2021 Land Rover Defender 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 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 models priced over $50,000, was a letdown. While premium materials were used, they were applied over a foundation that lacked substance, with an overabundance of hard plastic. This was particularly disappointing given the vehicle's price point. The Limited X model offered heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats but lacked ventilated seats. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel was a pleasure to grip, but the integration of seat heater buttons with the infotainment system was a source of irritation.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender aimed to echo the vibe of its predecessors while bringing the SUV into the modern era. It featured half-round LED headlights, a structural-looking grille, flat-topped fenders with composite cladding, and a floating roof. The spare tire was mounted on the side-hinged tailgate, and the vehicle had short overhangs front and rear, giving it a planted and capable look. The Defender's fit and finish were first-rate, and it presented much better in person than in pictures.

Inside, the Defender emphasized an exposed structure theme, with a dash held between two horizontal beams and exposed Allen-head bolts securing the door panels. The controls were beefy, and the leather-upholstered seating was both tough and luxurious. The digital instrument panel and center touchscreen interface were crisp and clean. The interior felt authentic, of high quality, and thoughtfully designed, with real metal and leather surfaces.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, offering 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 360-hp 5.7-liter Hemi V8, a 475-hp 6.4-liter Hemi V8 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 Trackhawk was fortified for racing track performance, while the Trailhawk was equipped for off-roading with all-terrain tires, skid plates, and a capable 4WD system.

The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Limited X model featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case. Despite its 20-inch wheels and all-season tires, it handled off-road conditions well, 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 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S.: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four-cylinder engine producing 296 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder mild-hybrid setup producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. A supercharged 5.0-liter V8 producing 518 hp was announced for 2022. All models used an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response, with Terrain Response 2 as an optional upgrade. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches.

On the road, the Defender was quick for its weight, with the 2.0-liter model accelerating from 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and the 3.0-liter model in 5.8 seconds. It had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds. The test vehicle with the 3.0-liter mild-hybrid powertrain impressed with its driving character, offering a rock-solid and comfortable ride on highways and ease of maneuverability in city driving. The Defender's off-road capabilities were convincing, even without testing on rocky obstacles.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee had seating for five and offered 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, but the Limited X model lacked ventilated seats. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel was comfortable, and the armrests were softly padded. 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 Land Rover Defender, based on a unibody platform, used four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension for enhanced on-road and off-road performance. The Defender offered flexible seating configurations, including an optional jump seat between the front seats and a third-row seat in the long-wheelbase 110 model. The Defender 110 had 34-34.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row and 78.8 cubic feet behind the first row. The three-door Defender 90 had 15.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row and 58.3 cubic feet behind the front seats.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, 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, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available in higher trims. The Uconnect system included Off-Road Pages for off-roading information and Performance Pages for performance metrics in the SRT and Trackhawk models.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender used Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, allowing remote software updates for 14 individual modules. The Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel. Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, with USB and 12-volt outlets throughout the cabin. The Defender offered multiple camera views, including a "transparent hood" view for off-roading. The audio system could be upgraded to a Meridian sound system with up to 14 speakers and 700 watts of amplification. A full-color head-up display and ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I was standard, including 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. The Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and had poor ratings from the IIHS for driver and passenger protection in frontal-impact tests.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had an extensive list of standard safety features, including a perimeter alarm, front airbags, a tire pressure monitoring system, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing, including front and rear recovery points capable of withstanding up to 10 tons of pull.