2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE

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 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 Mercedes-Benz GLE, on the other hand, had a more polarizing exterior design. While it had an aggressive nose and a sloping, low hood, the design seemed to lose its appeal past the A-pillar, making it look rushed. The flat taillights and contoured rear helped it overcome its minivan tendencies, but it still lacked the pitch-perfect proportions of its competitors. However, the interior was a masterpiece, with high-quality materials, a well-thought-out layout, and a luxurious feel. The red and black interior of the tested GLE Coupe was particularly striking, with features like twin arching grab handles, LED lighting, and a mix of wood, metal, leather, and suede. Despite some flimsy gear selector and turn signal stalks, the overall interior experience was one of pampering and luxury.

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 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 the 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 Trackhawk was fortified for track use, while the Trailhawk was equipped for off-roading with all-terrain tires, skid plates, and a capable 4WD system. The Limited X model tested had the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, which performed well off-road but had mixed driving dynamics on pavement.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled as a multi-purpose vehicle with advanced air suspension and turbocharging. The base GLE 350 used a coil-sprung setup, while the GLE 450 featured self-leveling air springs. The AMG Ride Control+ and E-Active Body Control systems offered advanced handling capabilities, including leaning into turns and bouncing to free the vehicle from sand. The AMG GLE 53 Coupe tested had an electric supercharger for instant throttle response, while the GLE 580 and AMG GLE 63 S offered even more power with twin-turbo V8 engines. The GLE 450 had a turbo 3.0-liter inline-six with 362 hp, while the AMG GLE 53 had 429 hp. The GLE 580 had 483 hp, and the GLE 63 S had 603 hp. All models except the base GLE 350 were hybrids, with a 48-volt battery providing additional power and seamless auto stop-start functionality. The GLE's driving experience was exceptional, with impressive towing capacity and ride quality.

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 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 Mercedes-Benz GLE, available as a two-row SUV or with an optional third row, offered seating for seven. The second-row seats had power controls for recline and fore-aft adjustments, and the third row was accessible via buttons at the rear doors. Cargo capacity was 34 cubic feet behind the second row and 75 cubic feet with all rows folded. The Coupe version had less cargo space, with 23 and 61 cubic feet, respectively. The new MBUX infotainment system improved usability, with seat controls on the doors and rocker switches for the suspension. The AMG models had additional features like driving mode shortcuts on the steering wheel.

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 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 on higher trims. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided information for off-roading, while the SRT and Trackhawk models had Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE had a 12-inch touchscreen with Interior Assistant, which could read hand gestures. The system included features like seat massage, navigation with augmented reality, and a natural voice assistant. The AMG models had a Track Pace app for tracking lap times and performance. The GLE also offered features like heated armrests, ambient lighting with 64 colors, and a head-up display with customizable layouts. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with search bars and larger type for easy navigation.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I 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, 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 certain crash tests.

The 2021 Mercedes-Benz GLE earned the Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS for its top ratings in crash tests, headlights, and standard forward emergency braking. The NHTSA had not rated the GLE. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring and a driver attention monitor. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, evasive steering assist, front cross-traffic braking, and semi-automated control. The GLE also had Pre-Safe Sound and Pre-Safe Impulse Side for additional protection in a crash.