2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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 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 model introduced minor updates and new editions, with prices ranging from $35,000 to nearly $90,000. The Summit trim, with its 5.7-liter V8 engine and luxurious interior, exemplified the Grand Cherokee's premium appeal, though its aging interior design signaled a need for a redesign.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned in 2020, maintained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The interior, especially in higher trims, offered a fresher look compared to the smaller Crosstrek. The Premium trim and above featured an 11.6-inch portrait display, enhancing the modern feel. Quality materials and thoughtful design elements, such as the StarTex upholstery in the Onyx Edition XT, added to the Outback's appeal. The exterior design remained smooth and plain, with practical gray cladding for protection. The Outback's lifted wagon design made it a versatile alternative to typical crossovers and SUVs, maintaining a consistent appearance over the years.

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. This setup allowed for 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. The V8 also featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension enhanced the Grand Cherokee's off-road capabilities, providing a smooth and responsive driving experience. However, the V8's fuel consumption and occasional bounciness on uneven surfaces were drawbacks.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base engine, a 2.5-liter flat-four, produced 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This engine struggled to move the Outback efficiently, especially when fully loaded. The XT models, with a 2.4-liter turbocharged flat-four engine, offered a significant improvement, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The turbo engine provided better performance and fuel efficiency, with an EPA-estimated 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. The Outback's handling was designed for comfort, with long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance for off-road capability. Subaru's AWD system and X-Mode driving modes further enhanced its off-road performance, making it a reliable choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, genuine wood, and real aluminum accents. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the Uconnect infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seats were comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. However, the rear-seat entertainment system reduced interior storage space, and the overall cargo capacity was modest for a midsize SUV.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered ample interior space, with 76 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, free of intrusive elements. The Outback provided excellent headroom and legroom in all seating positions, with comfortable and supportive seats. Visibility was superb, thanks to thin pillars and large windows. Storage options included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The Outback's standard roof rails with integrated crossbars were a standout feature, offering convenience and practicality.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a nearly flawless user experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. The system's voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of various features through voice commands. The Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, providing excellent sound quality. However, the Grand Cherokee's overall technology offering was considered "tech lite," focusing on essential features.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system, while functional, appeared outdated with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The single large screen on higher trims was more cohesive and useful than the dual-screen setup on the base model. Standard features included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with optional navigation available. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, provided adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be less effective in certain conditions compared to systems that also use radar.

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 the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings for small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. 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 parking assistance systems and a backup camera.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on higher trims, and rear emergency braking was standard on select models. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS, with top ratings in all crash tests and for headlights, as well as a "Superior" rating for forward emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded the Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.