2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was a nod to the past, with Chevy using styling details to give each trim level its own identity. The exterior was a generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to many buyers. However, it lacked the personality of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride, and the streamlined appearance of the Mazda CX-9. The Traverse's restrained styling highlighted the cosmetic elements of different trims, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome on the High Country. The interior followed the same restrained styling, with an optional Dual SkyScape two-panel sunroof as a standout feature. Materials in the higher-level RS model were decent but not quite up to the $50,000 MSRP.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a new seven-passenger model, was based on the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee. It featured a third-row seat and more cargo volume. The Grand Cherokee L's styling was a strong selling point, resembling a smaller version of the more expensive Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. It had a signature seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements, making it instantly recognizable as a Jeep. The Grand Cherokee L was available in various trims, from Laredo to Summit Reserve, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235. The Summit trim, which we tested, included features like quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and a 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system, though some materials didn't quite meet the high price point.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was equipped with a single engine option: a 3.6-liter V6 producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Despite the impressive specs, the Traverse didn't feel as powerful as expected, though it provided sufficient power for highway merging and overtaking. The nine-speed automatic transmission generally performed well but occasionally had rough shifts. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and a comfortable ride, though it lacked agility on twistier roads. The AWD system, which required manual activation, could send up to 50% of torque to either front wheel or 85% to either rear wheel, but its impact on handling was not noticeable. The Traverse had off-road and tow/haul drive modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered RWD or three different 4WD systems, with a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds and an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with 4WD on higher trims, generated 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel economy to 17 mpg combined. Our test vehicle had the V6 engine and 4WD, providing brisk acceleration but loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission sometimes resisted downshifts to improve fuel economy, averaging 17.8 mpg in our tests. The Grand Cherokee L featured a Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension with various off-road modes, offering up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability. It handled well on highways and uneven pavement, with a smooth ride and capable handling.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered seating for seven or eight, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. Heated front seats were standard on the RS trim, with ventilated front seats and heated outboard rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place, 57.8 cubic feet with the third row stowed, and 98.2 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. A power liftgate was optional on the LT Cloth trim and standard on higher trims, with a gesture-activated liftgate on the Premier and High Country models. Despite its size, the Traverse had limited interior storage options, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L provided comfort with heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. However, the dashboard vents were too small, making it difficult to cool the cabin quickly. The Grand Cherokee L's 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, with large side windows providing a great view. The Grand Cherokee L had limited practical storage space for front-seat occupants, but second-row passengers had a storage console. 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 all rear seats folded.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, a 4G-LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The 8-inch screen in our Traverse RS test car was user-friendly, with large smartphone-like icons and analog controls for audio volume and climate control. The Traverse also featured a rearview camera mirror and an optional HD surround-view camera system. Each row had two USB ports as standard, with wireless phone charging available on the Premier and High Country models.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering faster response and an improved user experience. Two touchscreen sizes were available: 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch with navigation. Our test vehicle had the larger screen, which was easy to use after a short acclimation period. Highlights included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system also had a natural voice-recognition system with a programmable wake phrase. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system provided excellent sound quality. Depending on the trim, the Grand Cherokee L also offered 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 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores in all crash tests from the IIHS, along with a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Acceptable" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests and five stars in side-impact crash tests. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech than competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist available only on higher trims.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. The system worked well but felt artificial in the driver's hands. Jeep planned to make it a hands-free system for the 2022 model year. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect threats at intersections and apply brakes if necessary. Additional driver aids included Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. As of this review, crash-test ratings were unavailable for the Grand Cherokee L, but it was expected to improve upon the old model's flaws.