2021 Lincoln Nautilus vs 2021 Jeep Cherokee

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee's styling had evolved since its debut, and opinions on its design had mellowed over time. While the short grille opening and swept-back headlights were initially polarizing, they became more accepted after seven years. The Cherokee's proportions improved, making it look better than when it first arrived. The exterior appearance varied significantly with trim levels. The entry-level Latitude with 17-inch wheels and FWD looked quite basic, while the 80th Anniversary Edition with 19-inch Granite Crystal wheels and painted lower body cladding appeared much more refined. Jeep's attention to roof design was evident in the Cherokee, which offered an optional panoramic sunroof covering the entire top surface. The Cherokee stood out in a crowded field of crossover SUVs, bearing a resemblance to the larger Jeep Grand Cherokee from the front.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus had a more storied evolution, starting as the second-generation Lincoln MKX before being facelifted and renamed in 2019. The Nautilus embraced more attractive styling and moved away from the confusing alphanumeric naming convention. For 2021, the exterior remained largely unchanged, but the cabin received significant updates. The new dash design featured clean lines, soft materials, and a large, crisp touchscreen. The "Piano Key" shifter-button layout was unconventional but easy to use. The standard 13.2-inch SYNC 4 touchscreen system was user-friendly and similar to Ford's SYNC 3, with almost no learning curve. The Nautilus offered three trims: Standard, Reserve, and Black Label, each with increasing levels of luxury and features. The Black Label trim included a twin-turbo V6, AWD, 21-inch wheels, adaptive suspension, and a 19-speaker premium stereo system. The 22-way Multi-Contour front seats in the Black Label trim were highly adjustable but somewhat complicated to use. Overall, the Nautilus exuded an upscale feel with its Alcantara headliner and premium features.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee offered three engine options, depending on the trim level. The Latitude and Latitude Plus came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower. The 3.2-liter V-6 engine, available in higher trims, significantly improved output to 271 hp. The top-tier engine was the 2.0-liter GMET4 turbocharged four-cylinder, delivering 270 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite the power, none of these engines provided outstanding acceleration. Testing showed a 0-60 mph time of about 7.2 seconds with the V6 and 7.4 seconds with the turbo-four. All Cherokee models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission, which had proven to be capable and fuel-efficient. The Cherokee's off-road capability was notable, especially in the Trailhawk model, which featured Jeep Active Drive Lock and Selec-Speed Crawl Control. However, the Cherokee was also available in FWD, making it more affordable for rental fleets and budget-conscious buyers.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came standard with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 250 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque. The Reserve and Black Label trims offered an optional twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6, delivering 355 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine had standard FWD, with AWD available, while the twin-turbo V6 came standard with AWD. The twin-turbo V6 provided excellent power, especially at highway speeds, with smooth and controlled acceleration. The adaptive suspension effectively eliminated road bumps, offering a firm and planted ride through corners. The Nautilus also featured an engine stop-start system to conserve fuel, although it had a slight delay in response. Overall, the Nautilus provided a pleasant driving experience in various scenarios.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee occupied a space between the smaller Renegade and the larger Grand Cherokee, competing with compact crossovers like the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. However, it fell short in terms of utility, offering only 26 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 55 cubic feet with the seats folded. This was less than competitors like the Mazda CX-5, Ford Escape, and Kia Sportage. The Cherokee provided about 102 cubic feet of passenger volume, making it competitive in that metric. The interior layout was simple and businesslike, with a clean design that didn't strive for luxury or excessive technology. The trim level significantly influenced interior satisfaction, with the Latitude featuring basic rubberized black plastic, while the Trailhawk and Latitude Lux offered more upscale materials like suede seat inserts and perforated Nappa leather upholstery.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus offered up to 68.8 cubic feet of cargo space, surpassing the Lexus RX 350 and Cadillac XT5. With the rear seats in use, it provided 37.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which was still respectable. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free option available. The Nautilus prioritized two-row comfort, with ample head- and legroom in the rear seats, making them comfortable for adults on long trips. The front seats were the most comfortable, especially with the available 22-way multi-contour power-adjustable units. The soft-touch center console and door handles added to the comfort. The Nautilus also featured a large center console bin and deep in-door pockets for storage. The floating center controls design allowed for additional storage below the radio and climate controls.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee featured the Stellantis Uconnect infotainment system, which was highly regarded for its user-friendly interface. The system was available with two screen sizes: a 7-inch touchscreen on the lower trims and an 8.4-inch touchscreen on the Limited and Trailhawk trims. Both screens were well-designed and responsive. The Cherokee supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though only in wired form. It also offered a 4G WiFi hotspot and integration with Amazon Alexa. Remote start was available, a convenient feature for various climates. The Uconnect system was consistent across Stellantis vehicles, providing a familiar and reliable experience for Cherokee buyers.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus boasted a large 13.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system with high-definition graphics and a sensible menu layout. The system supported wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with large icons and no unnecessary repackaging of CarPlay. The available wireless charging pad further enhanced the convenience of phone integration. The Revel 19-speaker premium audio system in the test model provided excellent sound quality. The Nautilus's infotainment system was user-friendly, with a helpful home button to navigate back to the main screen if needed.

The 2021 Jeep Cherokee did not earn a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS. However, it received top "Good" scores in every crashworthiness category and a G+ score for the ease of use of the LATCH child seat anchors. The Cherokee's headlights received mixed ratings, with upper trims rated "Acceptable" and lower trims rated "Marginal." The NHTSA gave the Cherokee a four-star overall safety rating, with a slight demerit for front driver side crash protection. The Cherokee offered advanced safety features as standard, including lane departure warning, lane keep assist, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, and blind spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with stop and go was available on the Limited and Trailhawk trims.

The 2021 Lincoln Nautilus came with a comprehensive list of driver-assistance features as part of the standard CoPilot360 package. This included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional available features included adaptive cruise control, front parking sensors, surround-view parking monitor, and adaptive headlights. However, the standard backup camera was of low quality, making it difficult to see in low-light conditions.