2021 Nissan Rogue 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 across various demographics. The Grand Cherokee's exterior, especially in the Limited X trim with its Slate Blue Pearl paint, sport-themed front bumper, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, offered a mild-custom look that was well-received. However, the interior materials, particularly in models priced over $60,000, were a letdown, with an overuse of hard plastics detracting from the overall premium feel.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue underwent a complete redesign, giving it a muscular and imposing presence. The new squared-off nose and deeper V-Motion grille, along with standard LED headlamps and functional air vents, contributed to a lower coefficient of drag despite its boxier shape. The exterior colour options were streamlined, with two-tone configurations available on the Platinum grade. Inside, the Rogue offered a quieter cabin and improved functionality, such as a shift-by-wire system that added storage space. The second-row access was enhanced with doors that opened to 85 degrees, and the interior featured a range of standard and optional features across different trims, including leatherette upholstery and a power liftgate in higher trims.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, providing 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 a 5.7-litre Hemi V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp, and the supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk, delivering 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model being the most off-road capable. However, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured a new 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque, offering improved performance and fuel efficiency over the previous generation. The engine was well-matched to the Rogue's weight, and the CVT was less droning than expected. Fuel efficiency was respectable, with ratings of 8.9 L/100 km city, 7.0 highway, and 8.1 combined for FWD models, and slightly higher for AWD versions. The Rogue's handling was significantly improved, with better torsional rigidity, lower weight, and updated suspension and stability control systems, resulting in a stable and planted road feel.

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, and the seat heater controls were integrated into the infotainment system, which could be inconvenient. The interior provided decent storage options, though some areas like the glovebox were limited in space. Rear passengers enjoyed adequate comfort and amenities, including air conditioning vents and USB ports.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue's cabin was quieter and featured a new shift-by-wire system, adding storage space under the centre stack. The rear doors opened wider for easier access, and headroom was improved. Standard features included heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and exterior mirrors, with additional features available in higher trims. The cargo space was generous, with 1,028 litres available with the seats up and 2,064 litres with them folded. The redesigned Divide and Hide cargo system offered adjustable floor height and cargo separation options, though the rear seat now split 60/40 instead of 40/20/40.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system was known for its speed and ease of use, though competitors had caught up in recent years. The system included an 8.4-inch touchscreen, navigation, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM. An optional 9-speaker Alpine audio system was available, though not as impressive as the 19-speaker Harman Kardon system in higher trims. Unique to Jeep was the Off-Road Pages app, providing off-roading information, and Performance Pages in the SRT and Trackhawk models.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and SiriusXM. The SV grade added in-car Wi-Fi, additional USB ports, and NissanConnect services. The Platinum grade upgraded to a 9-inch screen, wireless phone charging, and a Bose 10-speaker audio system. A 10.8-inch head-up display was also included, though the digital instrument cluster's graphics were hard to read due to low contrast.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems, 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 in certain crash tests.

The 2021 Nissan Rogue came standard with the Safety Shield 360 suite, including forward emergency braking, blind-spot warning, and lane departure warning. The SV model introduced ProPILOT Assist, a hands-on highway driving assist feature. The Rogue received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with improvements made to later models following initial crash test results.