2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a timelessly styled SUV that combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication. Its design, featuring big wheels pushed to the corners under flared fenders, contributed significantly to its continued success. The Grand Cherokee defied easy categorization, fitting into mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV segments. 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 Summit trim, in particular, offered a premium look with body-color mirror caps, door handles, and a platinum chrome finish. Inside, the Summit's cabin featured premium leather, genuine wood, real aluminum, and simulated suede, creating a luxurious feel despite some aging interior elements.

In contrast, the 2022 Honda Odyssey was designed with family convenience in mind. Its sliding side doors made loading children into rear-facing seats easy, and the third-row seat provided ample comfort for adults. The Odyssey's design included kinked sliding doors and dramatic hockey-stick character lines, giving it a sense of style. The Elite trim level featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels and quality leather upholstery. The interior was spacious, with a low console between the front seats and plenty of storage space. The Odyssey's Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The cargo space was impressive, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine powered the rear or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and could tow up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 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 still averaged 17 mpg in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Terrain traction management made it capable off-road. The Summit trim offered a comfortable and responsive driving experience, though it could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This front-wheel-drive minivan used a 10-speed automatic transmission with pushbutton controls. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain. The Odyssey's fuel economy was estimated at 22 mpg in combined driving. During testing, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. The Odyssey's driving character was enjoyable, with quick acceleration, responsive handling, and good composure on mountain roads. However, the brakes tended to heat up and produce pedal vibration during repeated use on downhill grades, which could be problematic when carrying a full load of passengers.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, leather-wrapped interior panels, and a heated steering wheel. Both front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The rear seat was comfortable but had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to a sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.3 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded. Interior storage was adequate, though the rear-seat entertainment system took up much of the center console bin space.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey offered easy access with wide-opening doors and a lower ride height. The Elite trim featured quality leather, supportive front seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system. The Odyssey's interior had numerous storage spaces, including shelving in the front door panels and a floor tray between the dashboard and center console. The second-row seats were comfortable, with plenty of legroom and a fold-down center section with cupholders. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, with good leg support and foot room. The Odyssey provided 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row and up to 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, which offered a nearly flawless user experience, fast response to inputs, and pleasing touchscreen graphics. Highlights included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. The system also included SiriusXM services and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Grand Cherokee's voice recognition technology worked well, and the vehicle offered advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services, including WiFi hotspot access. The Odyssey also featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. However, the Odyssey's infotainment system was increasingly outclassed by rivals, with a small touchscreen and a lack of a tuning knob for the stereo. The embedded navigation system required specific voice commands and was less user-friendly than smartphone-based navigation.

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 the 4WD model, but the 2WD model received a four-star rating 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 Grand Cherokee Summit came with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was better equipped for safety, with Honda Sensing standard on all trims. This included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The Odyssey also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with occasional false warnings and abrupt responses. The Odyssey received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS.