2021 Jeep Renegade 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 Grand Cherokee Limited X, priced at $53,275, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a ventilated hood design, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, giving it a mild-custom appearance.

However, the interior of the Grand Cherokee, especially in 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. The Limited X trim, despite its high price, did not offer ventilated seats, and the seat heater buttons were integrated into the infotainment system, which was inconvenient. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel was comfortable, and the rear seats provided adequate legroom and comfort for both children and adults.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015 and based on the Jeep Compass, drew design inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV. It featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. The Renegade received a subtle refresh in 2019, and for 2021, those design changes continued with some previously optional features becoming standard. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin design with an upright center stack, putting controls within easy reach. The Renegade offered various trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk.

The Sport trim came standard with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a USB port, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Jeepster added keyless passive entry, remote start, 19-inch alloy wheels, and unique badging. The Latitude trim included an additional USB port and 17-inch alloy wheels, while the Upland trim featured beefed-up skid plates and a unique front bumper for better obstacle approach. The 80th Anniversary trim offered 19-inch alloy wheels, HD radio, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation. The Islander trim featured exclusive hood graphics, white roof panels, a dual-panel panoramic moonroof, and a unique color palette. The Limited trim provided luxury features like leather upholstery, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and standard 4WD. The Trailhawk trim, priced the same as the Limited, focused on off-road capability with skid plates, tow hooks, a lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and an upgraded 4WD system.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came equipped with a standard 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 the test vehicle achieved 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 model with 475 hp and 470 lb-ft, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk model 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 with a 2-speed transfer case. The Selec-Terrain traction control system and hill descent control technology enhanced its off-road capabilities. However, the driving dynamics on pavement were mixed, with impressive grip from the big wheels and tires but excessive suspension movements causing motion sickness. The steering and brakes were average, attempting to balance daily driving and off-roading tasks.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder with 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in FWD or 4WD. The turbocharged engine provided better performance with its extra torque and smoother operation under hard acceleration. However, the automatic transmission sometimes struggled with smooth shifts and gear selection.

Despite these issues, the Renegade had a solid ride quality, handling corners well despite its tall profile. The suspension was composed over rough surfaces, though the Trailhawk's off-road setup was less refined. The Renegade's short wheelbase and impressive visibility made it a great city car. The Trailhawk trim featured a terrain management system with Auto, Snow, Sand, Mud, and Rock drive modes, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and an off-road suspension, making it surprisingly capable on trails.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space 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 trim 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 included a handy tray in the center console, sizable door-panel bins, and grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use, above average for the subcompact SUV segment. The tall, boxy design offered plenty of headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and adequate space in the rear. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold completely forward for added space or as a table for gear.

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 supported 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. The Uconnect system included Off-Road Pages for off-roading information and Performance Pages in the SRT and Trackhawk models for performance metrics.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system with a logical menu layout, easy-to-read graphics, and a helpful dock for major functions. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and a Kenwood premium audio system was 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. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS in certain tests.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were optional. The Renegade received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA.