2021 Honda Pilot 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, 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 plastic detracting from the overall premium feel.

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Despite efforts to give it a rugged appearance, the Pilot's design remained an acquired taste. Available in five trims in Canada, the Pilot's pricing ranged from $42,905 to $56,805, with AWD as standard. The Black Edition, priced at $58,806, featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red accents and ambient lighting. While the Pilot's interior boasted quality materials, the exterior design and minivan-like front seat layout were less appealing. The Pilot's practicality shone through with its spacious interior and thoughtful features, but its styling and some interior elements left room for improvement.

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 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 offered four different 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model being the most off-road capable. The Limited X variant featured the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, providing impressive off-road capabilities. However, the Grand Cherokee's on-road dynamics were mixed, with excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and a torque-vectoring AWD system. The Pilot offered a smooth and refined driving experience, with a fuel consumption rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension provided a comfortable ride and unexpectedly athletic handling. The Pilot's steering and brakes were well-weighted and responsive, although the brakes could heat up with prolonged use. Off-road capability was limited by the Pilot's modest ground clearance and approach angles, but it could handle minor off-road situations.

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 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 grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks.

The 2021 Honda Pilot provided ample room for a family, with seating for up to eight people. The front seats were leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver. Second-row captain’s chairs were optional, offering comfort and sliding forward for third-row access. The Pilot featured side window shades, tri-zone climate control, and a rear-seat entertainment system. Cargo space measured 524 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,583 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 3,092 litres with all seats down.

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 had Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Honda Pilot included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HondaLink connected services. The Touring trim added wireless phone charging, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. The rear-seat entertainment system played DVDs and Blu-Ray discs, and the Cabin Talk feature allowed the driver to communicate with rear passengers through the stereo speakers or headphones.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of 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. Advanced ProTech II included adaptive cruise control and semi-autonomous parking assist. The Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and a Marginal rating from the IIHS for driver protection.

The 2021 Honda Pilot came standard with Honda Sensing, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. The Touring trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Pilot received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and Good ratings from the IIHS, with an Acceptable score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection.