2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Honda HR-V

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs like the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot, which featured more traditional SUV looks with upright roof lines and intimidating front ends. The HR-V stood out with its distinctive design elements, such as upper and lower window lines converging near the taillights in a triangular point that also housed the rear door handles. Most trim levels came with 17-inch alloy wheels, with a machined finish on the HR-V EX and EX-L, while Sport models boasted matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Fog lights were standard on all but the base LX trim level.

Inside, the HR-V’s styling was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. While it would never be mistaken for a luxury car, it still felt solid. EX and EX-L models featured push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with EX-L models also getting leather upholstery.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a new seven-passenger model, was based on the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee, featuring a third-row seat and more cargo volume. Its styling was a strong selling point, resembling a smaller version of the more expensive Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer models. The Grand Cherokee L was instantly recognizable as a Jeep, thanks to its signature seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and familiar lighting arrangements. It was available in Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims, with prices ranging from $36,995 to $64,235, plus a $1,695 destination charge.

Our test vehicle, a Summit trim with 4WD, metallic paint, the Advanced Pro Tech Group, the Luxury Tech Group, and a 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system, had a window sticker price of $64,770. While some interior materials and fittings didn’t quite meet the high price expectations, the Summit’s quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and abundant technology made for a substantial improvement over the old model.

The 2021 Honda HR-V was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While AWD was available on all trim levels, FWD was standard. The powertrain remained unchanged from previous models, which was not ideal as the HR-V felt underpowered for highway driving, and the CVT was ineffective. Competitors like the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek offered more powerful engine options.

However, the HR-V’s chassis compensated for its engine shortcomings, providing a genuinely rewarding driving experience on twisty roads and decent ride quality. Despite being a small SUV, it lived up to Honda’s reputation for fun cars. The HR-V’s AWD system was not designed for rough terrain, and it had minimal ground clearance and no towing capability.

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 RWD or one of three 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 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, offering brisk acceleration but loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was well-behaved but sometimes resisted downshifts in Auto mode to improve fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee L Summit 4WD averaged 17.8 mpg in testing, below expectations. The Jeep’s Sport driving mode held revs too high, while additional Selec-Terrain off-road modes included Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock. The Quadra-Lift suspension provided up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability.

The Grand Cherokee L’s stiffer structure resulted in a smooth ride and stout feel. In Auto mode, it felt soft over uneven pavement, but the Quadra-Lift air suspension controlled excess body motions. Variable-ratio steering and large 20-inch wheels delivered capable handling on winding roads. The Grand Cherokee L was easy to park, thanks to its surround-view camera system and tight turning circle. It was also comfortable on the highway, with secure on-center steering feel and a relatively quiet cabin.

The 2021 Honda HR-V offered impressive cargo space for its size, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. Folding the seat down provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models), while leaving it up retained 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD). These figures surpassed competitors like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek, though the Kia Seltos and 2022 Toyota Corolla Cross offered more cargo space.

The HR-V was second only to the Subaru Crosstrek in overall passenger space, with much of that space devoted to rear-seat legroom. Front-seat legroom and headroom were average. The HR-V lacked clever interior storage solutions, but its sensibly-designed controls, including large climate control knobs and an audio volume knob, were user-friendly. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, and a standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made finding the perfect driving position easier.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, especially in Summit trim, offered heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, plus a heated steering wheel. It also featured 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.

Captain’s chairs were standard for the second row, with an optional bench seat available. The captain’s chairs provided plenty of legroom and comfort, and Summit trim included manual side window sunshades. The Grand Cherokee L’s third row was comfortable for all but the tallest adults, with large side windows offering a great view.

The Grand Cherokee L lacked practical storage space for front-seat occupants, but second-row passengers had a storage console between the captain’s chairs. Cargo space behind the third row measured 17.2 cubic feet, with a useful storage bin underneath the load floor. Folding the third row down provided 46.9 cubic feet of cargo space, and the maximum volume behind the front seats was 84.6 cubic feet.

The base 2021 Honda HR-V LX came with standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. Upgrading to the Sport trim level added a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while EX and EX-L models included SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter.

However, the 7-inch touchscreen was small compared to competitors, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were not standard across all trim levels, which was a drawback.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the latest 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 had some user-experience quirks but was easy to acclimate to.

Highlights included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Uconnect 5 also offered a natural voice-recognition system with a programmable wake phrase. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh high-end audio system sounded terrific, though the logo didn’t fit the interior’s vibe.

Depending on the trim level, 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 head-up display remained visible to drivers wearing polarized sunglasses.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top “Good” scores in all IIHS crash tests and a “Superior” rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it got “Marginal” and “Poor” headlight ratings and an “Acceptable” rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing.

Honda Sensing safety features were available only on the EX and EX-L trim levels, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and Honda’s LaneWatch. The rearview camera was upgraded with dynamic gridlines on higher trim levels.

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 was expected to 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 the brakes if necessary. Additional driver aids included Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, which steered the Jeep into parking spaces.

As of the review, crash-test ratings for the Grand Cherokee L were unavailable, but it was expected to improve upon the old Grand Cherokee’s aged structure and engineering.