2020 Toyota 4Runner 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, painted in Slate Blue Pearl, featured a sport-themed design with a ventilated hood 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 overuse of hard plastics detracting from the overall luxury feel.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner showcased a timeless design with its tall slab sides, high beltline, and short overhangs, emphasizing its utilitarian nature. The flared wheel wells accommodated off-road tires, and the short overhangs allowed for tackling steep terrains. The 4Runner's lineup in Canada was based on the SR5 trim with various packages like TRD Off-Road, Venture, and Nightshade, each offering unique features. Our test model, the Limited package, focused on comfort with leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen. Despite its chrome and leather touches, the 4Runner's utilitarian DNA was evident, with plenty of plastic and a seating position designed more for trails than highways.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came equipped with a standard 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering 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 the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp. The Grand Cherokee's off-road capabilities were highlighted by the Trailhawk model, featuring all-terrain tires and skid plates. In Canada, 4WD was standard on all models, with four different 4WD systems available. The Limited X model tested had the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, providing impressive off-road capabilities despite its pavement-friendly tires. On-road dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner, built on a truck chassis, featured a 4-litre V6 engine with a five-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 horsepower and 278 lb-ft of torque. This engine was designed for durability and off-road performance rather than fuel efficiency, with a towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. The 4Runner's fuel consumption was estimated at 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the city and 12.5 on the highway. The 4Runner excelled off-road, with its body-on-frame construction and advanced traction systems like crawl control and Multi-Terrain Select. On-road, the 4Runner exhibited significant body roll and vague steering, but its off-road capabilities were unmatched.

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 seats folded. The front seats were heated and power-adjustable, but lacked ventilation. The interior featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel and padded armrests, while rear passengers enjoyed air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a handy tray in the centre console and sizable door-panel bins.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner prioritized outward visibility, with a tight turning radius of 5.6 metres. The interior featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC and stereo controls, with an 8-inch touchscreen for infotainment. The tall front seat position provided a commanding view, and power-retractable running boards aided entry and exit. The 4Runner offered an optional third row of seats, though they were best suited for short and occasional use due to limited legroom and comfort.

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. A 4G LTE WiFi data plan was available, and the test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine audio system. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided off-roading information, while the SRT and Trackhawk models offered Performance Pages for tracking metrics.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner received an update with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The onboard navigation system was challenging to use, but Android Auto provided a more efficient alternative. The 4Runner also featured Bluetooth connectivity, a USB port, and subscription services like Sirius XM. While the technology was improved, it still lagged behind competitors in terms of features and usability.

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 forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. 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 a Marginal rating from the IIHS for driver protection.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner benefited from Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. The 4Runner had eight standard airbags and received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though it scored three stars in the rollover test. The IIHS gave it a Good rating in most crash tests, except for a Marginal score in the small overlap front: driver-side test.