2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge had a design that remained largely unchanged since its 2019 refresh, which successfully aligned its exterior with Ford's more recent designs. This refresh gave the Edge a cleaner look compared to the more elaborate styling of competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades and higher price tag. However, the interior of the Edge showed its age, with a design that seemed less fresh and awkwardly modified over the years to fit new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was a new seven-passenger model, distinct from the existing five-passenger Grand Cherokee. It was an extended-length version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee, featuring 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 Jeep's signature seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements, making it instantly recognizable. The Grand Cherokee L was available in various trims, including Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235. The Summit trim, which we tested, featured quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and a 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system. Despite some interior materials not meeting the high price expectations, the redesigned interior was a significant improvement over the old model.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The ST also had model-specific suspension tuning, and an option package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST was a decent performer, though not quite on par with the Porsche Macan, as Ford claimed. The Edge's maximum towing capacities were 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder, 4,122 pounds for the four-cylinder AWD, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

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 and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or three different 4WD systems. The V6 had 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 Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims and 4WD, generated 357 hp and 390 lb-ft 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, offering brisk acceleration but loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-behaved, though it sometimes resisted downshifts in Auto mode to improve fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee L Summit 4WD averaged 17.8 mpg in our testing. The Jeep's Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension provided 8.3 inches of ground clearance in Normal mode, with two Off-Road settings raising it to 10.9 inches. The Grand Cherokee L handled well on various terrains, with a smooth ride and capable handling.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. It featured dual-zone automatic climate control as standard. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Higher trim levels offered a foot-activated power liftgate. The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited its usefulness. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it easy to forget items placed there.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered comfort with Summit trim, featuring heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system with air vents in all three rows. 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 provided ample legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades. The captain's chairs could tip and slide forward without removing child safety seats, making it easy to access the third row, which was comfortable for all but the tallest adults. Cargo space behind the third row was 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Grand Cherokee L lacked practical storage space for front-seat occupants but offered a useful storage console for second-row passengers.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly, and not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L employed the Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering faster response and an improved user experience. It came with either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen with navigation. Our test vehicle had the larger screen, which had some user-experience quirks but was easy to acclimate to. Uconnect 5 included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system also featured a natural voice-recognition system with a programmable wake phrase. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system sounded terrific, though the logo didn't fit the interior's vibe. Depending on the trim level, the Grand Cherokee L 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 head-up display remained visible to drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention tech, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover crash tests. The Edge came with standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner, including automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, along with Evasive Steering Assist, was standard on all but the base SE trim.

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. While the adaptive cruise control worked well, the steering assist felt artificial. For the 2022 model year, Active Driving Assist would become a hands-free system. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect threats from either side at intersections and apply brakes if necessary. The Jeep offered a complete package of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies, including 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 Grand Cherokee's aged structure and engineering.