2020 Subaru Outback vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Subaru had a winning formula with the Outback and aimed for incremental improvements in 2020. The sixth-gen Outback was built on Subaru’s Global Platform, boasting a 70% increase in structural rigidity. The base 2.5-liter engine, though seemingly unchanged, had 90% new parts and offered 182 horsepower. For those seeking more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine from the Ascent was available in higher trims. Externally, changes were subtle, mainly noticeable in the head- and taillights. Inside, the 2020 Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen for all but the base trim, which had dual 7-inch screens. The innovative DriverFocus system used infrared monitoring to detect and alert sleepy or distracted drivers, adding a touch of luxury tech.

The Outback was available in seven trims, starting at $26,645 for the 2.5i, which included LED headlights, keyless entry, and automatic climate control. The Premium trim, starting at $28,895, introduced the 11.6-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, and heated front seats. The Limited trim, at $33,445, added blind-spot monitoring, a power liftgate, and leather upholstery. The Touring trim, priced at $37,345, offered ventilated front seats and a sunroof. The new Onyx Edition XT, starting at $34,895, featured the turbo engine, heated rear seats, and performance upgrades. The Limited XT and Touring XT trims followed their non-XT counterparts but included the turbo engine, with prices at $37,745 and $39,695, respectively.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, still looked right with its traditional Jeep styling cues like the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. It had a balanced appearance, equally at home on trails and at valet stands, appealing to a wide range of buyers. Prices started at $32,150 for the Laredo and went up to $52,495 for the Summit, with eight additional variants in between. High-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions were also available, priced at $68,895 and $87,400, respectively.

The tested Grand Cherokee Limited X, priced at $53,275, featured a ventilated hood design, sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels. However, the interior materials were disappointing for a vehicle over $50,000, with a preponderance of hard plastic. While the SUV offered premium materials in some versions, the foundation lacked substance, making the more expensive models less appealing.

The 2020 Subaru Outback featured an upgraded 2.5-liter engine with 182 horsepower, a 7-hp increase over 2019. This engine offered 26 mpg city and 33 highway, a 1 mpg improvement in both categories. For those needing more power, the 2.4-liter turbocharged engine in the XT trims produced 260 hp and 277 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in around 7 seconds. Both engines were paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which Subaru tuned to mimic a traditional automatic transmission, minimizing the typical CVT drawbacks.

Subaru’s symmetrical all-wheel drive (AWD) system was active all the time, providing consistent power delivery and less wear on components. The Outback also offered 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making it capable off-road, though not to the extent of a Jeep. The Onyx XT trim featured an upgraded X-Mode and hill-descent control, enhancing its off-road capabilities.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission, offering satisfying acceleration and 21 mpg in combined driving. For more power, three V8 engines were available: a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 pound-feet of torque, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp and 470 pound-feet, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp and 645 pound-feet, achieving 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds.

The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Limited X featuring the Quadra-Trac II 4WD with a 2-speed transfer case. The Selec-Terrain traction control system and hill descent control technology enhanced its off-road capabilities. However, the driving dynamics on pavement were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2020 Subaru Outback offered 32.5 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to 75.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down. The increased width between the rear wheels contributed to a 1-cu-ft increase in passenger volume and a 2.4-cu-ft increase in overall volume. The Outback provided ample headroom and legroom, even for taller passengers, and excellent visibility in nearly every direction, though the rear quarters had a significant blind spot.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee had seating for five and 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the backseat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded down. The Limited X trim featured heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats, though ventilated seats were not available. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel and padded armrests added comfort. 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 2020 Subaru Outback featured an 11.6-inch touchscreen, which was large, easy to understand, and mostly easy to navigate. However, the system suffered from significant lag, affecting nearly every screen and function, including volume control. The camera resolution was also subpar, exacerbated by the large screen.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Uconnect infotainment system, with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, included 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 Limited X trim had an optional 9-speaker Alpine premium sound system, though the 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was available in higher trims. Unique to Jeep’s Uconnect were Off-Road Pages, providing important off-roading information, and Performance Pages in the SRT and Trackhawk models.

The 2020 Subaru Outback’s standard safety suite included features like adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist. However, the DriverFocus system, designed to alert distracted drivers, was problematic, frequently giving false alerts. Subaru’s EyeSight system, while standard, could be obstructed by weather conditions, causing it to turn off.

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 a Marginal rating for driver protection from the IIHS.