2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a testament to timeless design, maintaining its appeal over a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels and flared fenders that gave it a balanced and artistic look. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, as it straddled the line between mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV categories. The model lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk models. The Summit trim, in particular, offered a luxurious interior with premium materials, though the aging design elements hinted at the need for a redesign.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid presented a more modern and distinctive appearance, though it required an acclimation period for some. Its blunt and bulbous nose, along with black windshield pillars, gave it a unique look, while swollen haunches balanced the design. The Highlander Hybrid was available in LE, XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims, with Canadian pricing ranging from $45,950 to $56,450. The Platinum trim offered a spacious and comfortable interior with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a surround-view camera system. However, the Highlander's interior had some drawbacks, such as a loud and hollow instrument-panel shroud and a mix of illumination colours that made the gauges appear busy at night.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine powered either the rear or all four wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission and could tow up to 2,818 kilograms. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine provided 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,300 kilograms. The V8 engine featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved efficiency, though it still consumed 14.1 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, Quadra-Lift air suspension, and Selec-Terrain traction management made it a capable off-road vehicle, while its tight turning radius and responsive brakes enhanced its on-road performance.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, featured a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine with a total output of 243 horsepower. It was rated to use 6.7 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, making it more fuel-efficient than its predecessor. However, the Highlander Hybrid's performance was less engaging, with adequate power but a strained engine sound during acceleration. The steering was lifeless, and the ride and handling were affected by unwanted body movement. Despite these drawbacks, the Highlander Hybrid excelled in fuel efficiency, offering electric motor torque and a quiet ride on the freeway. However, it lacked the driving dynamics and power of the previous-generation model.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, leather-wrapped panels, and a heated steering wheel. Both front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults. The Grand Cherokee's cargo space measured 1,028 litres behind the rear seat, with a maximum capacity of 1,934 litres. While interior storage was adequate, the optional rear-seat entertainment system took up valuable space in the centre console bin.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum provided roomy and supportive accommodations for the driver and front passenger, with a 10-way power seat adjustment for the driver. The test vehicle featured a no-cost bench seat option, increasing seating capacity to eight people, though the second row felt narrow for three adults. The third-row seat was uncomfortable, with limited headroom and legroom. The Highlander Hybrid offered 453 litres of cargo space behind the third-row seat, with a maximum capacity of 2,387 litres. While storage was plentiful, the dashboard shelf was less accommodating than in the previous-generation model, and the wireless smartphone charger blocked access to the storage area below.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a nearly flawless user experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system also provided a year of SiriusXM satellite radio and subscription-based services like Traffic Plus and Travel Link. The Grand Cherokee's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. While the Grand Cherokee was "tech lite," it offered essential features and advanced driving assistance systems.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came equipped with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Platinum trim featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, an 11-speaker JBL audio system, and a navigation system. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large stereo volume and tuning knobs and main-menu shortcut buttons. The Highlander's voice recognition system worked well, though it did not operate the climate controls. The JBL sound system offered 1,200 watts of power but sounded boomy and muddy with bass-heavy music. The Highlander also included Driver Easy Speak technology and a video rearview mirror for improved visibility.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for 4WD models, but a four-star rating for 2WD models due to a three-star rollover resistance rating. However, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Grand Cherokee a "Marginal" safety rating for the driver and a "Poor" rating for the front passenger in small-overlap, frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded. The Summit trim included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assistance.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ (TSS 2.5+), which included automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure with steering assist. The system added intersection support and emergency steering assistance for 2021. The Highlander received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assistance systems were effective but had some quirks, such as inconsistent braking and overly sensitive steering corrections. The Highlander also included a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system on the Platinum trim.