2021 Honda Odyssey 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 environments, 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 20-inch aluminum wheels, but its interior materials left much to be desired, especially for models priced over $60,000, where hard plastics became more noticeable.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Odyssey, with its decade-old styling theme, received minor updates for the new model year, including a new grille, front bumper, and standard LED headlights. The Odyssey offered four trim levels, with prices ranging from $44,645 to $55,845, and an additional charge for non-grey or silver paint. The test vehicle, a Lunar Silver Metallic model, featured perforated leather upholstery and ambient lighting, giving it an upscale feel. The Odyssey's interior improvements included new seating materials and tri-colour floor mats, enhancing its appeal as a family-friendly minivan.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came equipped with a standard 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 engine options were available, including the 5.7-litre "Hemi" V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque, the 6.4-litre "Hemi" V8 in the SRT model with 475 horsepower, and the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk, boasting 707 horsepower. The Grand Cherokee's off-road capabilities were highlighted by the Trailhawk model, equipped with all-terrain tires and advanced 4WD systems. However, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The drivetrain offered smooth and effortless power delivery, with a fuel consumption rating of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. While all-wheel drive was unavailable, the Odyssey's front-wheel-drive system was complemented by a new electronic brake booster, enhancing brake pedal feel and response. The Odyssey's ride and handling qualities were enjoyable, with well-weighted steering and firm yet comfortable suspension. However, the brakes showed signs of fade during extended use, indicating a need for improvement.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and a cargo capacity of 1,028 litres behind the backseat, expanding to 1,934 litres with the backseat folded down. The interior featured heated and power-adjustable front seats, though ventilated seats were not available in the Limited X trim. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate legroom and amenities like air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a centre console tray and door-panel bins, but the glovebox and centre armrest bin were relatively small.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey provided a spacious and versatile interior, with a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout allowed for various seating configurations, accommodating up to eight passengers. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 929 litres, expanding to 2,452 litres with the third-row seat tumbled, and a maximum volume of 3,984 litres with the second-row seats removed. However, removing the second-row seats was cumbersome, despite improvements in seat folding.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system with an 8.4-inch touchscreen, offering navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The system was user-friendly, but the ride's bounciness could make selecting virtual buttons challenging. The test vehicle 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 off-roading information, while SRT and Trackhawk models had Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and satellite radio. Higher trims added navigation, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk PA system. The Touring trim included an 11-speaker premium audio system and wireless smartphone charging. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system, with a 10.2-inch screen and streaming apps, was not touchscreen, disappointing some users.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), 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 the NHTSA and poor ratings from the IIHS for certain crash tests.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard Honda Sensing suite, including adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey was expected to earn a Top Safety Pick recommendation from the IIHS, with top ratings from the NHTSA for most crash tests. However, the adaptive cruise control's braking could be uneven, and the lane-departure warning system's steering wheel wobble was less effective than a vibration.