2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport 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 environments. 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 Limited X model tested was priced at $53,275 and featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, ventilated hood design, sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels.

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. This was a significant drawback for an SUV in this price range.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, launched in 2005 and in its second generation since 2014, received an interior and exterior refresh in 2018, which carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console, a defining feature of Land Rover interiors. The Range Rover Sport offered a variety of trims, including SE, HSE Silver, HST, HSE Dynamic, Autobiography, SVR, and SVR Carbon Edition. Standard features on the base SE trim included leather upholstery, dual-zone climate control, an eight-speaker Meridian sound system, a WiFi hotspot, and the dual-screen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Higher trims like the HSE Silver added quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system. The HSE Dynamic featured a supercharged V8 engine, a limited-slip differential, and a two-speed transfer case. The Autobiography trim offered high-end luxury with 22-way power-adjustable front seats and power soft-close doors. The SVR and SVR Carbon Edition models focused on performance, with a more powerful V8 engine, sport seats, and a stiffer suspension.

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 testing yielded 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 model featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system with a 2-speed transfer case. This system, along with the Selec-Terrain traction control and hill descent control, allowed the Grand Cherokee to handle off-road conditions effectively. However, its on-road driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 version with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft. The HSE Silver Edition offered plug-in hybrid and diesel options, with the P400e plug-in hybrid producing 398 hp and 472 lb-ft, and the 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 making 254 hp and 443 lb-ft.

The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition models had an even more powerful version of this engine, producing 575 hp and 516 lb-ft. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD, with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system for various driving conditions. The Range Rover Sport excelled both off-road and on paved surfaces, with impressive towing capacities of up to 7,716 pounds for most models.

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. The front seats were heated and 8-way power-adjustable, but the Limited X trim lacked ventilated seats. 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.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport provided 31.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the second row in use, expanding to 63.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. An optional third row increased seating capacity to seven, though the third row was tight and best suited for children. Both the first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, with luxurious appointments. The cargo space with the third row in use was 10.8 cubic feet, suitable for extra bags in a pinch.

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 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 Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console. The lower screen controlled climate and vehicle settings, while the upper screen handled infotainment. The system had a learning curve and some bugs in earlier models, but the pair of dials on the lower screen provided versatile control. The upper screen had reasonably sized icons for easy navigation between menus and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The system also included a real volume button, though it was somewhat hidden.

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 poor ratings from the IIHS for driver and passenger protection in certain tests.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came with standard driver assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were optional. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.