2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 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 several variants in between, including high-performance SRT and Trackhawk versions. The Limited X model, priced at $62,140 Canadian, featured a Slate Blue Pearl paint, a ventilated hood design, 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 overuse of hard plastics detracting from the overall premium feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited AWD, priced at $45,341, offered a more modern and practical design. Despite its fully loaded status, it resembled a standard rental car, lacking the larger alloy wheels found on non-hybrid versions. The RAV4 Hybrid's styling was tough for a compact SUV, but it could have benefited from bolder wheels. Inside, the RAV4 Hybrid was stylish and functional, with a mix of impressive materials and some glossy hard plastics. The interior was practical, with clear instrumentation and well-placed controls. However, a rattle from the license plate on the tailgate was a minor annoyance.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came equipped with a standard 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain provided satisfying acceleration and a fuel efficiency of 11.3 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, according to Natural Resources Canada, though the test vehicle achieved 12.1 L/100 km. 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 a supercharged 6.2-litre V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp. The Grand Cherokee offered four different 4WD systems, with the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system in the Limited X providing automatic operation and a 2-speed transfer case. Despite its off-road capabilities, the Grand Cherokee's on-road dynamics were mixed, with excessive suspension movements and average steering and brakes.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors, producing a total of 219 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain provided lively acceleration, though the engine sounded unpleasant when revved. The RAV4 Hybrid achieved a fuel efficiency of 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with the test vehicle averaging 5.9 L/100 km. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) operated smoothly, and the regenerative braking system was effective. The RAV4 Hybrid's ride and handling were enhanced by a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension, though the all-season tires offered low grip. The SUV handled well on roads, with a relatively flat cornering stance, but was not particularly fun to drive. Off-road, the RAV4 Hybrid's ground clearance and Trail driving mode allowed it to handle light off-road conditions.

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 8-way power-adjustable, though ventilated seats were not available in the Limited X. The infotainment system integrated seat heater controls, which could be irritating. The backseat provided adequate legroom and comfort for children and adults, with rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. Interior storage was decent, with a centre console tray and door-panel bins, though the glovebox was small.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided comfort with an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats. The rear seat offered decent legroom and good leg support, though it felt a bit low. The dashboard was well-organized, with large climate control knobs and an easy-to-use infotainment system. Storage was ample, with dashboard shelves and door-panel bottle holders. The cargo area measured 1,059 litres, expanding to 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded. However, the premium sound system's subwoofer took up space, and the all-weather mat was cumbersome.

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. However, the ride quality could make it difficult to use the touchscreen accurately.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered infotainment systems with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen, both supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The test vehicle had an 11-speaker JBL audio system with dynamic navigation. The 8-inch display was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and knobs for volume and tuning. The dynamic voice recognition was generally accurate, though it struggled with some prompts. The RAV4 Hybrid also offered a 360-degree camera system and a camera rearview mirror.

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, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Advanced ProTech II included full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. The Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and had poor ratings from the IIHS for driver and passenger protection in certain tests.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The RAV4 Hybrid received a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top marks from the IIHS, except for its headlights.