2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Nissan Murano

The 2021 Nissan Murano had a design that was once ahead of its time, but by 2021, its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end had become standard in car design. Its interior was more conservative, focusing on comfort and ease of use, making it an ideal choice for commutes and road trips. The Murano's cabin was designed with practicality in mind, ensuring that all controls were easily accessible, minimizing any learning curve for new drivers.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L, a new seven-passenger model, was an extended version of the upcoming redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee. It featured a third-row seat and more cargo volume, making it a versatile option for families. The Grand Cherokee L's styling was a strong selling point, with its signature seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches. The SUV was available in multiple trims, ranging from Laredo to Summit Reserve, with prices starting at $36,995 and going up to $64,235. The Summit trim, in particular, offered luxurious features like quilted leather and real wood trim, although some interior materials did not meet the high price expectations.

The 2021 Nissan Murano was equipped with a single engine option: a 3.5-liter V6 producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and came with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it great for city driving, but the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. The Murano had a comfortable ride, capable of handling corners well and absorbing road bumps, making it an excellent choice for long commutes and road trips. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, which was lower than many other midsize SUVs.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or three different 4WD systems. The V6 had a maximum tow rating of 6,200 pounds and an EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. An optional 5.7-liter V8 engine was available for higher trims, producing 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a towing capacity of 7,200 pounds but a lower fuel economy of 17 mpg combined. The Grand Cherokee L's V6 provided brisk acceleration but was loud when revved. The eight-speed automatic transmission was generally well-behaved, although it sometimes resisted downshifts to improve fuel economy. The SUV's Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension and various off-road modes made it capable of handling rough terrain, with a maximum ground clearance of 10.9 inches and 24 inches of water fording capability.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the seats in use. While this was less than some competitors, the Murano made up for it with ease of use, featuring a traditional shifter design and a center console with plenty of trays and cubbies. The Murano excelled in providing ample headroom and legroom for both front and second-row passengers, with the second-row seats offering partial reclining functionality.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L provided a comfortable experience, especially in the Summit trim, which featured heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats with 12-way power adjustment, a heated steering wheel, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. However, the dashboard vents were too small, making it difficult to cool the cabin quickly. The Grand Cherokee L's second-row captain's chairs offered plenty of legroom and comfort, with manual side window sunshades for added convenience. The third row was also comfortable for most adults, with large side windows providing a good view. Cargo space behind the third row measured 17.2 cubic feet, expanding to 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.6 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that was user-friendly, featuring a sensible menu layout and hard buttons and dials for easy navigation. It also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard. Available tech features included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured the latest Uconnect 5 infotainment system, which offered faster response times and an improved user experience. Two touchscreen sizes were available: 8.4-inch and 10.1-inch with navigation. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Grand Cherokee L also offered a natural voice-recognition system and an optional 19-speaker McIntosh high-end audio system. Additional tech features included 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.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features as part of Nissan Safety Shield 360. This included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional features like a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors were available as options.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L introduced Active Driving Assist, a hands-on driving-assistance system that combined adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. While the system worked well, the steering assist felt artificial. The Grand Cherokee L also featured Intersection Collision Assist, which could detect threats from either side at intersections and apply the brakes if necessary. Other available driver aids included Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist. As of the review, crash-test ratings were unavailable, but the new model was expected to improve upon the old Grand Cherokee's safety performance.