2021 Subaru Outback 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 pricing ranged from an MSRP of $46,245 for the Laredo to $71,045 for the Summit, with high-performance versions like the SRT and Trackhawk reaching up to $116,845. The Limited X model, priced at $62,140 Canadian, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a ventilated hood, and 20-inch aluminum wheels, giving it a mild-custom look. However, the interior materials, especially in models priced over $60,000, were criticized for their excessive use of hard plastics, detracting from the overall premium feel.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. While the base trim featured a less appealing dual-screen setup, higher trims boasted an 11.6-inch portrait display with polished black plastic and chrome trim. The interior quality was a significant improvement over pre-2015 models, with substantial materials and comfortable seating. The Outdoor XT trim offered water-resistant upholstery with lime green stitching, adding a touch of flair. The Outback's exterior featured high gray cladding for protection, smooth styling, and chrome accents. Notably, the Outback's lifted wagon design provided a unique alternative to typical crossovers and SUVs, maintaining its classic appearance.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 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 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, boasting 707 hp and 645 lb-ft of torque. The Trackhawk's performance was impressive, with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.8 seconds. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Trailhawk model excelling in off-road capabilities. However, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip but excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback's base 2.5-litre flat-four engine produced 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque, struggling to move the vehicle efficiently, especially when loaded. The XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four engine with 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, significantly improving performance. The Outback prioritized ride comfort and stability, with long-travel springs and 22 centimetres of ground clearance. Subaru's electronically-variable AWD system provided excellent off-road capability, with X-Mode optimizing performance in challenging conditions. Despite its squishy handling and imprecise steering, the Outback excelled as a long-distance cruiser.

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 ventilation was not available in the Limited X trim. The interior featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel and padded armrests, while rear passengers enjoyed air conditioning vents and USB ports. Storage options included a centre console tray, door-panel bins, and grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks.

The 2021 Subaru Outback provided ample interior space, with 2,144 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded and 920 litres with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with no intrusive elements. The Outback's seating offered excellent headroom and legroom, with superb outward visibility. Storage solutions included large map pockets, bottle holders, and a front centre console with additional pockets. However, some features like push-button start and rear console climate vents were only available on higher trims. The Outback's standout feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, offering easy installation for roof racks.

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, supporting up to eight devices. The optional 9-speaker Alpine audio system provided good sound quality, while the Off-Road Pages app offered valuable information for off-roading enthusiasts.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system, while dated in appearance, included standard SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The single large screen was more cohesive and useful than the base model's dual-screen setup. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, offered adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on cameras, limiting its effectiveness in certain conditions.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS). ProTech I, standard on all trims, included a reversing camera, parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. ProTech II added low-speed forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist. Advanced ProTech II featured full-speed forward collision warning, 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 Subaru Outback boasted a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking were available on higher trims. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS, with top ratings in crash tests and forward emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded the Outback an overall five-star rating, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and rollover test.