2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was designed to stand out from the crowd of midsize SUVs. Its front end, while less dramatic than some of Toyota's other models, still asserted itself with wide headlights, a long hood, and a bold, trapezoidal grille. Along the sides, a distinct character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car added flair. At the back, the Highlander's taillights resembled those of a Lexus, giving it a more upscale vibe. Overall, it projected a longer and lower appearance compared to its predecessor without sacrificing any of its roomy dimensions.

For 2021, Toyota introduced the XSE trim, giving the Highlander a sportier look with a redesigned front fascia, 20-inch black accented wheels, and a more aggressive stance. Although it gave an impression of sportiness, the XSE mostly offered suspension tuning and an appearance package rather than significant performance enhancements. The Limited trim, positioned just below the Platinum, featured chrome roof rails and luxury-oriented exterior accents.

Inside the Highlander Limited, the sense of luxury continued. Impeccable fit and finish paired with tan leather seats and dark brown accents provided a premium feel. Wood details, though not real, added to the upscale cabin environment, achieving a near-flawless interior experience that prioritized comfort and convenience over sportiness.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L shared its design with the upcoming 2022 model but was a completely new entry, offering an extended-length version with three rows. Jeep aimed to sell the Grand Cherokee L based on its strong visual appeal, with familiar Jeep design elements like the seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches. There were no awkward lines or odd proportions—this SUV looked superb across all trim levels.

Jeep's Grand Cherokee L came in various trims, with our test model being the Summit. It offered a mix of high-end features such as quilted and perforated leather, real wood trim, and abundant technology. Despite some interior materials not justifying the high-end price tag, the overall redesigned interior was a substantial improvement compared to its predecessor.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered the choice between front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. Though not designed for speed, it provided enough power for confident highway merging and smooth, predictable performance. When comparing to competitors, it held its own, matching most SUVs in its class in horsepower and torque, although it lagged behind the Ford Explorer ST in terms of performance capabilities.

The Highlander XSE introduced minor suspension tweaks, including higher-rated springs and retuned shock absorbers, designed to add a touch of driving excitement without significantly changing its core comfort-oriented nature.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine with 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the option for rear-wheel drive or several 4WD systems. It also offered an optional 5.7-liter V8 engine on select trims, producing 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, enhancing its towing capacity to 7,200 pounds but reducing fuel efficiency.

Our V6-equipped test vehicle provided brisk acceleration, although it could get loud when pushed. The eight-speed transmission favored fuel economy with a cautious approach to downshifting. The Quadra-Lift adaptive air suspension offered adjustments for various off-road conditions, giving the Jeep a significant edge in rugged terrain capabilities that typical crossovers would struggle with.

The Grand Cherokee L’s Sport mode offered better ride control, while the Selec-Terrain system provided modes for Snow, Mud/Sand, and Rock, enhancing the Jeep's off-road prowess. Surpassing the Highlander in off-road ability, the Grand Cherokee L demonstrated capable handling and a commendable ride quality during daily drives.

The Highlander focused on comfort and convenience with multiple functional shelf spaces and substantial legroom in the second row. The third row offered marginal space suitable for adults only if the middle passengers compromised on their comfort. Notably, the placement of rear-seat climate control vents on the ceiling drew some criticism, potentially causing discomfort for middle-row occupants.

Cargo capacity behind the third row was 16 cubic feet, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row down, and maxing out at 84.3 cubic feet with both rows folded. These figures placed it roughly on par with key competitors, although it didn't match the expansive storage offered by minivans.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit trim delivered a high-comfort experience with heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, and a four-zone automatic climate control system. The second-row captain’s chairs were notably comfortable, with features like manual side window sunshades. Crucially for families, the second-row seats could tip and slide even with child seats installed, accommodating easier third-row access. The third-row seats offered space competitive within its segment, making it suitable even for taller occupants.

In terms of cargo capacity, the Grand Cherokee L provided 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum cargo space of 84.6 cubic feet behind the front seats. This slight edge in cargo volume over the Highlander made it a stronger contender for families needing extra storage space.

The Highlander featured an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, with an optional 12.3-inch unit available on Limited and standard on Platinum. While the larger screen was visually appealing, it didn't utilize its full width for all functions. Navigation, a paid option, exhibited some limitations, particularly in finding points of interest compared to Google Maps. Standard features included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, providing essential connectivity.

Meanwhile, the Grand Cherokee L showcased Jeep’s latest Uconnect 5 system with either an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen. Our test vehicle had the larger screen, which, despite some initial user experience quirks, offered comprehensive features after a short acclimation period. Highlights included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa compatibility, satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a natural voice-recognition system.

Furthermore, the Jeep presented advanced tech options like a 10.25-inch digital instrumentation panel, a digital rearview mirror, night vision system, and Fam Cam rear-seat monitoring. The optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system impressed audiophiles with its heavy bass performance, although its aesthetic clashed somewhat with the overall interior design.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander upped its safety game with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. Other safety features included road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. These comprehensive safety features contributed to its five-star NHTSA rating and IIHS Top Safety Pick+ designation.

Jeep introduced Active Driving Assist in the Grand Cherokee L, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance. While functional, it sometimes felt overly responsive or artificial. This system was set to evolve into a hands-free setup similar to GM's Super Cruise. Additionally, Intersection Collision Assist added another layer of safety by detecting cross-traffic at intersections and braking when necessary.

Alongside these cutting-edge systems, the Grand Cherokee L offered park assist with Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist technology. As of this review, official crash-test ratings were still pending, but improvements over the previous Grand Cherokee were anticipated given the updated structure and technology.