2021 Jeep Cherokee vs 2020 Toyota 4Runner

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured a timeless design with tall slab sides, a high beltline, short overhangs, and a near-vertical front fascia. Its utilitarian attitude was reminiscent of the XJ Jeep Cherokee, with flared wheel wells designed to accommodate bulky off-road tires and short overhangs for tackling steep pitches and sharp declines. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. Small, angular headlights highlighted the front end, with twin body-color bars on the grille for most trims, blacked-out accents on the TRD Pro, and bright chrome on the Limited. The trim lineup included SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, and Limited, with the Nightshade Special Edition and Venture Special Edition adding stealth aesthetics and off-road capabilities. The Limited trim, aimed at comfort, featured leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen, though it still had plenty of plastic and a seating position designed for trails rather than highways.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling had mellowed since its debut, with a better-proportioned look despite the short grille opening and swept-back headlights. The exterior varied significantly with trim levels, from the entry-level Latitude with 17-inch wheels and FWD to the 80th Anniversary Edition with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels and painted lower body cladding. Jeep's expertise with roofs was evident in the Cherokee's optional panoramic sunroof. The Cherokee stood out in a sea of crossover SUVs, bearing a resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee from the front.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came with a single engine option: a 4-liter V6 producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. This engine was not smooth or efficient, designed more for lumbering and off-road capability than fuel economy, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with body-on-frame construction, significant body roll on the road, and advanced traction systems like Toyota’s CRAWL control and Multi-Terrain Select. The 4Runner offered both RWD and 4WD options, with the latter being more suitable for off-road adventures.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with 180 horsepower, a 3.2-liter V6 with 271 horsepower, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The Cherokee's nine-speed automatic transmission from ZF was capable and fuel-saving. The Cherokee Trailhawk model was particularly adept off-road, with features like Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. The Cherokee was available in both FWD and 4WD, with the latter being more suitable for off-road enthusiasts.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tidy turning radius of 18 feet, 7 inches. The interior featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC and stereo controls, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a tall seating position. The optional third row of seats was best for short and occasional use, with limited legroom and narrow, thin seats.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee filled a space between the smaller Renegade and the larger Grand Cherokee, competing with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The Cherokee's cargo space was limited, with 26 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 55 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. The Cherokee offered about 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, with a simple, businesslike interior. Trim levels varied, with the Latitude featuring rubberized black plastic, the Trailhawk offering suede seat inserts and contrasting stitching, and the Latitude Lux boasting perforated Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Amazon Alexa, Bluetooth connectivity, and various subscription services. However, the onboard navigation system was less user-friendly compared to Google Maps. The 4Runner's technological advancements were more focused on off-road capabilities than dashboard features.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system was available with a 7-inch or 8.4-inch touchscreen, both offering Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Cherokee also offered remote start, a feature not available from every manufacturer. The Uconnect system was praised for its ease of use and lack of latency issues.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. It also had eight standard airbags. The NHTSA awarded it four out of five stars overall, with three out of five in the rollover test. The IIHS gave it a Good rating in most crash tests, except for a Marginal rating in the small overlap front: driver-side test.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS but received top "Good" scores in every crashworthiness category and a G+ score for ease of use of the LATCH child seat anchors. The NHTSA gave it a four-star overall safety rating. The Cherokee offered standard advanced safety features like lane departure warning, full-speed forward collision warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go was available on the Limited and Trailhawk trims.