2021 Land Rover Range Rover vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its traditional Jeep styling cues, such as the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. It presented a balanced appearance that was equally at home on rugged trails and at upscale venues, appealing to a diverse range of buyers. The Grand Cherokee's pricing started at $32,150 for the Laredo model and went up to $52,495 for the Summit, with high-performance versions like the SRT and Trackhawk priced at $68,895 and $87,400, respectively. The Limited X model, tested at $53,275, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, giving it a mild-custom look. However, the interior, especially in models priced over $50,000, was criticized for its use of hard plastics, which detracted from the overall premium feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Land Rover Range Rover had evolved from its rugged origins to become a symbol of luxury. Starting at $92,000, the Range Rover offered a wide range of powertrains and personalization options, with the long-wheelbase version reaching up to $250,000. The test vehicle, priced at $106,715, featured the HSE Westminster special-edition trim. Despite its age, the Range Rover's design remained timeless, with hallmark features like blacked-out windshield pillars and clean styling lines. Inside, the Range Rover exuded luxury with its Ivory-color interior and mid-century modern ambiance. However, the InControl Touch Pro Duo infotainment system was noted for being less intuitive than newer systems, requiring users to adapt to its quirks.

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 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp, and the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk, delivering 707 hp and a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. The Grand Cherokee offered various 4WD systems, with the Limited X featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system. While the Grand Cherokee excelled off-road, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover offered a range of powertrains, including turbodiesel V6, supercharged V8, mild-hybrid, and plug-in hybrid options. The HSE Westminster edition featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged inline-six engine with 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Range Rover's 4WD system, with a two-speed transfer case and Terrain Response 2 traction control, ensured off-road capability. The SUV provided a smooth and quiet ride, with an adaptive air suspension filtering road harshness. However, its steering was slow in response, and the vehicle's weight and tall center of gravity led to side-to-side wallow on uneven roads. The EPA rated the Range Rover at 20 mpg in combined driving, with the test vehicle achieving 18.5 mpg.

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. The front seats were heated and power-adjustable, but lacked ventilation. The interior provided decent storage, with a handy tray in the center console and sizable door-panel bins. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate legroom and rear air conditioning vents, though the seat heater controls integrated into the infotainment system were a source of irritation.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover featured an air suspension with a kneel mode for easier entry and exit. The front seats were decadently comfortable, but the second row lacked thigh support and adjustability, resulting in a slouched seating position. Despite this, the back seat offered quad-zone climate control and heated and ventilated seats. Storage space was limited, with dual glove compartments compensating for a small center-console bin. The cargo area provided 25 cubic feet of space, expanding to 59.8 cubic feet, with a suspension kneel function for easier loading.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, was known for its speed and ease of use, though competitors had caught up in recent years. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM services. The test vehicle featured a 9-speaker Alpine sound system, with an optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided off-roading information, while SRT and Trackhawk models offered Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover's digital instrumentation and infotainment were rendered on three displays, offering numerous features and functions. The InControl Touch Pro Duo system, while not entirely intuitive, could be navigated by those familiar with smartphones and tablets. The system's dual 10-inch touchscreens posed a distraction while driving, and the head-up display was not visible with polarized sunglasses. The Range Rover also featured an Activity Key wristband for keyless entry and an iGuide smartphone app as a digital owner's manual.

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 forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Advanced ProTech II included adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous parking assist. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS in certain crash tests.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover came standard with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and parking sensors. Optional packages added features like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a 360-degree camera. The HSE Westminster Edition included the Drive Pro and Park packages, with effective safety features. However, the adaptive cruise control was slow to respond in certain situations.