2021 Toyota Venza vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2021 Toyota Venza was a sleek and stylish SUV, shorter and closer to the ground than the Toyota RAV4, yet sharing the same wheelbase. Critics often remarked that the Venza resembled a Lexus, with its grille and elongated profile drawing comparisons to the Lexus LF-1 Limitless concept. Available in three trims—LE, XLE, and Limited—the Venza offered a range of seven paint colors and a host of standard features, including LED headlights, dual chrome-tipped exhaust, and 18-inch alloy wheels. The interior boasted a wireless charging pad, dual-zone climate control, and an 8-inch infotainment screen, with higher trims adding more luxurious touches like a 12.3-inch screen and a Star Gaze panoramic roof.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained its timeless design, blending rugged utility with upscale sophistication. The fourth-generation model, despite being over a decade old, continued to impress with its balanced aesthetics and purposeful flared fenders. The Grand Cherokee lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the luxurious Overland and Summit, and even included performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk models. Our test vehicle, the Summit trim, featured a 5.7-liter V8 engine, four-wheel drive, and premium interior materials like leather, wood, and aluminum. However, the interior design showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine paired with a lithium-ion battery pack and electric motors, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 pound-feet of torque. The electronically-controlled continuously-variable transmission (eCVT) provided smooth acceleration, though the engine noise was noticeable during rapid acceleration. The Venza's handling was confident and predictable, living up to Toyota's reputation for reliability. Its standout feature was its fuel efficiency, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined, far surpassing its competitors.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a standard 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, with an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 delivering 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. The V8 engine, paired with the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, provided a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds and a satisfying rumble. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Terrain traction management system made it a capable off-roader, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes enhanced its daily driving experience. However, the V8's fuel economy was a drawback, with an EPA rating of 17 mpg combined.

The 2021 Toyota Venza's interior was practical and well-appointed, with premium materials and a unique design. The center stack featured piano black capacitive buttons for climate and infotainment controls, while the deep center console offered ample storage and convenience features like a wireless charging pad. The Venza's seating was comfortable for both front and rear passengers, with more headroom and nearly equal shoulder and hip room compared to the RAV4. However, its cargo space was limited to 55.1 cubic feet, less than some competitors but sufficient for daily use.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit's interior was luxurious, with quilted and perforated leather seats, leather-wrapped panels, and genuine wood and aluminum accents. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seats were comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded flat, though interior storage was somewhat limited.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured an 8-inch infotainment system on the LE and XLE trims, with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited trim. The Entune system, while improved, was not the most user-friendly, requiring multiple menu trips for simple functions. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a six-speaker audio system, with a nine-speaker JBL premium audio system available on higher trims. Toyota also offered connected services like Safety Connect, Remote Connect, and Service Connect, providing roadside assistance, remote vehicle access, and maintenance data.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect 4C with Nav system was praised for its user experience, fast response, and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, Travel Link services, and Guardian remote access for a year. The voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. Despite its age, the Grand Cherokee's infotainment system remained impressive, though it lacked some of the advanced features expected in newer models.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite, including eight airbags, a rearview camera, hill start assist, parking distance sensors, and tire pressure monitoring. Additional features included a pre-collision warning system with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and road sign assist. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard, with an upgrade to automatic braking available on higher trims. The Venza's safety features performed well, though the lane-keeping assist tended to keep the SUV further to the right within the lane.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's safety ratings were a concern, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models but lower ratings from the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee earned a "Marginal" rating for driver-side small-overlap frontal impacts and a "Poor" rating for the front passenger. The standard ProTech II Package on the Summit trim 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. The Grand Cherokee also featured a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance, though it lacked surround-view and forward-view camera systems.