2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander presented a design that was subtly refined from its predecessor, with a slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various elements, including the tailgate's license plate cutout and the slimmer headlights. Standard projector-beam LED headlights were a feature across all trims, with the higher trims, Limited and Platinum, boasting prettier LED running lamps and new 20-inch alloy wheels. The interior of the Highlander was where it truly shone, with a focus on quality fit and finish. The cabin featured silver-painted accents, an 8-inch touchscreen, and a multi-layered dash. The Limited trim offered a three-tone interior with rich textures and padded surfaces, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class, rivaling even the Kia Telluride.

In contrast, the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee maintained its decade-old design, which still resonated with buyers due to its traditional Jeep styling cues like the 7-slot grille and trapezoidal fenders. The Grand Cherokee's appearance was versatile, fitting in both rugged trails and upscale settings. The Limited X trim 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 hard plastics detracting from the overall feel. While the Grand Cherokee offered premium materials, they were applied over a foundation that lacked substance, making the interior less appealing compared to its competitors.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), the Highlander provided smooth and brisk acceleration, akin to the powertrain in the Lexus RX. The eight-speed automatic transmission efficiently utilized the engine's power, although it required a heavy foot for a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a ride that felt floaty at higher speeds. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander offered a calming driving experience, especially on long road trips. Fuel efficiency was commendable, with the FWD model rated at 11.9 L/100 km in the city and 8.3 on the highway, while the AWD version had slightly different figures. The Highlander hybrid, reviewed separately, achieved even better fuel consumption.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 295-horsepower, 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered satisfying acceleration and a combined fuel consumption rating of 11.3 L/100 km. For those seeking more power, the Grand Cherokee offered three V8 engine options, 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 excelled in off-road capabilities, with the Trailhawk model featuring all-terrain tires and skid plates. On pavement, the driving dynamics were mixed, with impressive grip from the big wheels but excessive suspension movements. The steering and brakes were average, attempting to balance daily driving and off-roading tasks.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander offered seating for eight, or seven with the second-row captain's chairs on Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous legroom and easy access to the third row. The Highlander's ergonomics were commendable, with wide-opening rear doors and comfortable seat heights. Standard features included three-zone automatic climate control, with upper trims offering a 120-volt outlet, side window shades, and a panoramic moonroof. Cargo space was generous, with 453 litres behind the third row, 1,359 litres behind the second, and 2,378 litres with both rows folded. The Highlander also featured eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for additional storage.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, seated five and offered 1,028 litres of cargo space behind the backseat, expanding to 1,934 litres with the backseat folded. The Limited X trim featured heated and 8-way power-adjustable front seats, though ventilated seats were not available. The thick, leather-wrapped steering wheel and padded armrests added to the comfort. Rear passengers enjoyed air conditioning vents and USB ports, with adequate legroom and thigh support. Interior storage was decent, with a centre console tray and door-panel bins, though the glovebox and centre armrest bin were small. Grocery bag hooks on the front seatbacks were a thoughtful addition.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander's infotainment system, despite being new, felt outdated. The maps lacked detail, and there were no onboard apps, requiring a connected phone for a slow process. The 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Platinum trim was limited in its usability, with climate and fuel efficiency information always present. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, but the interface lagged behind competitors. The Platinum trim featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch instrument cluster display, both crisp and informative. Standard features included adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and a JBL audio system on higher trims.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee's Uconnect infotainment system was known for its speed and ease of use, though competitors had caught up. The Limited X trim included 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 test vehicle had a 9-speaker Alpine audio system, though the 19-speaker Harman Kardon system was available on higher trims. Unique to Jeep was the Off-Road Pages app, providing information for off-roading excursions, while the SRT and Trackhawk models featured Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and was awarded a 2020 Top Safety Pick by the IIHS.

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered three collections of advanced driving assistance systems. 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, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. Advanced ProTech II featured full-speed forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assist, and rain-sensing wipers. Despite these features, the Grand Cherokee received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and had less impressive ratings from the IIHS.