2021 Subaru Outback 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, giving it 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 materials, especially in models priced over $50,000, were disappointing due to the prevalence of hard plastic.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior, especially in trims above the base, featured a modern 11.6-inch portrait display, chrome trim, and contrasting leatherette, giving it a fresh look. The Onyx Edition XT, with its gray and black StarTex upholstery and lime green contrast stitching, added a touch of wildness to the otherwise practical design. The exterior featured high gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, with smooth and plain styling. The Outback's ground clearance and adaptive LED headlights made it a great alternative to typical crossovers or SUVs, maintaining its lifted wagon appearance.

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

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-liter flat-four engine, producing 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque, struggled to move the vehicle, especially when fully loaded. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) further hampered performance, making the Outback slow and noisy. The turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine in the XT trims, with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, provided a significant improvement in performance. The XT engine was quieter, smoother, and more powerful, though it had slightly lower fuel economy at 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway compared to the base engine's 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. The Outback's handling was squishy, but its ride comfort and off-road capability were excellent, thanks to its high ground clearance and Subaru's proactive AWD system.

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 down. The front seats were heated and 8-way power-adjustable, but the Limited X 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, though the glovebox and center armrest bin were small.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, with its high ground clearance, offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of intrusive wheel arches. The interior provided ample headroom and legroom, with comfortable and supportive seats. Outward visibility was excellent, thanks to thin pillars and lots of glass. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The standard roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, offering convenience and cost savings.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its speed, graphics, and ease of use. The Limited X trim included 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 was available, supporting up to eight devices. The test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine premium sound system, though a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was available in higher trims. The Uconnect system also included Off-Road Pages, providing information for off-roading excursions, and Performance Pages in the SRT and Trackhawk models.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system, though modern underneath, had outdated graphics and typefaces. The central screen in the instrument panel was particularly dated. The single large screen, available on higher trims, was more cohesive and useful than the dual-screen setup in the base model. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions, reducing its effectiveness compared to systems that also use radar.

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. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee had unimpressive crash-test ratings, with a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and Marginal and Poor ratings from the IIHS for driver and front passenger protection, respectively.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and Touring trims. The Outback earned a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award, with top ratings in all crash tests and for headlights, and a "Superior" rating for forward emergency braking. The NHTSA gave the 2021 Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.