2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its classic 7-slot grille, trapezoidal wheel arches, and a variety of aluminum wheel designs. The Laredo trim started at $31,945, with an additional $1,495 destination charge, and 4WD added another $2,000. The Grand Cherokee was available in 12 trims, each catering to different preferences, from style to off-roading capability, luxury, and performance. The Limited X trim, priced at just over $50,000, featured a performance vented hood, unique 20-inch wheels, and special leather seats. However, the interior had some drawbacks, such as hard plastic panels and a few build quality issues.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced as part of a mid-cycle refresh, visually mirrored its gasoline counterpart with identical dimensions and similar wheel patterns. The hybrid model featured subtle differences like blue-outlined Honda emblems, "Hybrid" badges, and a hidden exhaust. Inside, the gear shifter was replaced with a push-button selector, and paddle shifters adjusted brake regeneration. The instrument panel displayed driving modes: Normal, EV, Econ, and Sport. Despite these changes, the CR-V Hybrid's interior largely remained a carryover from the gasoline model.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-liter V6 producing 295 horsepower. For more power, buyers could opt for a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8, a 425-hp 6.4-liter V8 in the SRT, or the Trackhawk's 707-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8. An 8-speed automatic transmission powered the rear wheels, with three 4WD systems available depending on the trim. The Limited X test vehicle featured Quadra-Drive II, providing excellent off-road capability. However, the 4WD system reduced fuel economy, with the V6 averaging 18.3 mpg during testing. The Grand Cherokee excelled on pavement, offering robust acceleration and better-than-expected handling, though its brakes struggled during long descents.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid came standard with AWD and a two-motor hybrid system combining a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing a total of 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid's fuel economy was impressive, rated at 40 mpg city, 35 highway, and 38 combined. During testing, the CR-V Hybrid achieved nearly 41 mpg in city driving. The hybrid system's EV mode was limited, operating on electricity alone for up to a mile. The CR-V Hybrid offered a comfortable ride and good steering feel, with the AWD system engaging as needed. However, it lacked some driving options compared to competitors like the RAV4 and Escape hybrids.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 5-passenger midsize SUV, provided a roomy interior with comfortable, power-adjustable, and heated front seats. However, backseat passengers faced discomfort from hard plastic front-seatback panels. Storage space was limited, with small bins and a modest 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, while sacrificing some cargo space for the battery pack, still offered 33.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and up to 68.7 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. This was a drop from the non-hybrid's capacity but still competitive. The CR-V Hybrid provided more passenger space than its direct competitors, with ample headroom and legroom. The configurable center console bin added versatility, though the armrest's locking mechanism was too loose.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo came with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with higher trims featuring an upgraded Uconnect system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and navigation. The voice recognition system was excellent, and the 9-speaker Alpine audio system in the test car sounded good. Higher trims offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid included Bluetooth, Pandora compatibility, and a single USB connector as standard. The EX trim added a 7-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration, SiriusXM, HD radio, and additional USB ports. The Touring trim offered navigation, wireless charging, and a 330-watt premium audio system. However, the infotainment system's lack of haptic feedback and complicated settings were drawbacks.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered modern driver-assistance technologies, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and available adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assist. However, its safety ratings were poor, with a Marginal rating for small-overlap frontal-impact protection for the driver and a Poor rating for the front passenger from the IIHS, and a 3-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a 5-Star Safety Rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included automatic braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and a multi-angle rearview camera. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim.