2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the same dynamic styling as the rest of the current Honda lineup. It featured thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. The subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, making it look more svelte than it really was. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges with a digital screen for other information. The cabin felt comfortable and spacious, though it used hard plastics in many areas, which detracted from its overall refinement compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless styling, continued to look terrific more than a decade after its debut. It balanced rugged utility and upscale sophistication, sitting on big wheels pushed to the corners under flared fenders. This design contributed to the Grand Cherokee’s continued success, making it a versatile SUV that could be categorized as mainstream, luxury, or performance-oriented. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and even included track-ready SRT and Trackhawk models. The Summit trim, in particular, featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum, creating a luxurious interior, though some elements showed the vehicle's age.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine sent power to the front wheels or available all-wheel drive through a 6-speed automatic transmission on the LX, EX, and EX-L trims, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims received a 9-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided stout acceleration, making it easy to move from a standstill or make passing moves on the highway. The Pilot’s ride was refined and comfortable, designed for easy commutes and relaxing road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, enhancing its capability slightly.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds. An optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine, producing 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was available, offering a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it still achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee’s Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension provided excellent off-road capability, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes made it practical for daily driving. However, the V8’s fuel consumption and occasional bounciness on uneven surfaces were drawbacks.

The 2020 Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Pilot’s third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and higher offered one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot provided 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to its rivals. The Pilot had plenty of storage spaces for family gear, and higher trims included a power liftgate and a hands-free power tailgate. The second-row captain’s chairs in higher trims created a helpful passage for kids and a separation zone between them.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured flat, firm, and supportive seats with a heated steering wheel. The Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package added luxurious leather and interior panels. Both front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the Uconnect infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, with additional storage bins around the spare tire. Folding the second-row seats was easy, expanding cargo space to 68.3 cubic feet, though this was less than some competitors.

The 2020 Honda Pilot’s LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen, operating a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. Higher trims included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had a small volume knob but lacked a tuning knob, making radio interaction reliant on the touchscreen, which had a confusing layout. Higher trims also included HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Cabin Control Remote Capability. Navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a wall-style power outlet were optional on the EX-L and standard on the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The top trims also featured a 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system and mobile hotspot capability.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Uconnect 4C with Nav setup offered a nearly flawless user experience, with fast response to inputs, pleasing touchscreen graphics, and separate primary stereo controls. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link services, along with SiriusXM Guardian for remote access to locks and engine starting, vehicle finder service, SOS emergency calling, and more. The infotainment system’s voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of many features through voice commands. The Summit trim featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the best crash test score of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also earned a Superior rating in IIHS crash prevention technology evaluation.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. While it received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, the 2WD models received a four-star rating due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Grand Cherokee performed poorly in the IIHS’s small-overlap, frontal-impact collisions, earning a Marginal rating for the driver and a Poor rating for the front passenger. The standard ProTech II Package on the Summit trim included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Grand Cherokee also featured a backup camera, parking sensors, and a ParkSense parking assistance system.