2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2020 Honda CR-V

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda’s fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and fun. Its exterior featured curvy, car-like lines with a family resemblance to Honda’s sedan lineup, giving it a station wagon-like appearance rather than a traditional SUV look. Inside, the CR-V’s interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery in higher trims clashing with some low-quality plastics. This reminded drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were still upgrades of a commodity car rather than truly premium products.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was an extended-length version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee, featuring a third-row seat and more cargo volume. Its styling was instantly recognizable as a Jeep, with a signature seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements. The Grand Cherokee L was offered in multiple trims, from Laredo to Summit Reserve, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235. The Summit trim, in particular, featured quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and a host of advanced technologies, representing a substantial improvement over the old model.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came equipped with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain provided a good balance of performance and fuel efficiency, with FWD models achieving 30 mpg combined and AWD models managing 29 mpg. The CR-V’s car-like demeanor extended to its road manners, offering nimble handling and a firm yet comfortable ride. Its low curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model contributed to its excellent acceleration, handling, and fuel economy.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, on the other hand, came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This engine offered brisk acceleration but was loud when revved. The Grand Cherokee L also offered an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel economy to 17 mpg combined. The Grand Cherokee L featured multiple driving modes, including Sport, Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock, and its Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension provided up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance for off-road capability.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and clever storage solutions. Its cabin was roomy, with excellent head- and legroom for both front and rear passengers. The cargo compartment offered 75.8 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded, and a two-position load floor allowed for flexible storage options. The CR-V’s center console featured a deep well with a sliding cover, inspired by the Honda Odyssey minivan, providing ample storage for small items.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, particularly in Summit trim, offered a luxurious and comfortable interior with heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row captain’s chairs provided plenty of legroom and comfort, and the third row was spacious enough for all but the tallest adults. Cargo space behind the third row measured 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 84.6 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

The 2020 Honda CR-V’s infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 5-inch screen in the LX trim and a 7-inch touchscreen in higher trims. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, and even Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration felt tacked on. However, the CR-V did offer plenty of USB ports in the EX trim and above, with two in the front and two high-powered ports in the backseat. The Touring trim also included a wireless phone charger.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, available with either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services, including a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Grand Cherokee L also offered a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, a thermal-imaging night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system provided excellent sound quality, especially for bass enthusiasts.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came standard with the “Honda Sensing” system, which included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. EX trims and above also featured blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring. The CR-V earned a five-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with the caveat that only the Touring trim’s LED headlights performed well in testing.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect threats from either side at intersections and apply the brakes if necessary. Additional safety features included Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. As of the review, crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the new Grand Cherokee L was expected to improve upon the old model’s safety performance.