2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Lincoln Navigator

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
$35,460MSRP
Overview
Overview
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2021 Lincoln Navigator
2021 Lincoln Navigator
$76,705MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
$35,460MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Lincoln Navigator
$76,705MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is 7.2 out of 10, while the 2021 Lincoln Navigator scores 7.7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2021 Lincoln Navigator is the better choice, offering superior luxury, space, and technology, making it a more refined and powerful option for those seeking a high-end SUV.

Overview

MSRP

$35,460

MSRP

$76,705

Average price

$28,766

Average price

$52,916

Listings

5255

Listings

489
Ratings & Reviews
User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.2 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.7 out of 10
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Premium interior materials
  • Great handling
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
  • Advanced safety features are not standard
Pros
  • Quiet cabin
  • Premium interior materials
  • Powerful engine
Cons
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Sluggish touchscreen response

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Reviews Summary

There is a redesigned 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee coming soon—and this isn’t it. In a confusing turn of events, the all-new 2021 Grand Cherokee L is a three-row SUV, while this decade-old 2021 Grand Cherokee is a two-row SUV. Now, with that clear-as-mud distinction between very different vehicles with nearly identical names, let’s examine why you still might want to try the old Grand Cherokee, and why you might wish to wait.

2021 Lincoln Navigator Reviews Summary

Full-size SUVs like the Lincoln Navigator represent the smallest slice of the luxury SUV market. They're the heaviest, hugest, and fanciest people movers sold by mainstream automakers—and you can count them all on two hands. The Navigator, a popular nameplate since 1998, was redesigned in dramatic fashion for 2018. In its fourth model year, this Navigator still delights us as we test newer competitors costing at or above its $77,000 starting price. Foreign nameplates offer no equal to the Navigator, and it's not for sheer size or a desire to lift up Lincoln that we say this is one of the best American vehicles, among both trucks and cars, ever made.
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Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.6L 295 hp V6

Engine

3.5L 450 hp V6

Drive Train

4X2

Drive Train

4X2

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

8

Horsepower

295 hp @ 6400 rpm

Horsepower

450 hp @ 5500 rpm

MPG City

19

MPG City

16

MPG Highway

26

MPG Highway

22
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
$35,460MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Lincoln Navigator
2021 Lincoln Navigator
$76,705MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
$35,460MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Lincoln Navigator
$76,705MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is 7.2 out of 10, while the 2021 Lincoln Navigator scores 7.7 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2021 Lincoln Navigator is the better choice, offering superior luxury, space, and technology, making it a more refined and powerful option for those seeking a high-end SUV.

Overview
MSRP
$35,460
$76,705
Average price
$28,766
$52,916
Listings
Ratings & Reviews
User reviews
4.6
4.9
Expert reviews

7.2 out of 10

Read full review

7.7 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Premium interior materials
  • Great handling
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
  • Advanced safety features are not standard
Pros
  • Quiet cabin
  • Premium interior materials
  • Powerful engine
Cons
  • Poor fuel economy
  • Sluggish touchscreen response
Summary
There is a redesigned 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee coming soon—and this isn’t it. In a confusing turn of events, the all-new 2021 Grand Cherokee L is a three-row SUV, while this decade-old 2021 Grand Cherokee is a two-row SUV. Now, with that clear-as-mud distinction between very different vehicles with nearly identical names, let’s examine why you still might want to try the old Grand Cherokee, and why you might wish to wait.
Full-size SUVs like the Lincoln Navigator represent the smallest slice of the luxury SUV market. They're the heaviest, hugest, and fanciest people movers sold by mainstream automakers—and you can count them all on two hands. The Navigator, a popular nameplate since 1998, was redesigned in dramatic fashion for 2018. In its fourth model year, this Navigator still delights us as we test newer competitors costing at or above its $77,000 starting price. Foreign nameplates offer no equal to the Navigator, and it's not for sheer size or a desire to lift up Lincoln that we say this is one of the best American vehicles, among both trucks and cars, ever made.
Video
No video found
No video found
Popular Features & Specs
Engine
3.6L 295 hp V6
3.5L 450 hp V6
Drive Train
4X2
4X2
Seating Capacity
5
8
Horsepower
295 hp @ 6400 rpm
450 hp @ 5500 rpm
MPG City
19
16
MPG Highway
26
22
Look and feel
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
9/10
2021 Lincoln Navigator
9/10

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless design, continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. It balanced rugged utility and upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels under flared fenders, making it a quintessential SUV. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its enduring success, offering a blend of mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV characteristics. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk models. The 2021 updates included minor tweaks for the Laredo and Limited, and the introduction of the Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition. Prices spanned from around $35,000 to nearly $90,000.

Our test vehicle, a Summit trim, came with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, 4WD, and several premium packages, totaling $68,185. The Platinum Series Group enhanced the Summit's appearance with body-color accents and platinum chrome finishes. Inside, the Summit featured premium leather, genuine wood, aluminum, and simulated suede, with a striking Indigo and Ski Gray color scheme. However, the interior showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits, indicating a need for a redesign.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator, unlike its predecessors, distinguished itself from the Ford Expedition with unique design elements and luxurious features. The Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,000, exuded elegance and understatement despite its massive size and 22-inch wheels. The grille, headlights, and taillights featured simple rectilinear shapes, with tasteful chrome accents. Our Pristine White test vehicle, with a white-painted grille, black wheels, and illuminated Lincoln logo, performed admirably during winter tests in Connecticut and Massachusetts. The Navigator's light show upon unlocking or locking added a touch of sophistication.

Inside, the Navigator impressed with seven color palettes, including the Slate Gray of our test vehicle. The wood trim, push-button gear selector, floating center console, and minimalist digital instrument panel showcased a modern and muted design. Materials were high-quality, and panel gaps were tight. The Black Label trims offered even more luxurious textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats, with 30-way adjustments, provided exceptional comfort. While the Navigator's ride wasn't as supple as the Escalade's, its low-end thrust and quiet cabin made it a refined and powerful highway cruiser.

Performance
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
8/10
2021 Lincoln Navigator
8/10

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 a satisfying driving experience. 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. The V8's cylinder deactivation technology improved fuel efficiency, though it still averaged 17 mpg in combined driving. The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Terrain traction management made the Grand Cherokee capable off-road. However, the V8's fuel consumption and occasional bouncy ride were drawbacks.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, the Navigator felt sprightly despite its size. The 4WD system was smooth and responsive, with a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. Fuel economy was poor, averaging in the teens, but the Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a comfortable ride. The steering and brakes lacked the precision of the Escalade, but the Navigator's low-end thrust and quiet cabin made it a refined highway cruiser.

Form and function
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
7/10
2021 Lincoln Navigator
8/10

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured flat, firm, and supportive seats with a heated steering wheel. The Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package added luxurious leather and interior panels. 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. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. Cargo space was 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. Practical storage was limited, but the power liftgate and folding seats were convenient.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample space for six adults, with a possible total of eight passengers. The boxy design provided generous cargo space, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 behind the second, and 103 in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more storage. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, adding convenience. The Navigator Reserve featured heated rear seats and a three-zone climate system. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with excellent visibility. However, parking was challenging due to the vehicle's size, despite the 360-degree cameras.

Technology
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
7/10
2021 Lincoln Navigator
7/10

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a nearly flawless user experience. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM services were included, with six months of satellite radio and five years of Traffic Plus and Travel Link services. The voice recognition technology worked well, and the 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system sounded terrific. However, the Grand Cherokee was "tech lite," offering essential features without much digital advancement.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's 10-inch touchscreen felt small compared to newer models. The infotainment system lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the cameras were low-resolution. However, the software was intuitive, with fast and accurate voice recognition. The Navigator offered 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, a smartwatch app, and the ability to use a smartphone as the ignition key. Remote app functions were included for five years, with SiriusXM traffic data for six years. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connections. The Navigator's technology was simple and user-friendly.

Safety
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
4/10
2021 Lincoln Navigator
8/10

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, but only four stars for 2WD models due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" for driver-side small-overlap frontal impacts and "Poor" for passenger-side impacts. The headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded. The Summit trim included numerous safety features, such as 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. The Grand Cherokee also offered a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with four stars for 4WD models and three stars for RWD models in rollover resistance. The IIHS had not rated the Navigator. The Navigator offered automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams as standard features. Adaptive cruise control was optional, though the Navigator's self-steering capabilities were not as advanced as competitors.

Cost Effectiveness
2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee
8/10
2021 Lincoln Navigator
6/10
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