2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a timeless appearance that maintained its appeal more than a decade after its original launch. It combined rugged utility and upscale sophistication, balanced on large wheels pushed to the corners under purposefully flared fenders. This design significantly contributed to the Grand Cherokee's enduring popularity. The vehicle defied simple categorization, fitting equally well as a mainstream, luxury, or performance SUV.

The 2021 lineup included the affordable Laredo and Limited trim levels, upscale Overland and Summit trims, track-ready SRT and Trackhawk models, and the off-road-capable Trailhawk. The Grand Cherokee Laredo and Limited trims received minor updates for 2021, with Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Editions making their debut. Pricing ranged from around $35,000 to nearly $90,000.

In terms of specific trims, the test vehicle came in Summit trim, featuring a 5.7-liter V8 engine, four-wheel drive, extra-cost paint, and premium packages including the Platinum Series Group and the Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package, totaling $68,185.

The Platinum Series Group refined the Grand Cherokee Summit’s appearance with body-color mirror caps, door handles, side sills, and lower bumpers, adding a platinum chrome finish. Inside, the Summit trim boasted premium materials such as leather, genuine wood, aluminum accents, and simulated suede headliners. The interior’s Indigo and Ski Gray color scheme, quilted seat bolsters, and the wood-and-leather steering wheel imparted a luxury feel, although the aging interior and old-fashioned switchgear signaled the need for a redesign.

On the other hand, the 2021 Honda Passport looked like a shortened version of the Honda Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. The resemblance was clear both outside and inside the cabin. The Passport retained Honda’s characteristic “button shifter” design for the automatic transmission, which some found awkward. However, the Passport offered a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout.

The Passport came in Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims. The Sport included features like 20-inch alloy wheels, LED fog lights, push-button start, tri-zone climate control, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L trim added leather upholstery, a power moonroof, a power rear liftgate, and more power-adjustable seating. The Touring trim featured front-and-rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, upgraded stereo, navigation, and a WiFi hotspot. The top-tier Elite trim introduced heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine generating 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offering a towing capacity of up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds, though this came with a fuel economy of just 17 mpg in combined driving.

The V8 also included cylinder deactivation technology for better fuel efficiency during highway driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system included a two-speed transfer case, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management with multiple drive modes. The Summit trim's Quadra-Lift air suspension allowed for variable ground clearance, enhancing both on- and off-road capability. Despite some ride wobbliness and high fuel consumption in city driving, the Grand Cherokee offered a tight turning radius and effective braking.

Conversely, the 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, managed by a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport came standard with front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. It provided robust acceleration with capable power management. The AWD Passport also featured Intelligent Traction Management for different terrains and had an 8.1-inch ground clearance. The Passport offered a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds with AWD and up to 3,500 pounds with FWD.

While the Passport wasn't designed for rugged off-road trails, its suspension struck a good balance between comfort and refined handling, catering well to daily commuters and weekend adventurers.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit’s interior featured flat, firm seats with plenty of support, wrapped in quilted and perforated leather. The Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package, though costly, added to its luxurious feel. Front seats offered eight-way power adjustments with heating and ventilation. However, controls for these features were integrated into the touchscreen infotainment system, increasing distraction potential.

The rear seats provided good comfort but suffered from limited legroom for taller passengers. An optional rear-seat entertainment system with folding seatback screens added to a sense of claustrophobia. Despite adequate interior storage, practical options were limited when the rear-seat entertainment system was included. The rear cargo area offered 36.3 cubic feet of space, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was relatively modest for its class.

In contrast, the Honda Passport offered significant cargo space with 100.8 cubic feet available when rear seats were folded and up to 50.5 cubic feet with them in use. It also included an additional 2.5 cubic feet of under-floor storage. Higher trims featured power and hands-free liftgates. The upright seating position in the Passport provided excellent road visibility, with plenty of headroom and legroom for rear seat passengers. Both front and rear seats had deep in-door pockets for additional storage.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came with the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface, fast response, and clear graphics. It featured navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Amazon Alexa integration. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, Travel Link services, and a year of free SiriusXM Guardian services offering remote access and emergency assistance. The Grand Cherokee’s nine-speaker Alpine or 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound systems provided excellent audio experiences. However, other than its infotainment and driving assistance features, the Grand Cherokee leaned towards simpler, more basic technology.

In comparison, the 2021 Honda Passport standardized Android Auto and Apple CarPlay across all trims, accessed via an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the system suffered from dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a poorly designed volume dial. Despite this, the inclusion of these connectivity features without needing to upgrade trims was seen as a positive step forward.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had a good overall rating with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), earning five stars for 4WD models and four stars for 2WD variants. However, its performance in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests was less impressive, receiving “Marginal” and “Poor” ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact tests. The Grand Cherokee also received "Poor" headlight ratings unless upgraded. The Summit trim came with comprehensive safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Jeep also offered parking assistance systems, though it could use more advanced camera systems for better visibility.

The 2021 Honda Passport was well-equipped with standard safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The NHTSA awarded the Passport a five-star overall rating, and the IIHS gave it top "Good" scores in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" rating in the passenger-side small overlap front crash test. The Passport also received "Acceptable" ratings for its headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use and an "Advanced" rating for front crash prevention tech.