2021 Volvo XC90 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 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, 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 lacked substance, with an overabundance of hard plastic. This was particularly disappointing in the more expensive variants, where the expectation for luxury was higher.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 successfully reshaped Volvo's image with its design, maintaining traditional styling features like a boxy profile and a blunt front end with a rectangular grille, but with softer lines and more chrome. The LED headlights with “Thor’s Hammer” daytime running lights added a distinctive touch. The Inscription test car, with extra chrome trim and optional 21-inch alloy wheels, was the flashiest of the XC90 trims. The midlevel R-Design had a sportier look, while the base Momentum was more understated. The XC90 shared Volvo's Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other "90" and "60" series models.

Inside, the XC90 embraced Swedish minimalism with thoughtfully arranged, nice-looking materials. The matte-finish wood trim had a natural appearance, and the wool upholstery option was unique. The test car featured an Orrefors crystal shifter, adding a high-end touch to the otherwise restrained interior. The XC90's design was a blend of traditional Volvo elements with modern, luxurious details.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine and 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 Trackhawk was fortified for racing, while the SRT was slightly less capable.

The Grand Cherokee’s off-road capabilities were highlighted by the Trailhawk model, equipped with all-terrain tires, skid plates, and the most capable 4WD system. Most versions came with RWD, with four different 4WD systems available. The tested Limited X had the Quadra-Trac II 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case, Selec-Terrain traction control, and hill descent control, making it capable off-road despite its 20-inch wheels and all-season tires. On pavement, the Grand Cherokee offered a mixed driving experience, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 offered three powertrains based on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T5 engine was turbocharged, producing 250 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The T6 engine was both turbocharged and supercharged, delivering 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The T8 Twin Engine plug-in hybrid combined the T6 engine with electric assist, producing 400 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. The T5 came with FWD, with AWD optional, while the T6 and T8 had standard AWD.

Despite the 400 hp, the T8’s small engine struggled with flexibility compared to competitors' six-cylinder or V8 engines. The XC90 had three drive modes—Pure (all-electric), Hybrid, and Power—but Pure mode was limited to low speeds. The gasoline engine often had to assist, reducing efficiency. However, the XC90 excelled in luxury, with excellent ride quality, minimal body roll, and a quiet cabin. Most models had a 5,000-pound towing capacity, except the base FWD T5, which was rated at 4,000 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 the armrests were softly padded. Rear passengers, including children, found the backseat comfortable, with adequate legroom and rear 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 Volvo XC90 was available in six-seat or seven-seat configurations, with headroom and legroom in all three rows being average for the segment. The third row was tight for adults, and the seats in the second and third rows lacked support. An optional power moonroof and standard four-zone climate control enhanced the spacious feel. The Inscription test car had 10-way power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats with backrest massage, but no power-adjustable steering wheel. Storage space was limited, with a shallow center console bin and few storage options on the console.

Cargo space in the XC90 T8 Recharge was 11.2 cubic feet with all seats in place, 34.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and 64.1 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded, which was near the bottom of the segment. Volvo offered a hands-free power tailgate for convenience.

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 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 in the SRT and Trackhawk models.

The 2021 Volvo XC90’s Sensus infotainment system featured a 9-inch touchscreen, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. It also had two front USB-A ports and two rear USB-C ports. A 19-speaker Bowers & Wilkins premium audio system and head-up display were available. The portrait-oriented touchscreen was easy to use, with minimal analog controls, fitting the interior’s minimalist design. However, the text and typeface made reading some menus difficult while driving, and the wireless charging pad was too small for most phones.

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 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 a Marginal rating for driver protection from the IIHS.

The 2021 Volvo XC90 received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS for non-hybrid models, with top “Good” scores in all crash tests and a “Superior” rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle testing. The NHTSA gave all XC90 models a five-star overall safety rating. The XC90 offered more standard safety features than most competitors, including lane-keep assist, driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and Volvo’s Pilot Assist driver aid, which combined adaptive cruise control with automated lane centering.