2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Ford Escape was a visually appealing compact crossover, boasting a large grille reminiscent of the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, with headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. Its design was more curvaceous compared to its predecessor, which had a more upright rear end. Despite this change, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs, trailing only behind the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a forward-looking design that maintained basic controls in familiar places. The test model included a fully digital instrument panel and a floating infotainment screen, contributing to its smooth and contemporary interior.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained a timeless design that combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication. Its big wheels, flared fenders, and balanced proportions made it a quintessential SUV, distinct from the Jeep Wrangler. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its enduring success, as it straddled the line between mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV categories. The model lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk models and the off-road-capable Trailhawk. The Summit trim, in particular, featured premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum, creating a luxurious interior, although some elements showed signs of aging.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a diverse range of engine options, setting it apart from its competitors. It included a new three-cylinder engine producing 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. Additionally, a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, delivered 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The Escape also featured hybrid options, including a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a battery pack, producing 198 horsepower, and a plug-in hybrid model. The conventional engines used an eight-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids employed a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Escape's steering was direct and taut, offering an athletic feel, and its brakes were strong and responsive. The hybrid version was the most fuel-efficient, with consumption figures of 5.4 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 6.3 on the highway.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, generating 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 2,818 kilograms. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8, with 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, offered best-in-class towing capacity of 3,300 kilograms. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved efficiency, though it still consumed 14.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management made it capable off-road. The Summit trim included a Quadra-Lift air suspension, enhancing both on-road and off-road performance. Despite its capabilities, the Grand Cherokee's V8 was fuel-thirsty, and its ride could be bouncy on uneven surfaces.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 974 litres of cargo space behind the second row and 1,852 litres with the rear seats folded, or 1,722 litres in upper-level trims. While this was less than rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, it was comparable to the Mazda CX-5. The Escape prioritized passenger space, providing ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers, along with commanding seating positions for the front occupants. The interior featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, courtesy of the Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package. Both front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the Uconnect infotainment system, potentially causing distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system could create a sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee provided 1,028 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, with a recessed bin for carrying items and storage bins around the spare tire. Folding the second-row seats was easy, and maximum cargo space measured 1,934 litres.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out as an eyesore due to its "floating screen" design. The SE trim, recommended by CarGurus, upgraded to an 8-inch Sync touchscreen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The Escape's infotainment system allowed for multitasking, enabling users to operate their phones while projecting on the car's display.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect 4C with Nav setup offered a nearly flawless user experience, with fast response times, pleasing graphics, and separate stereo controls. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and access to a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. SiriusXM provided satellite radio, Traffic Plus, and Travel Link services, while SiriusXM Guardian offered remote access to locks and engine starting. The infotainment system's voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of various features through voice commands. The Summit trim featured a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, delivering excellent sound quality.

The 2020 Ford Escape came equipped with a comprehensive array of safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also featured Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems, including forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee's safety ratings were a concern, particularly in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tests. It received a "Marginal" rating for driver safety and a "Poor" rating for front passenger safety in small-overlap, frontal-impact collisions. The standard headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded. However, the Grand Cherokee offered numerous safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Summit trim included a backup camera, parking sensors, and a ParkSense parking assistance system.