2021 Toyota Venza 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. It presented a balanced appearance that was equally suitable for rugged trails and upscale settings, making it attractive to a diverse range of buyers. The Grand Cherokee's pricing started at $32,150 for the Laredo model and went up to $52,495 for the Summit, with high-performance versions like the SRT and Trackhawk priced even higher. The Limited X variant, tested at $53,275, 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, especially in models priced over $50,000, was criticized for its use of hard plastics, which detracted from the overall premium feel.

The 2021 Toyota Venza, on the other hand, was noted for its Lexus-like appearance, with a design that blurred the lines between the two brands. It was shorter and lower than the RAV4 but shared the same wheelbase. The Venza was available in three trims: LE, XLE, and Limited, with a choice of seven paint colors. Standard features included LED lighting, a wireless charging pad, and an 8-inch infotainment screen, with higher trims offering additional luxuries like a 12.3-inch screen and a Star Gaze panoramic roof. The Venza's interior was praised for its premium appointments, especially in the Limited trim, and offered a comfortable ride for both front and rear passengers. Despite having less cargo space than some competitors, the Venza's interior was spacious and well-suited for daily driving.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came equipped with a standard 295-horsepower, 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, providing satisfying acceleration and an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving. However, the test vehicle achieved only 19.4 mpg. For those seeking more power, the Grand Cherokee offered three V8 engine options, including a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with 360 hp, a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 in the SRT with 475 hp, and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the Trackhawk with 707 hp. The Trackhawk was particularly noted for its impressive 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds. The Grand Cherokee's off-road capabilities were highlighted by the Trailhawk model, which featured all-terrain tires and advanced 4WD systems. However, its on-road dynamics were mixed, with a tendency for excessive suspension movements and average steering and braking performance.

The 2021 Toyota Venza featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a hybrid system, delivering a combined 219 horsepower and 163 lb-ft of torque. While not the most powerful in its class, the Venza offered smooth acceleration and confident handling. The hybrid system excelled in fuel efficiency, achieving an EPA-estimated 40 mpg on the highway, 37 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg combined, outperforming competitors like the Murano and Passport. The Venza's all-wheel-drive system provided stability and control, and its driving experience was described as typical of a Toyota—reliable and unremarkable, but in a positive way. Toyota's hybrid powertrain was backed by a 10-year/150,000-mile battery warranty, adding to its appeal.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered seating for five and provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The front seats were heated and power-adjustable, though ventilation was not available in the Limited X trim. The interior featured a leather-wrapped steering wheel and padded armrests, but the integration of seat heater controls into the infotainment system was a source of frustration. Rear passengers, including children, found the seating comfortable, with adequate legroom and rear air conditioning vents. Interior storage was decent, with a center console tray and door-panel bins, though the glovebox was limited in space.

The 2021 Toyota Venza's interior was noted for its unique design, with premium materials and a well-organized center stack. The deep center console housed various controls and features, including a wireless charging pad and heated and ventilated seat buttons. The Venza's seats were comfortable for both front and rear passengers, with ample headroom and a spacious feel. While the Venza had less cargo space than the RAV4, its 55.1 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity was still practical for daily use. The quick-flip releases on the rear seatbacks made arranging the cargo space easy, and the overall interior design was more refined than the RAV4's.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect infotainment system, known for its speed and ease of use, though competitors had caught up in recent years. The Limited X trim included an 8.4-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa. A 4G LTE WiFi data plan was available, and the test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine sound system. Unique to Jeep, the Off-Road Pages app provided off-roading information, while the SRT and Trackhawk models offered Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with the Entune infotainment system, with an 8-inch screen on the LE and XLE trims and a 12.3-inch screen on the Limited. While the system was responsive, it was not the easiest to use, requiring multiple menu trips for certain functions. The Venza included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa as standard, along with a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Limited trim featured a nine-speaker JBL audio system, and Toyota's connected services, such as Safety Connect and Remote Connect, were standard. Dynamic navigation was available on models with the larger screen, providing cloud-based route guidance.

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, and lane-keeping assist. Advanced ProTech II featured full-speed forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a 4-star overall rating from the NHTSA and had poor ratings from the IIHS in certain crash tests.

The 2021 Toyota Venza came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included a pre-collision warning system, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Venza also had eight airbags, a rearview camera, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The safety features were effective and non-intrusive, though the lane-keeping assist tended to keep the vehicle further to the right within the lane. The Venza had two full sets of LATCH connections for child seats, adding to its family-friendly appeal.