2021 Lexus RX vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a timelessly styled SUV that continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels, flared fenders, and a balanced design that defined what an SUV should look like if it wasn't a Jeep Wrangler. This appealing design contributed significantly to the Grand Cherokee’s ongoing success, making it a versatile vehicle that could be categorized as a mainstream, luxury, or performance SUV.

The Grand Cherokee lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk models. For 2021, the Laredo and Limited received minor updates, and new versions like the Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition were introduced. Pricing spanned from about $35,000 to nearly $90,000. The Summit trim, equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine and four-wheel drive, featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum in its interior, though some elements showed signs of aging.

The 2021 Lexus RX showcased the modern design aesthetic of Lexus, with a large grille, angular headlamps, a shapely body, and a floating roof. The interior featured sumptuous seating, perforated leather upholstery, and a somewhat bland center console. Lexus offered the RX in five variants: RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid, each catering to different needs, from base models to performance-focused and extended-body versions with third-row seating.

The RX retained the design changes made in 2020, including elongated headlights and a revised front end. Standard features included 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and rear privacy glass, with available upgrades like 20-inch wheels and triple-beam LED headlights. The F Sport Appearance package added sporty elements like 20-inch wheels, black mirrors, and performance dampers. The interior was well-appointed, even in the base model, with features like NuLuxe-trimmed seats and power-adjustable front seats. However, the center console design and infotainment system were somewhat dated.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 6,200 pounds and offered rear or all-wheel drive. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine delivered 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 also featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it achieved only 17 mpg combined.

The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system included a two-speed transfer case, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management with various settings. The Summit trim featured a Quadra-Lift air suspension, providing 4.1 inches of variability for improved efficiency and off-road capability. The Grand Cherokee was responsive and fairly quiet during daily driving, though the V8 consumed a lot of fuel in the city. Its tight turning radius and effective brakes made it practical for both urban and off-road environments.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The front-wheel-drive RX 350 was the most fuel-efficient, achieving 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 23 mpg combined. All-wheel-drive and RXL models had slightly lower fuel economy. The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid combined a 3.5-liter V6 with three electric motors, producing 308 hp and achieving up to 31 mpg in the city.

The RX's suspension and handling were improved for 2020, making it more dynamic. The F Sport Handling package added adaptive variable suspension and sportier features. The RX was a comfortable cruiser, with the F Sport model offering a bit more excitement. It had a top speed of 124 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 to 7.9 seconds, depending on the drivetrain. The RX Hybrid was similarly quick but had a lower top speed of 112 mph.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather, genuine wood, and a heated steering wheel. Both front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia.

Interior storage was adequate, but the rear-seat entertainment system took up much of the center console space. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, with additional storage bins around the spare tire. Folding the second-row seats was easy, and maximum cargo space was 68.3 cubic feet, which was relatively small for a midsize SUV.

The 2021 Lexus RX offered a functional interior with seating for five in the two-row models and six or seven in the three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid. Front and second-row seats provided ample space, but the third row was tight. The RX had 18.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, expanding to 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row version had just 7.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 23 cubic feet behind the second, and 58.5 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The RX's cargo space was less than that of similarly sized vehicles like the Nissan Murano and Honda CR-V. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free liftgate available.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a nearly flawless user experience, fast response, and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link services, with SiriusXM Guardian offering remote access and emergency services.

The Grand Cherokee's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Other tech features included advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) and sophisticated 4WD systems, though the Grand Cherokee was otherwise "tech lite."

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a WiFi hotspot, six USB ports, and a nine-speaker sound system. Upgrades included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports, a moonroof, wireless charging, navigation, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson audio system.

The RX's infotainment system had a touchpad controller, which was not as refined as some competitors' systems. Steering-wheel controls were easy to use, but the RX lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. It received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 4WD models, but only four stars for 2WD models due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for small-overlap frontal-impact collisions.

The Grand Cherokee offered numerous safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. It also had a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.

The 2021 Lexus RX received the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, with Good marks on crashworthiness tests. The NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall and five stars for side-impact crashworthiness.

The RX came with a rearview camera, 10 airbags, enhanced vehicle stability control, blind-spot monitoring, and Lexus Safety System+ 2.0, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-trace assist, and road sign assist. The RX lacked hands-off piloting-like software found in some competitors.