2021 Audi Q3 vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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. Inside, the cabin echoed a mechanical, modern aesthetic with a dash design that framed the center touchscreen. When the interior debuted in 2019, it was a standout design, but by 2021, Volkswagen's similar designs made the Q3 feel less special, though still modern and refined.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless fourth-generation design, balanced rugged utility and upscale sophistication. Its big wheels, flared fenders, and purposeful styling contributed to its continued success. The Grand Cherokee defied easy categorization, fitting into mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV segments. The Summit trim, with its premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum interior, added to its luxury feel, though the interior design was showing its age.

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 the ride was comfortable, with various drive modes including Auto, Comfort, Dynamic, and Off-Road.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, capable of towing up to 6,200 pounds. An optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine provided 360 hp, 390 lb-ft of torque, and a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for better fuel efficiency. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its on-road performance was speedy and responsive, though sometimes bouncy.

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 its class, the Q3 made up for it with comfortable front seats and impressive rear seat headroom and legroom, accommodating four passengers comfortably.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured flat, firm, and supportive seats with eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat was comfortable but had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. Interior storage was adequate, though the rear-seat entertainment system took up significant space in the center console bin.

The 2021 Audi Q3 came standard with an 8.8-inch touchscreen infotainment system running Audi's MMI system, with standard Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay. An upgraded 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation was available, along with wireless device charging, satellite radio, and a Bang & Olufsen 15-speaker premium audio system. The Audi Virtual Cockpit offered a customizable digital display.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav system, offering navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. The system provided a nearly flawless user experience with fast response and pleasing graphics. The Summit trim included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Grand Cherokee's tech offerings were essential but not extensive, with a focus on practical features.

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 had mixed safety ratings. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models but performed poorly in IIHS small-overlap frontal-impact tests. The Summit trim included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. Parking assistance features included a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.