2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2019, continued to carry over its design changes into 2021. Inspired by the iconic Wrangler SUV, it featured a boxy profile, circular headlights, and an upright seven-slat grille. Inside, the Renegade boasted a modern, functional cabin design with an upright center stack, offering trims like Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. Each trim provided a unique set of features, from push-button start and dual-zone climate control in the Sport to leather upholstery and heated front seats in the Limited.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a new seven-passenger model, was based on the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee. It featured an extended-length version with a third-row seat and more cargo volume. The Grand Cherokee L's styling was instantly identifiable as a Jeep, with its signature seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches. Available in Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims, the Grand Cherokee L offered a range of features, including quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and advanced technology. The Summit trim, in particular, showcased a luxurious interior with a 19-speaker McIntosh premium audio system.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a base 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. An upgraded turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine offered 177 hp and 210 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD). The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with a composed suspension and impressive maneuverability in tight spaces. The Trailhawk trim, with its 8.7 inches of ground clearance and off-road suspension, was particularly capable on trails.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive (RWD) or three different 4WD systems. The V6 engine offered brisk acceleration but was loud when revved. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine, available only with Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims, produced 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, increasing towing capacity to 7,200 pounds. The Grand Cherokee L's Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension provided up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of tackling challenging terrain. The Summit trim's Quadra-Drive II 4WD system included an electronic locking differential and a low-range transfer case setting.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. Its tall, boxy design provided ample headroom in both rows, with great legroom in the front seats and suitable space for adults in the rear. The Renegade featured helpful storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold completely forward for added space.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, especially in Summit trim, provided heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row captain's chairs offered plenty of legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades. The third-row seat was comfortable for all but the tallest adults. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade featured a standard 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Kenwood premium audio system.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L employed the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, available with 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch touchscreens. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Grand Cherokee L also offered a 19-speaker McIntosh audio system, a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, a thermal-imaging night vision system, and a Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring system.

For 2021, the Jeep Renegade made previously optional safety features standard, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and front and rear parking sensors were available as options. The Renegade received a four-star rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system combining adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist, and a complete package of driving assistance and collision avoidance technologies. Crash-test ratings were unavailable at the time of review, but improvements were expected over the old Grand Cherokee.