2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Audi Q3

The 2021 Audi Q3 featured a massive corporate grille that paired well with its stout, chunky styling, presenting an idea of utility and dynamic handling. The cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a standout dash design framing the center touchscreen. Despite its initial standout design, the Q3's interior felt less special over time as Volkswagen's newer interiors caught up in design, though not in luxury.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a new seven-passenger model, was an extended-length version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee. Its styling, reminiscent of the more expensive Wagoneer models, was instantly identifiable as a Jeep with its signature seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches. The Grand Cherokee L's design was well-proportioned and attractive across all trim levels, from Laredo to Summit Reserve.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 184 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and Quattro all-wheel drive. The S-Line trim offered a more potent version of the same engine, delivering 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The Q3's handling was nimble and engaging, with a comfortable ride quality. The base engine had some turbo lag, but the S-Line's powertrain provided a lively driving experience, especially in Sport mode.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive or one of three 4WD systems. The optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with higher trims, produced 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. The Grand Cherokee L's Quadra-Lift air suspension provided up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and impressive off-road capabilities. However, the V6 engine was loud when revved, and the eight-speed transmission sometimes resisted downshifts to improve fuel economy.

The 2021 Audi Q3 offered 48 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 23.7 cubic feet behind the rear seats. While the cargo space was subpar for the class, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear-seat headroom and legroom. It could seat five, but four passengers could take a road trip in comfort.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, especially in Summit trim, provided heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row captain's chairs offered plenty of legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades. The third row was comfortable for all but the tallest adults. Cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi's MMI system, featuring Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. The upgraded system included a 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation, wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit replaced the conventional instrument cluster with a customizable digital display.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L employed the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, available with 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreens. The system offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The test vehicle featured a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system, a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, a thermal-imaging night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system. The head-up display remained visible to drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with Audi Pre Sense and Pre Sense Front, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Lane-departure warning was also standard. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, a 360-degree camera system, front-and-rear parking sensors, and self-parking assist.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. Intersection Collision Assist, standard on Summit models, detected threats at intersections and applied brakes if necessary. The Grand Cherokee L also offered Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. As of the review, crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the new model was expected to improve upon the old Grand Cherokee's safety flaws.