2021 Cadillac Escalade 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. It presented a balanced appearance that was equally at home on rugged trails and at upscale venues, making it attractive to a diverse range of buyers. The Grand Cherokee's design transcended social class, appealing to a wide audience regardless of income, education, gender, or race. However, as the price of the Grand Cherokee increased, the interior materials became a point of contention, with hard plastics becoming more noticeable and irritating in the more expensive models.

In contrast, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade showcased a modern design influenced by the Escala concept, particularly evident in its front fascia. While the rest of the vehicle didn't break new ground stylistically, it featured standard 22-inch wheels and crisp creases along its sides. The rear maintained a familiar look with tall, vertical OLED taillights. The Escalade's interior was a significant improvement over its predecessor, offering more space and comfort due to a new independent rear suspension and a longer wheelbase. The cabin was luxurious, with options for semi-aniline leather and various wood trims, although some hard plastic elements were disappointing given the vehicle's high price tag.

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 combined fuel consumption of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including a 5.7-litre "Hemi" V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, a 6.4-litre "Hemi" V8 in the SRT model with 475 horsepower, and the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk, delivering a staggering 707 horsepower. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model being the most off-road capable. However, its on-road driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade offered a choice between a standard 6.2-litre V8 engine and a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine. The V8 produced 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, providing strong acceleration through a 10-speed automatic transmission. It featured Dynamic Fuel Management technology for improved efficiency, achieving a combined fuel consumption of 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The turbo-diesel engine, with 277 horsepower and the same torque as the V8, offered a combined average of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres. The Escalade's ride and handling were significantly improved with a new independent rear suspension, Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 adaptive dampers, and 4-Corner Air Ride suspension, providing a smooth and controlled ride.

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

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade boasted a larger and more versatile cabin, thanks to its new independent rear suspension and longer wheelbase. Front-seat occupants enjoyed standard heated seats, with ventilated and massaging options available. The second-row offered heated captain's chairs or a bench seat, with improved leg support. The third-row seat was now comfortable for adults, with significant legroom and support. Cargo capacity was impressive, with 722 litres behind the third row, expanding to 3,426 litres with all seats folded. The extended-length Escalade ESV offered even more cargo space.

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 SRT and Trackhawk models offered Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade was equipped with a 38-inch curved OLED display, offering high pixel density and a wide range of colours. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, although some user experience improvements were needed. The Escalade's voice recognition technology had limitations, and physical controls were often preferable. The AR navigation system was a standout feature, and the optional 36-speaker AKG Reference sound system provided exceptional audio quality. A full-colour head-up display was standard on most trims.

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, and lane-keeping assist. Advanced ProTech II included adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous parking assist. However, the Grand Cherokee's crash-test ratings were unimpressive, with a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade featured a comprehensive suite of safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian detection. Premium Luxury and Sport trims added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and lane-keeping assistance. An optional Driver Assist Tech Package included higher-speed forward emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Escalade's safety systems generally worked well, although there were a couple of false alarms during testing. The upcoming Super Cruise technology promised hands-free driving on limited-access highways.