2020 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Though the Jeep Grand Cherokee had been on the market for a decade by 2020, it continued to assert a confident, ageless design that resonated well with a wide array of buyers. Featuring iconic Jeep design elements such as its 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders, the Grand Cherokee maintained an equilibrium in its appearance, effortlessly blending into both rugged, off-road environments and upscale scenarios such as valet stands. This adaptability made it appealing to diverse demographics regarding income, education, gender, and race.

Starting prices for the Grand Cherokee Laredo began at $32,150, reaching up to $52,495 for the Summit trim. Between these two extremes, there were eight additional variants, besides the high-performance SRT ($68,895) and Trackhawk ($87,400) versions. The Grand Cherokee Limited X, priced at $53,275 with the destination charge, included nearly every option except a V8 engine, a towing package, and a CD player – with the latter being a $495 optional feature.

Painted in Slate Blue Pearl, the Limited X sported a ventilated hood, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels in Granite Crystal paint. These attributes gave it a refined, custom appearance. However, while many versions of the Grand Cherokee offered premium materials, the pricier models highlighted a conspicuous presence of hard plastics, leading to some disappointment.

The fifth-generation Honda CR-V, first introduced in 2017, continued to embrace its familiar and engaging design, staying true to Honda’s tradition of soft, curvy lines that gave it a car-like aesthetic. The CR-V’s styling closely mirrored Honda's sedans at both ends, making it resemble a modern family wagon more than an SUV.

Internally, the CR-V presented a mix of textures and materials. Higher trims boasted wood-look trim and leather upholstery, contrasted by cheaper plastics that reminded users of its not-so-premium baseline. The CR-V’s three-year or 36,000-mile warranty covered the four available trims: LX ($26,270), EX ($28,720), EX-L ($31,270), and Touring ($24,470). All-wheel drive (AWD) was an optional $1,500 upgrade across trims.

Standard CR-V features included 17-inch alloy wheels, upgrading to 18 inches for EX and 19 inches for the Touring model. Lower trims featured fabric seating, while the top two offered leather seats. Except for the LX, a retractable moonroof was standard, marking a shift from the panoramic sunroofs found in competitors like the Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan. Roof rails were only present on the Touring model, further emphasizing its subtlety over aggressive styling.

The standard engine in the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee—a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower—paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, ensured respectable acceleration while achieving 21 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. However, real-world testing yielded 19.4 mpg, somewhat below expectations but still commendable for a traditional SUV.

Two additional V8 engines upped the ante: the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, and the 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT, delivering 475 hp and 470 lb-ft. The pinnacle of performance was found in the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, which featured a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 generating 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque, achieving a blistering 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds.

Models like the Trackhawk boasted a fortified build for handling extreme performance, while the Trailhawk catered to off-road enthusiasts with specialized tires, skid plates, and advanced 4WD systems. RWD was standard for most versions, with four 4WD systems available, from single-speed to Active On-Demand systems.

The Limited X featured the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, effectively blending off-road capability with everyday utility. However, its 20-inch wheels and all-season tires limited its off-road prowess somewhat. Suspension provided firm grip on various terrains but could translate sharp bumps into the cabin. Steering and braking tried to juggle on-road precision with off-road durability, resulting in average performance in both.

For 2020, Honda streamlined the CR-V’s engine lineup to feature a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all trims. Generating 190 hp and 179 lb-ft of torque, and paired with a CVT, this engine was well-suited to the CR-V.

While CVTs have been criticized for sluggish responses, Honda engineered the CR-V’s transmission to mimic a conventional automatic, providing a smoother driving experience. Although there was a slight delay in acceleration, the vehicle felt quick, especially in Sport mode.

Exhibiting a car-like nature, the CR-V’s handling was nimble and responsive, thanks to its light curb weight of 3,337 pounds for the FWD LX model. This contributed to excellent fuel economy, with FWD models rated at 30 mpg combined and AWD at 29 mpg—figures that placed the CR-V among the best in its class.

Adding to its appeal, Honda introduced a hybrid version of the CR-V for 2020, designed to compete with other hybrid SUVs like the Toyota RAV4 and Ford Escape.

Offering seating for five, the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a cargo capacity of 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, extending to 68.3 cubic feet when these seats were folded. While this measurement placed it on the smaller side among midsize SUVs, it boasted adequate passenger comfort with heated, 8-way power-adjustable front seats, albeit no option for ventilated seats. The thick leather-wrapped steering wheel and soft armrests added to the driver’s comfort.

The rear seat provided adequate legroom and thigh support for adults, and my younger passengers appreciated the rear air vents and USB ports. Internal storage, though a bit limited with small center console bins and glovebox space, was enhanced by practical features like front seatback grocery bag hooks.

Renowned for its optimal packaging, the CR-V’s cabin was as spacious as the Volkswagen Tiguan, yet without feeling overly large. Excellent headroom and legroom for both driver and passengers were enhanced by a well-designed seating position and low cowl for improved visibility. Moreover, the CR-V offered a generous cargo volume of 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, closely matching the Tiguan.

Honda's clever storage solutions included a deep center console well with a sliding cover inspired by the Odyssey minivan, allowing for effective organization of smaller items. Additionally, a two-position load floor at the rear enabled versatile use of cargo space.

Even the door pockets featured additional room, demonstrating Honda's attention to detail. These thoughtful design elements made the CR-V particularly easy to live with.

Jeep’s Uconnect infotainment system stood central on the dashboard, flanked by air vents. Despite its reputation for speed and user-friendliness, competitors had begun to catch up. The bouncing ride of the Grand Cherokee sometimes hindered the usage of its virtual buttons, although the voice recognition system remained efficient.

The Limited X trim of the Grand Cherokee featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Additional connectivity included 4G LTE WiFi supporting up to eight devices. The optional 9-speaker Alpine sound system provided decent audio quality, though it lacked the punch of the 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available in other trims.

An interesting feature was the Off-Road Pages app, which displayed vital off-roading data, whereas SRT and Trackhawk models had Performance Pages to monitor performance metrics.

By 2020, the CR-V’s infotainment system had started to show its age. The base LX trim featured a mere 5-inch screen with limited capabilities like Bluetooth and Pandora compatibility. Higher trims had a 7-inch touchscreen which, despite being larger, felt outdated compared to the offerings of competitors like Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit.

The CR-V’s interface lacked physical buttons, requiring multiple taps for simple operations, making it less intuitive. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were available only with the larger screen, though they felt inadequately integrated. The navigation system, exclusive to the Touring trim, was also subpar.

However, Honda ensured ample USB ports in all but the cheapest trim. There were two ports upfront and two more in the back with high power output. The 2020 models also added a wireless phone charger in the Touring trim, enhancing its capability to charge multiple devices.

Jeep provided three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) for the 2020 Grand Cherokee. ProTech I came standard with reversing cameras, 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 beams. Advanced ProTech II further equipped the Grand Cherokee with full-speed forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers.

Despite these safety enhancements, the Grand Cherokee had unimpressive crash test ratings. It received four stars overall from the NHTSA but had a poor three-star rollover resistance rating in RWD models. The IIHS rated the Grand Cherokee poorly in driver and front passenger protection in the small overlap frontal-impact test.

The 2020 Honda CR-V equipped every trim with the “Honda Sensing” suite of safety systems. This included forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, road-departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assist. Additionally, automatic high beams came standard, while EX trims and above received blind-spot monitoring and cross-traffic monitoring.

In crash tests, the CR-V earned a five-star rating from NHTSA, scoring high in frontal and side crashes and securing a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS. Only the Touring trim’s LED headlights earned an Acceptable rating, whereas the halogen headlights in lower trims were rated Marginal.

NHTSA issued one minor safety recall for potential rear subframe failure affecting a few vehicles, quickly addressed in early 2020.