2021 Honda CR-V vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal. It featured traditional Jeep styling cues like a 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders, making it versatile enough for both rugged trails and upscale settings. This broad appeal attracted 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 versions like the SRT and Trackhawk costing significantly more.

The Limited X variant, tested at $53,275, showcased a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a ventilated hood design, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels. However, the interior quality disappointed at higher price points, with an overuse of hard plastic detracting from the overall feel. While the SUV offered premium materials, they were applied over a less substantial foundation, making the higher-priced models less appealing.

The 2021 Honda CR-V, on the other hand, had a design that blended in with other compact crossovers. Its styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and some chrome accents setting it apart. Honda offered the CR-V in eight colors, but most were shades of gray, black, or white, with vibrant options like Aegean Blue Metallic and Radiant Red Metallic limited to higher trims.

Inside, the CR-V aimed for functionality, offering black, gray, and ivory cloth or leather depending on the trim. Higher trims featured wood panels and more chrome for an upscale appearance. The seats were angular and modern, providing a more contemporary look compared to some competitors. However, vehicles like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more distinctive styling, especially at mid-tier trims.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving, though real-world tests showed 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including a 360-hp 5.7-liter Hemi, a 475-hp 6.4-liter Hemi in the SRT, and a 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk, which could accelerate from 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. This system, along with the Selec-Terrain traction control and hill descent control, made the Grand Cherokee capable off-road. However, its on-road 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 Honda CR-V, equipped with a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine, provided smooth and steady acceleration, reaching 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds. All trims featured a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which held engine revs constant as the vehicle gained speed. While not engaging, the drivetrain was reliable. Competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson offered more conventional transmissions with sport modes for a more entertaining drive.

The CR-V came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive as an extra-cost option. Its unitized body structure and MacPherson strut front suspension with a multi-link rear setup provided decent handling and ride quality. The Subaru Forester, however, offered standard AWD across all trims.

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 seats folded. Heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats ensured comfort, though the lack of ventilated seats in the Limited X was a drawback. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel and padded armrests added to the comfort. Rear passengers, including children, found the backseat comfortable, with adequate legroom and rear air conditioning vents.

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 a limited glovebox space were less impressive. Grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks were a thoughtful touch.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space, offering 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume, more than the Toyota RAV4. It also had slightly more cargo space behind the second row, with a total of 75.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Depending on the trim, the tailgate could be manual, power-operated, or hands-free, adding convenience.

Roof rails were standard only on the top Touring trim, unlike Subaru, which offered them on all but the base model. The CR-V's interior was designed for functionality, fitting five people comfortably and carrying their gear efficiently.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its speed, graphics, and ease of use. The Limited X trim included an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Guardian connected services. A 4G LTE WiFi data plan supported up to eight devices. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine sound system, though the 19-speaker Harman Kardon system in higher trims was superior. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided valuable off-roading information.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Special Edition and EX trims had a 180-watt audio system with six speakers, while the EX-L added two more speakers. The Touring trim boasted a 300-watt system with a subwoofer and satellite navigation. Charging ports were plentiful, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and the Touring trim included a wireless phone charger.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three ADAS packages. 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, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee had a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and poor ratings from IIHS in some tests.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star NHTSA rating and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. However, it missed the Top Safety Pick+ due to lower headlight scores and the updated side crash test. The CR-V's LATCH system received an "Acceptable" rating. Honda's approach to safety was commendable, making advanced features standard across all trims. These included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. Blind spot monitoring was standard from the EX trim upwards.