2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Lexus GX

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 look.

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 felt insubstantial. The abundance of hard plastic became more irritating as the price increased, detracting from the overall luxury feel.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 retained the same basic body shell from a decade ago, with updates like the spindle grille and triple-beam LED headlights added over the years. The 2021 model didn't see any styling changes but did include standard silver 18-inch wheels on the Premium trim. Despite its age, the GX's styling remained coherent and distinctive, appealing to SUV shoppers with its tough, aggressive look. However, the interior did not meet modern luxury SUV standards. The wood trim felt like molded plastic, and there was an abundance of actual plastic. Standard leather upholstery was a plus, but the overall interior quality was lacking.

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 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 Grand Cherokee offered various 4WD systems, with the Limited X featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system. While it excelled off-road, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 featured a 4.6-liter V8 engine producing 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The GX's 5,130-pound weight was noticeable at higher speeds, requiring careful planning for merging and overtaking. The ride quality was typical of a body-on-frame vehicle, lacking the refinement of unibody construction. However, the GX excelled off-road with its Torsen center differential, low-range 4WD, and various driver aids. The optional Off-Road Package added features like a transmission cooler, fuel-tank protector, and Crawl Control. The GX had a maximum towing capacity of 6,500 pounds.

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 lacked ventilated seats. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel was comfortable, and rear passengers enjoyed 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 Lexus GX's interior ergonomics showed its age, with an upright dashboard and high center console limiting legroom. The steering wheel's odd angle and tall seating position felt bus-like. The dashboard shape provided excellent outward visibility, but forward visibility was limited by the tall hood. The center-console storage bin and cupholders were small, but the array of buttons and knobs for controls was user-friendly. The GX came standard with three rows of seating, but the third row was best for children and difficult to access. Cargo space was limited, with only 64.7 cubic feet available with the second and third rows folded.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system featured 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, 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 Lexus GX was light on tech features, with standard Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant connectivity, but no Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The standard infotainment system had outdated graphics and limited functions. The touchscreen was complemented by analog controls for ease of use. A 17-speaker Mark Levinson audio system was available, but the overall tech offering was primitive for a luxury SUV.

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.

The 2021 Lexus GX 460 came standard with the Lexus Safety System+ bundle, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were also standard. However, the GX lacked some safety features found in other Lexus and Toyota models, such as traffic-sign recognition and Lane Tracing Assist. The NHTSA and IIHS had not published crash-test ratings for the 2021 GX.