2020 Dodge Durango vs 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite its decade-old design, maintained a timeless appeal with its traditional Jeep styling cues, such as the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. Its balanced appearance made it suitable for both rugged trails and upscale settings, appealing to a diverse range of buyers. The Grand Cherokee's pricing started at an MSRP of $46,245 for the Laredo model and went up to $71,045 for the Summit, with high-performance versions like the SRT and Trackhawk reaching even higher price points. The Limited X variant, priced at $62,140 Canadian, featured a sport-themed design with a ventilated hood and 20-inch aluminum wheels, but its interior materials left much to be desired, especially at higher price points.

The 2020 Dodge Durango carried over its styling from a 2014 update, with its design rooted in a platform dating back to 2011. While it shared a platform with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Durango's cabin felt dated and in need of a refresh, which was anticipated for the 2021 model year. The Durango offered a range of trims, from the SXT to the performance-oriented SRT, each with distinct features. The SXT came with standard 18-inch wheels and a 7-inch touchscreen, while the GT added sport-inspired elements and a larger 8.4-inch touchscreen. The R/T and Citadel trims offered additional luxury and performance features, and the SRT stood out with its aggressive styling and performance-tuned components.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering satisfying acceleration and a fuel consumption rating of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including the 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, the 6.4-litre Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp and 470 lb-ft, and the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk, boasting 707 hp and 645 lb-ft. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model being the most off-road capable. Despite its impressive power, the Grand Cherokee's driving dynamics were a mixed bag, with its suspension and steering attempting to balance on-road comfort and off-road capability.

The 2020 Dodge Durango offered a range of engines, starting with a 3.6-litre V6 producing 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, standard on the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims. The R/T trim featured a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft, while the SRT came with a 6.4-litre Hemi V8, delivering 475 hp and 470 lb-ft. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD. The SRT model stood out with its performance-tuned suspension and Brembo brakes, offering car-like handling and minimal body roll. The Durango's driving experience was further enhanced by the Dodge SRT performance pages, allowing for detailed drive mode customization and performance tracking.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space of 1,028 litres behind the backseat, expanding to 1,934 litres with the backseat folded. The interior featured heated and power-adjustable front seats, though the lack of ventilated seats in the Limited X was a drawback. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate comfort with air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with thoughtful touches like grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks.

The 2020 Dodge Durango provided 490 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,351 litres with the rear seats folded, and 2,393 litres with both the second and third rows folded. The Durango's cabin offered ample space, with comfortable front seats and a choice between a three-passenger bench or captain's chairs in the second row. The third row was best suited for children, but access was easy thanks to large second-row doors and foldable seats. The Durango also featured multiple storage options, including a centre console with cup holders in the second row.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its speed and ease of use, though competitors had caught up in recent years. The Limited X trim included an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. An optional 9-speaker Alpine audio system was available, though the 19-speaker Harman Kardon system offered superior sound quality. Unique to Jeep's Uconnect was the Off-Road Pages app, providing off-roading information, while the SRT and Trackhawk models included Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2020 Dodge Durango's SXT and GT trims came with a 7-inch touchscreen, while higher trims featured an 8.4-inch touchscreen, both utilizing the Uconnect system. Uconnect's straightforward menu layout and dock icons made navigation easy, with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto as standard features. Higher trims included navigation and SiriusXM Travel Link, along with an Alpine audio system, with an optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available. The semi-digital instrument panel was user-friendly, and the 2021 update promised a larger screen.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I was standard, including a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Advanced ProTech II included full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, and semi-autonomous parking assist. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS in certain crash tests.

The 2020 Dodge Durango came with standard front- and side-impact airbags, electronic stability control, and trailer sway control. Rear parking sensors were standard, with front sensors available on higher trims. The Technology Group package added adaptive cruise control, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-departure warning, though these features were optional. The Durango earned a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating in most IIHS crash tests, with Superior crash-prevention technology available as an option.