2021 Toyota 4Runner 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 pushed to the corners under flared fenders. This design contributed significantly to its ongoing success, making it a versatile SUV that could be categorized as mainstream, luxury, or performance-oriented. The lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, and the performance-focused SRT and Trackhawk models. For 2021, minor updates were made to the Laredo and Limited trims, and new versions like the Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition were introduced. Pricing spanned from about $35,000 to nearly $90,000.

Our test vehicle, the Summit trim, came equipped with a 5.7-liter V8 engine, 4WD, and several premium packages, bringing the MSRP to $68,185. The Platinum Series Group enhanced the Summit's appearance with body-color mirror caps, door handles, and a platinum chrome finish. Inside, the Summit featured premium leather, genuine wood, real aluminum, and simulated suede, creating a luxurious cabin. However, the interior showed signs of aging with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits, indicating a need for a redesign.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner, last redesigned 12 years ago, maintained its rugged charm despite its age. While not conventionally attractive, its two-box body with flared fenders and trapezoidal wheel arches exuded balanced proportions and undeniable utility. The 4Runner's design aged well, resembling a reliable tool that didn't require frequent updates. Toyota offered the 4Runner in various trims, including SR5, TRD Off-Road, Limited, and TRD Pro, with special editions like the Trail Special Edition, Venture Special Edition, and Nightshade Special Edition. Pricing ranged from $36,950 for the SR5 RWD to $50,570 for the TRD Pro 4WD.

Our test vehicle, the Trail Special Edition, was priced at $38,565 for the RWD model, with an additional $1,875 for 4WD. It featured a premium audio upgrade, a cargo cover, and a TRD front skid plate, bringing the total to $43,729. Toyota planned to build only 4,000 units of this edition, available in white, black, Cement (gray), and Army Green. The Trail Special Edition included dark gray TRD Off-Road wheels and a Yakima RoadWarrior rooftop cargo basket. Inside, it featured black cloth upholstery with tan stitching, all-weather floor mats, a sliding rear cargo tray, and a custom-made 40-quart cooler.

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 both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive options. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 engine was available, delivering 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 engine featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it achieved only 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee Summit also came with a Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management, along with a Quadra-Lift air suspension offering 4.1 inches of variability.

During testing, the Grand Cherokee Summit demonstrated impressive off-road capabilities, effortlessly navigating trails and providing a smooth ride on highways. However, the V8 engine consumed a lot of fuel in city driving, and the air suspension could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces. The Grand Cherokee's tight turning radius was useful in both parking lots and off-road environments, and the brakes performed well in various driving situations. Visibility was generally good, though the SUV could benefit from surround-view and forward-view camera systems.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner, equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine, produced 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. It offered part-time 4WD with manual shifting into 4-Hi or 4-Lo, and had a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds. The Trail Special Edition featured A-Trac, an off-road traction control system, which proved effective during testing at Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreational Area. The 4Runner tackled mud, hills, and ruts with ease, and higher trims like the TRD Off-Road and TRD Pro offered additional off-road features such as a locking rear differential, Multi-Terrain Select, and Crawl Control.

On paved roads, the 4Runner felt slow, heavy, and clunky, with challenging steering and braking in stop-and-go traffic. These characteristics were partly due to the SUV's age and its authentic truck-like design. The 4Runner's fuel economy was also poor, averaging 16.8 mpg during testing, with an EPA rating of 17 mpg in combined driving. Despite its drawbacks on pavement, the 4Runner's off-road capabilities and rugged charm made it a favorite among enthusiasts.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with flat, firm, and supportive seats, wrapped in quilted and perforated leather. Both 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 seat provided comfort but had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia, though large side windows, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, and light gray leather upholstery helped alleviate this feeling. Interior storage was adequate, though the rear-seat entertainment system's DVD/Blu-Ray player took up much of the center console bin.

The Grand Cherokee offered 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, with additional storage bins around the spare tire and a power liftgate closing button for convenience. Folding the second-row seats was easy, providing a maximum cargo space of 68.3 cubic feet, which was relatively small for a midsize SUV.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner sat high off the ground, making it challenging for shorter individuals to climb aboard without running boards. Once inside, the 4Runner offered comfortable front and rear seats with proper support. The rear seat provided generous legroom, good visibility, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The 4Runner's sunroof, power windows, and lowerable rear tailgate glass created an open-air feeling similar to a Jeep Wrangler.

A third-row seat was available, though our test vehicle featured a sliding cargo deck with a 440-pound capacity, which took up some cargo volume but proved useful for various activities. The 4Runner offered up to 47.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 89.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. Combined with the Trail Special Edition's roof rack, the 4Runner provided ample storage for adventures.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, which offered a nearly flawless user experience with fast response times, pleasing graphics, and separate primary stereo controls. Highlights 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, along with a year of free SiriusXM Guardian services, which included remote access to locks and engine starting, vehicle finder, SOS emergency calling, and more.

The Grand Cherokee's voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of many features through voice commands. The Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, delivering excellent sound quality. Despite its age, the Grand Cherokee's infotainment system remained impressive, though it lacked some of the advanced digital features expected in newer models.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner Trail Special Edition, positioned lower on the trim ladder, offered basic technology features. It included a windshield wiper de-icer system and a 120-volt AC power outlet in the cargo area. The standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featured Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and five USB ports. It also came with a year of free Safety Connect subscription services and a three-month trial of WiFi Connect.

The premium audio upgrade added dynamic navigation, dynamic point-of-interest search, dynamic voice recognition, and a one-year subscription to Destination Assist concierge services. The infotainment system's voice recognition technology was effective, and the navigation map included main trails at Hungry Valley. Physical shortcut buttons and knobs made the system easy to use, even while wearing gloves. Though the 8-inch screen was small, the system's functionality compensated for its size.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. While it received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 4WD models, the 2WD version earned only four stars due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Grand Cherokee a "Marginal" rating for driver protection and a "Poor" rating for front passenger protection in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The standard headlights also received a "Poor" rating unless upgraded to high-intensity discharge headlights with automatic high-beam assist.

The Grand Cherokee Summit came with the ProTech II Package, which included 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. These features worked well, and the adaptive cruise control offered both traditional and distance-maintenance modes. The Grand Cherokee also had a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance for parallel and perpendicular spaces.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, it lacked blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning, which were not available on the 4Runner. The NHTSA gave the 4Runner a three-star rating for front passenger protection in frontal-impact crashes and a three-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS rated the 4Runner's roof crush strength as "Good" but gave it a "Marginal" rating for driver protection in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions.