2020 Honda CR-V 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 several variants in between, including high-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions. The Limited X model, priced at $62,140 Canadian, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, giving it a mild-custom look. However, the interior materials, especially in models priced over $60,000, were a letdown, with an abundance of hard plastics detracting from the overall premium feel.

The 2020 Honda CR-V, in its fifth generation, had a familiar and fun design, with curvy, car-like lines and a resemblance to Honda's sedan lineup. Its styling leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, defining modern family transportation. Inside, the CR-V's interior was a mix of textures and materials, with upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery clashing with low-quality plastics. The base CR-V LX trim started at $29,970 Canadian, with five trim levels available, each offering a standard three-year or 36,000-mile warranty. The CR-V's design and interior packaging were praised for their spaciousness and clever storage solutions, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came equipped with a standard 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing 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 a 5.7-litre “Hemi” V8 with 360 hp, a 6.4-litre “Hemi” V8 in the SRT with 475 hp, and a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system in the Limited X model providing off-road capability. However, its driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2020 Honda CR-V featured a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine standard across all grades, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The CR-V's powertrain was well-matched, offering quick acceleration, especially in Sport mode. Its car-like road manners, nimble handling, and low curb weight contributed to excellent fuel efficiency, with FWD models rated at 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres combined and AWD models at 8.1. The CR-V's light weight and well-tuned chassis made it a top performer in its class for non-hybrid models.

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, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and decent storage options. However, the integration of seat heater buttons with the infotainment system was a source of irritation. Rear passengers enjoyed comfort with air conditioning vents and USB ports, while adults found adequate legroom and thigh support.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space and packaging, offering a roomy cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan. Its excellent seating position and visibility, along with clever storage solutions like a deep centre console and two-position load floor, made it practical for families. The CR-V provided 1,065 litres of cargo space in the Touring and Black Edition trims and 1,110 litres in other grades. The door pockets were spacious, and the overall design made it easy to accommodate various items.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system was user-friendly, but the bouncy ride could make selecting virtual buttons challenging. The Limited X trim included a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, while higher trims offered a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided valuable information for off-roading adventures.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, showed its age compared to competitors. The lack of hard buttons made it challenging to operate, and while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, they felt tacked on. The CR-V Touring and Black Edition trims included a wireless phone charger and additional USB ports, enhancing connectivity for occupants.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems, with ProTech I standard on all trims, including a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist, while Advanced ProTech II included adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous parking assist. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and poor ratings from IIHS for small overlap frontal-impact tests.

The 2020 Honda CR-V included the Honda Sensing suite as standard, offering forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. The CR-V earned a 5-star overall rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from IIHS, with caveats for trims below Touring due to headlight performance. A safety recall affected a small number of CR-Vs for a rear subframe issue.