2021 Audi Q3 vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal. It showcased traditional Jeep styling cues like a 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders, presenting a balanced appearance suitable for both rugged trails and upscale settings. This versatility made it attractive to a diverse range of buyers. Prices for the Grand Cherokee started at $32,150 for the Laredo and went up to $52,495 for the Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions priced at $68,895 and $87,400, respectively. The tested Limited X model, priced at $53,275, featured a ventilated hood, sport-themed bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, giving it a mild-custom look.

However, the interior of the Grand Cherokee, especially models priced over $50,000, was a letdown. While premium materials were used, they were applied over a foundation that lacked substance, making the abundance of hard plastic more noticeable and irritating. This was a significant drawback for an SUV in this price range.

The 2021 Audi Q3, in contrast, embraced a modern, postmodern automotive styling with its massive corporate grille and chunky design, suggesting utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed this mechanical, modern aesthetic, with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen, highlighting one of the Q3’s top features. When the redesigned Q3 debuted in 2019, its interior was a standout, but newer Volkswagen interiors have since caught up. Despite this, the Q3’s cabin still felt modern and refined, though not as special as before.

The Q3 was available in Premium and Premium Plus trims. The Premium trim included leather upholstery, 12-way power-adjustable front seats, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Premium Plus trim added features like remote start, pushbutton start, wireless device charging, and a hands-free power liftgate. The previously top-tier Prestige trim was discontinued, but its features were available as options and packages.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, providing satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving. However, the test vehicle achieved only 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available: a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp and 470 lb-ft, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp and 645 lb-ft, capable of 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

The Grand Cherokee offered various 4WD systems, with the Limited X featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system. It performed well off-road, aided by the Selec-Terrain traction control system and hill descent control technology. On pavement, the driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements. The steering and brakes were average, attempting to balance daily driving and off-roading needs.

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro AWD. The S-Line trim offered a more powerful version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The base MSRP was $2,000 lower, with the more potent engine available as a $2,000 option.

The Q3’s more powerful engine provided lively performance, especially in Sport mode, which enhanced throttle response and transmission mapping. The base engine had noticeable turbo lag, particularly under hard acceleration or when passing on the highway. The Q3 offered nimble handling and a comfortable ride, striking a balance between engagement and refinement.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space of 36.3 cubic feet behind the backseat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded down. Heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats ensured comfort, though the Limited X lacked ventilated seats. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel was comfortable, and rear passengers had adequate legroom and amenities like air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a handy tray in the center console and sizable door-panel bins.

The 2021 Audi Q3 provided 23.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 48 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was subpar for the class. However, it compensated with ample passenger space. The front seats were comfortable with deep cargo pockets, and the rear seats offered impressive headroom and legroom. While it seated five, four passengers could comfortably take a road trip, provided they packed light.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and SiriusXM Guardian connected services. A 4G LTE WiFi data plan was available, supporting up to eight devices. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine premium sound system, though a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was available in higher trims. Unique to Jeep’s Uconnect was the Off-Road Pages app, providing off-roading information, and Performance Pages in the SRT and Trackhawk models.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen running the MMI system, featuring Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. An upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation was available, along with wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit, replacing the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display, was also available.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I, standard on all trims, 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 with stop-and-go, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. The Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and had poor ratings from the IIHS in certain tests.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.