2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained its timeless appeal, showcasing a design that balanced rugged utility with upscale sophistication. Its big wheels, flared fenders, and premium touches like body-color mirror caps and platinum chrome finishes contributed to its enduring success. The interior, while luxurious with premium leather and genuine wood, showed signs of aging with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits. Despite this, the Grand Cherokee offered a range of trims from the affordable Laredo to the plush Summit, catering to various preferences and needs.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape presented a more car-like appearance, straddling the line between SUV and hatchback. Its sleek roofline and curved snout gave it a less truck-like look compared to competitors like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. The Escape offered new appearance packages for 2021, enhancing its visual appeal with features like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with low-rent materials and odd design choices, even in the top Titanium model.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, capable of towing up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 offered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8's cylinder deactivation technology aimed to improve fuel efficiency, though it achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension enhanced its off-road capabilities, while its tight turning radius and effective brakes made it practical for daily driving.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a variety of powertrains, including a base 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque. An upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo-four increased output to 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. The Escape also featured hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, both using a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, producing a total of 200 hp. The plug-in hybrid's larger battery allowed for significant electric-only driving. However, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering making it less enjoyable to drive.

Inside the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, occupants found supportive seats with quilted leather and a heated steering wheel. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though controls embedded in the infotainment system could be distracting. Rear-seat legroom was somewhat snug, and the optional entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. Cargo space measured 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded, though this was limited for a midsize SUV.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space. The sliding rear seat allowed for adjustable legroom, providing 40.7 inches in non-hybrid models. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering 33.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expandable to 65.4 cubic feet with the seats folded. Hybrid and plug-in hybrid models had slightly less space due to battery placement. While the Escape's cargo capacity was less than some competitors, its interior space was commendable.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a user-friendly experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system's voice recognition worked well, and the Summit trim boasted a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. However, the Grand Cherokee was considered "tech lite," with essential features but lacking advanced digital offerings.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with base models featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Upgrading to the SE trim provided an 8-inch touchscreen and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim added a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. While Sync 3 was easy to use, the Escape lacked some standard tech features found in competitors, and it missed out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received mixed safety ratings. While it earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, its performance in IIHS tests was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee offered a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance, but its headlights were rated "Poor" unless upgraded.

The 2021 Ford Escape earned a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist, with the optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package adding adaptive cruise control and park assist.