Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Crosstrek

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek embodied the adage “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” As car shoppers flocked to crossovers for their rugged looks, available all-wheel drive (AWD), and tall driving positions, Subaru imbued its Impreza hatchback with those same characteristics. This strategy allowed the Crosstrek to do a reasonably good impression of an SUV, giving it more character than the base Impreza hatch. The Crosstrek featured black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and a taller ride height, affording 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Subaru also offered more vibrant colors on the Crosstrek, including Plasma Yellow Pearl for the 2021 model year.

Underneath, the Crosstrek rode on the same Subaru Global Platform as most of the automaker’s other models, including the Legacy/Outback, Ascent, and Forester. The interior was virtually unchanged from the Impreza hatchback, functional but somewhat plain-looking. The Sport-trim-level test car had Plasma Yellow Pearl accents that clashed with the Horizon Blue Pearl exterior, and the simulated carbon-fiber trim pieces looked cheap. However, the model did get water-repellant StarTex upholstery, which was handy for trips to the beach.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, checked all the boxes on the list of Jeep design traditions. It was a two-row version of the previous year’s extended-length Grand Cherokee L. Jeep flipped the traditional script for the redesigned Grand Cherokee launch, with the new three-row, seven-passenger Grand Cherokee L arriving first as a 2021 model-year vehicle. The shorter and sportier two-row, five-passenger Grand Cherokee went on sale with a powertrain and trim-level lineup that almost mirrored its bigger sibling.

The new Grand Cherokee’s styling reflected influence from the first Jeep SUV, the 1963 Wagoneer, with a forward-leaning grille and headlights, a lowered and level beltline, and angled and tapered rear roof pillars. Inside, the 2022 Grand Cherokee was essentially identical to the ’21 Grand Cherokee L. The base Laredo trim with cloth seats provided good quality, while the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve was convincingly luxurious with premium quilted and stitched leather, front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage, a McIntosh high-end audio system, and a large panoramic sunroof.

For 2021, the Subaru Crosstrek offered a second gasoline powertrain option. The new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine, standard on the Sport and Limited trim levels, made 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trim levels continued with the previous 2.0-liter boxer-four, which produced 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The Crosstrek Hybrid plug-in hybrid, available since the 2019 model year, was not updated for 2021.

The boxer engine, with cylinders running parallel to the ground, was a Subaru trademark, providing a lower center of gravity that could improve handling. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trim levels, while the Sport and Limited trims were CVT only. All trim levels had standard AWD, including torque vectoring and X-Mode for loose surfaces and hill descent control. The new-for-2021 Sport trim level also had Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes.

Despite gestures at SUV ruggedness, most Crosstreks likely spent their lives on pavement. The hatchback had predictable handling, although the higher center of gravity resulted in increased body roll. The new 2.5-liter engine in the Sport test car, despite an additional 30 hp and 31 lb-ft of torque over the base engine, didn’t feel dramatically different, with adequate acceleration but plenty of droning from the CVT.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered rear-wheel drive (RWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) and a choice between a V6 or a V8 engine. The standard 3.6-liter V6 engine generated 293 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,000 rpm, with a tow rating of 6,200 pounds. A 5.7-liter V8 engine, available with higher trim levels and only with 4WD, supplied 357 hp at 5,150 rpm and 390 lb-ft at 4,250 rpm, bumping towing capacity to 7,200 pounds.

Three different 4WD systems were available: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II. Quadra-Trac I was fully automatic and suitable for slippery conditions and light off-roading. Quadra-Trac II had a two-speed transfer case with 4-Hi and 4-Lo settings for more difficult terrain. Quadra-Drive II, for serious off-roading, had a two-speed transfer case and could put up to 100% of engine output to a single rear wheel. Every Grand Cherokee used an eight-speed automatic transmission with a dial-style transmission shifter.

The EPA estimated fuel economy ranged from 17 mpg in combined driving with the V8 and 4WD to 21 mpg with the V6 and any drivetrain. The Trailhawk trim had standard Quadra-Drive II, an electronic locking rear differential, a Quadra-Lift air suspension with up to 11.3 inches of ground clearance, and 24 inches of water fording capability. The Trailhawk also featured Selec-Terrain driving modes, Selec-Speed off-road cruise control, and a forward-facing off-road camera.

The Grand Cherokee felt more nimble and athletic than the larger Grand Cherokee L, with excellent ride quality. The V6 was preferred for its efficiency and good acceleration, while the V8 offered a thrilling burble at idle and refined roar when accelerating. The Grand Cherokee’s driving character delivered compliance without feeling too soft, providing a feel for the road with plenty of refinement.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. It had 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Crosstrek was competitive against other small crossovers on passenger space but not cargo space. CVT-equipped Crosstrek models had a rear-seat reminder to prevent leaving children or pets unattended.

Up front, the Crosstrek had a handy cubby hole ahead of the shifter for a phone, with a USB port and auxiliary port. The maximum number of USB ports was two, both located in this space. Other storage space was minimal, but included decent-sized bottle holders in the doors. The driving position felt higher than an Impreza’s, but the Crosstrek didn’t allow drivers to tower over other vehicles like traditional crossovers or SUVs. Outward visibility was good, thanks to a large amount of side glass and a car-like front fascia and hood.

Every 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was comfortable for the driver and front passenger, with higher trims offering heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, front seat massagers, and more. The base Laredo trim with cloth upholstery provided good quality. One of the goals with the Grand Cherokee’s redesign was to improve visibility, which Jeep achieved. Improved sightlines and camera technologies added driver confidence, and the available panoramic sunroof lent an airy feel to the cabin.

Rear-seat room remained tight for adults with long legs, and the plastic front seatback trim didn’t help. The three-row Grand Cherokee L carried greater amounts of cargo, with 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and 70.8 cubic feet with the back seat folded. The two-row Grand Cherokee was accommodating, but the Grand Cherokee L offered more cargo space due to its more vertical rear window and liftgate design.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek used Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trim levels had a Multimedia Plus setup with WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. An 8-inch touchscreen with navigation was standard on the top Limited trim level and optional on lower trims.

Subaru displayed some information on a second screen above the main touchscreen, which seemed redundant. The 8-inch touchscreen was easy to navigate and responsive, with large analog knobs and buttons for vital functions like audio volume and climate control. Chunky buttons on the steering wheel controlled EyeSight driver-assistance features.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a tech powerhouse, with a comprehensive head-up display, Night Vision system, camera-based rearview mirror, and up to five interior touchscreens. The Grand Cherokee had a 19-speaker McIntosh high-end audio system and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV integration.

Jeep equipped every 2022 Grand Cherokee with its next-generation Uconnect 5 infotainment system, offering a five-fold improvement in responsiveness and over-the-air software updates. Most trims had an 8.4-inch touchscreen display, with a 10.1-inch touchscreen available as an upgrade. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, voice recognition, and voice text reply capability were standard. The Bluetooth connection supported two devices simultaneously.

The larger 10.1-inch Uconnect screen was a perfect companion to the Grand Cherokee’s standard 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster and available 10-inch head-up display. The optional 10.25-inch touchscreen in front of the passenger allowed the person riding shotgun to assist the driver and provided their own entertainment options.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 model, virtually identical to the 2021 model, a “Top Safety Pick” with the highest “good” rating in all crash tests and for front-crash prevention tech.

CVT-equipped Crosstrek models had standard adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on the Limited trim level and optional on the Premium and Sport. The optional blind-spot monitoring system featured big warning lights on the exterior mirrors, making the feature more effective.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee had an impressive collection of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and a safety cage composed extensively of aluminum and high-strength steel. Jeep claimed that only 27% of the safety cage remained mild-grade steel. The Grand Cherokee had Intersection Collision Assist, a front cross-traffic warning feature, and Active Driving Assist, providing Level 2 hands-on semi-autonomous driving assistance.

Active Driving Assist was effective on the road, but disconnected if curves were too tight. A hands-free version of Active Driving Assist was coming in 2022, allowing drivers to let go of the steering wheel on approved roads across North America.