2021 Jeep Cherokee vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling evolved since its debut, and over time it became more agreeable to the eye. Initially, its short grille opening and swept-back headlights were contentious, but after seven years on the market, they seemed better proportioned. Trim levels significantly influenced its appearance. The base Latitude model with 17-inch wheels and front-wheel drive (FWD) looked rather plain, like a common rental car. In contrast, the 80th Anniversary Edition with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels featured a much more polished look due to its painted lower body cladding, which replaced the cheaper-looking black plastic.

Jeep consistently offered more from a roof than any other manufacturer. The Wrangler had multiple top options, and the Renegade had a sliding top and removable panels. The Cherokee's optional panoramic sunroof spanned the entire roof surface, making it stand out among crossovers. The Cherokee's unique design ensured it wouldn't be lost in a sea of crossover SUVs, resembling the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee from the front.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, marking the introduction of a seven-passenger Jeep Grand Cherokee, was an entirely different model. Unlike the aging two-row Grand Cherokee slated for a redesign in 2022, the Grand Cherokee L was a longer version of the upcoming redesign, boasting a third-row seat and more cargo volume. Its styling took cues from the luxurious Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, giving it a smaller but similarly upscale appearance.

The Grand Cherokee L's design left little room for criticism. Instantly recognizable as a Jeep, it featured the brand's seven-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and signature lighting. Each trim level, from Laredo to Summit Reserve, retained this aesthetic appeal. Their test vehicle, the Summit trim, was equipped with multiple premium features including metallic paint, the Advanced Pro Tech Group, the Luxury Tech Group, and a $64,770 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system. This full package increased the vehicle's price and expectations. Although some interior materials struggled to justify the high cost, the Summit's quilted leather and real wood trim exuded luxury. Overall, the revamped interior was a substantial improvement over prior models.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options, tailored to different trim levels. The base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine produced 180 horsepower and was standard on the Latitude and Latitude Plus models. A significant upgrade came with the 3.2-liter V-6 engine, which delivered 271 horsepower. The top-tier option, available on the Latitude Lux and Cherokee Limited trims, was the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This turbo-four delivered 270 horsepower, just one horse shy of the V-6, but excelled with 295 pound-feet of torque compared to the V-6's 239 lb-ft, available between 3,000-4,500 rpm.

Though none of these engines offered outstanding acceleration, they provided decent performance. A 2019 Cherokee with similar specifications managed a 0-60 mph time of around 7.2 seconds with the V-6 and 7.4 seconds with the turbo-four. Every Cherokee model featured a nine-speed automatic transmission from ZF, which had experienced production issues early on but proved to be more capable and fuel-efficient than the CVTs used by competitors.

For off-road enthusiasts, the Cherokee Trailhawk stood out. Featuring Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control, the Trailhawk handled trails and steep inclines better than expected. However, unlike the Wrangler, the Cherokee was available in front-wheel drive (FWD), making it more affordable for rental fleets, though such configurations were rare.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It featured rear-wheel drive (RWD) or an optional 4WD system with front-axle disconnect technology. The Grand Cherokee L had a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds and an EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 21 mpg in combined driving. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine available on higher trims like the Overland and Summit produced 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, increasing the towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel efficiency to 17 mpg combined. This V8 upgrade was a costly $3,295 addition.

Their test vehicle featured the V6 engine and 4WD. It offered brisk acceleration but became noticeably loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was generally well-mannered but sometimes resisted downshifts in Auto mode to save fuel. During the testing loop, the Grand Cherokee L Summit 4WD averaged only 17.8 mpg, falling short of expectations.

Jeep included a Sport driving mode, which held engine revs longer but didn’t significantly enhance the driving experience aside from better ride control from the Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension. The vehicle also had off-road modes such as Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock, while the Summit’s Quadra-Drive II 4WD system included an electronic locking differential and a low-range transfer case. The Quadra-Lift suspension provided 8.3 inches of ground clearance in Normal mode, but could be raised to offer up to 10.9 inches of clearance and 24 inches of water fording capability. However, only the Overland model with the Off-Road Group was Trail Rated for maximum off-road capability.

On daily drives, the Grand Cherokee L's stiffer structure translated to a smooth ride and solid handling. Variable-ratio steering and large 20-inch wheels contributed to its capable handling. The vehicle's corners were easy to judge from the driver’s seat, aiding in parking, while a surround-view camera system further facilitated maneuvering.

The Grand Cherokee L was impressive on the highway, offering secure steering and a relatively quiet cabin, except during acceleration or when running the air conditioning on a hot day.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee bridged the gap between the smaller Renegade and the larger Grand Cherokee, placing it in competition with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, it lagged behind its rivals in terms of utility. With the rear seats up, the Cherokee offered 26 cubic feet of cargo space, and 55 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded down, placing it at the lower end of the compact SUV spectrum. It had less cargo space than the Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Kia Sportage.

The Cherokee’s passenger space, at around 102 cubic feet, was slightly smaller than the Escape but more spacious than the Sportage, making it somewhat competitive. The interior layout was simple and practical, focusing on functionality over luxury. Lower trims like the Latitude were basic with plenty of rubberized plastic, while higher trims like the Trailhawk featured more upscale materials such as suede and contrasting stitching. The Latitude Lux trim offered perforated Nappa leather upholstery, providing a premium feel.

Comfort was a strong suit in the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, especially in the high-end Summit trim. It had heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustments and a heated steering wheel. It also featured a four-zone automatic climate control system with air vents across all three rows. However, the dashboard vents struggled to cool the front cabin efficiently on hot days, leading to loud fan noise and extended cooling periods.

The Grand Cherokee L came equipped with second-row captain’s chairs as standard, though a bench seat was optional. The captain’s chairs offered ample legroom and comfort, and Summit trim included manual side window sunshades for added protection against the sun. The second-row seats could tip and slide forward without removing child safety seats, making it easy to access the third row, which was quite comfortable for all but the tallest adults.

The Grand Cherokee L's cargo space was practical for family use. It offered 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a maximum of 84.6 cubic feet behind the front seats.

Comparatively, the Grand Cherokee L provided significantly more cargo space and passenger comfort than the Cherokee, making it a more versatile choice for families.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee featured Stellantis's highly praised Uconnect infotainment system, available with either a 7-inch or an 8.4-inch touchscreen. The system was user-friendly, with essential controls like heated seats readily accessible without navigating through multiple menus. It also supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though not wirelessly. Additional tech features included a 4G WiFi hotspot, Amazon Alexa integration, and optional remote start.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L employed the latest Uconnect 5 system, boasting five times faster response and an improved user experience. Available with either an 8.4-inch or a 10.1-inch touchscreen, the Uconnect 5 system offered 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. Their test vehicle had the larger screen and the optional McIntosh 19-speaker audio system, which delivered excellent sound quality, especially for bass-heavy music.

Additional tech features on the Grand Cherokee L included 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 even to drivers wearing polarized sunglasses, adding to the vehicle’s advanced technology suite.

While both vehicles offered robust tech features, the Grand Cherokee L’s newer Uconnect 5 system and additional options like the night vision system and Fam Cam made it a standout in terms of technology.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee did not achieve a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS but scored top marks in all crashworthiness categories. It had a G+ rating for the ease of use of the LATCH child seat anchors. However, its headlight performance was mixed, with upper trims receiving an "Acceptable" rating and lower trims receiving a "Marginal" rating. The NHTSA awarded the Cherokee a four-star overall safety rating, with a small deduction for front driver side crash protection.

Standard safety features on the Cherokee included lane departure warning, lane keep assist, full-speed forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality was only available on higher trims like the Limited and Trailhawk.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, which combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. While the system was effective, it felt somewhat artificial in steering and overly responsive when changing lanes. Jeep planned to upgrade this to a hands-free system for the 2022 model year. Another notable safety feature was Intersection Collision Assist, standard on Summit models, which could detect and respond to cross-traffic threats at intersections.

The Grand Cherokee L also offered Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, which steered the vehicle into parking spaces while the driver controlled other aspects. At the time of writing, crash-test ratings for the Grand Cherokee L were unavailable, but improvements were expected over the aging Grand Cherokee’s structure.