2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

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 $32,150 for the Laredo model and went up to $52,495 for the Summit, with high-performance versions like the SRT and Trackhawk priced at $68,895 and $87,400, respectively. The Limited X model, tested at $53,275, 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 $50,000, were criticized for their excessive use of hard plastic, detracting from the overall premium feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse offered a more generic SUV design with a tall roof, chunky wheel arches, and a big grille, which appealed to buyers seeking a clean and handsome look. The Traverse differentiated its trim levels through styling details, such as blacked-out trim on the RS model and chrome accents on the High Country model. The Traverse shared its platform with the Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, and Cadillac XT6, but aimed for a more accessible feel. Its interior featured a restrained design with an optional Dual SkyScape sunroof and materials that were decent for its price point. The Traverse's cargo space was a standout feature, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place and up to 98.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, providing satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving. However, the test vehicle achieved 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, three V8 engines were available, including a 5.7-liter "Hemi" V8 with 360 hp, a 6.4-liter "Hemi" V8 in the SRT with 475 hp, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp. The Grand Cherokee offered various 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model equipped for off-road adventures. The Limited X model featured the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, providing impressive off-road capability. On-road dynamics were mixed, with good grip from the large wheels but some suspension movement and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While the V6 didn't feel particularly strong off the line, it provided ample power for highway driving. The Traverse excelled in highway road manners, offering a quiet cabin and comfortable ride. However, it lacked agility on twisty roads, partly due to its AWD system, which required manual activation. The Traverse had a 5,000-pound towing capacity with the tow/haul mode engaged. Despite its AWD system's torque vectoring capability, it didn't significantly enhance handling.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and cargo space of 36.3 cubic feet behind the backseat, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the backseat folded. The front seats were heated and power-adjustable, but the Limited X lacked ventilated seats. 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 center console tray and door-panel bins.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse provided seating for seven or eight, depending on the configuration, with above-average headroom and legroom in all three rows. The RS model had heated front seats, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats available on higher trims. The Traverse excelled in cargo space, offering 23.0 cubic feet with all seats in place and up to 98.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. A power liftgate was available, and higher trims featured a gesture-activated liftgate. Interior storage was limited, typical of midsize three-row crossovers.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and more. The system was user-friendly, but the ride quality could make selecting virtual buttons challenging. The Limited X model included a 9-speaker Alpine sound system, with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon system available on higher trims. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided off-roading information, while the SRT and Trackhawk models had Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch touchscreen, navigation, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. The Traverse retained analog controls for audio and climate, which were appreciated for their simplicity. The rearview camera mirror and optional HD surround-view camera system enhanced visibility and maneuverability. USB ports were standard for all rows, with wireless phone charging available on higher 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, lane-departure warning, and more. Advanced ProTech II included adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous parking assist. The Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from NHTSA and had mixed IIHS ratings, with some poor results in crash tests.

The 2021 Chevrolet Traverse received top "Good" scores from IIHS in crash tests and a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention. However, it had mixed headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH ease of use. NHTSA awarded the Traverse a five-star overall safety rating. Chevy offered less standard driver-assist tech compared to competitors, with features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking available as options.