFi hot spot, and a 9-speaker audio system. The Technology Package added navigation and the ELS premium audio system, while the A-Spec model featured the ELS Studio 3D premium sound system with 16 speakers. The Advance Package included a 10.5-inch head-up display.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system, though once an industry leader, had been caught up by competitors. The Limited X trim included an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A 4G LTE WiFi data plan was available, and the test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine premium sound system. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided important off-roading information, while the SRT and Trackhawk models featured Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2020 Acura RDX came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, LATCH child-seat mounting systems, a tire pressure monitoring system, hill-start assist, and a rear-view camera. It also included driver-assistance features like lane-departure warning, forward-collision warning, road-departure mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, and adaptive cruise control. The Technology Package added parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring. The Advance Package included a 360-degree surround-view camera and a washer nozzle for the rear-view camera. The 2019 RDX, mechanically identical to the 2020 model, received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I, standard on all trim levels, included a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Advanced ProTech II included full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS for driver and front passenger protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.