2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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 SUV 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 and the off-road-ready Trailhawk. The Summit trim, with its Premium Plus Appearance Group, enhanced the vehicle's premium look with body-colour accents and a platinum chrome finish. Inside, the Summit's cabin was luxurious, with premium leather, genuine wood, and a striking Indigo and Ski Gray colour scheme. However, the interior showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited AWD, priced at $45,341, offered a more understated appearance. Despite being fully loaded, it resembled a rental car, lacking the larger alloy wheels of its non-hybrid counterpart. 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 practical, with a mix of impressive materials and glossy hard plastics. The interior was functional, with clear instrumentation and well-placed controls. The RAV4 Hybrid provided decent rear-seat legroom and excellent foot space, with a reclining backrest for added comfort. The cargo area offered 1,059 litres of space, expandable to 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded. The RAV4 Hybrid's interior was accommodating, with useful storage solutions and a user-friendly infotainment system.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, delivering 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It offered rear-wheel or all-wheel drive 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 produced 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,300 kg. 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 capable off-road. The Summit trim offered a smooth and responsive ride, though it could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces. The Grand Cherokee's tight turning radius and effective brakes added to its appeal.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-litre 4-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors, producing 219 horsepower. The hybrid powertrain provided standard all-wheel drive and offered several driving modes, including Eco, Normal, Sport, Trail, and EV. The RAV4 Hybrid's curb weight ranged from 1,680 to 1,720 kilograms, and it achieved a fuel efficiency of 6.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) operated smoothly, and the regenerative braking system was effective. The RAV4 Hybrid's steering was well-weighted, and its suspension design provided a comfortable ride. However, the test vehicle's tires lacked grip, affecting cornering performance. The RAV4 Hybrid excelled as a daily driver, with a smooth ride and effective handling, though it wasn't particularly fun to drive.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats and leather-wrapped panels. The front seats provided eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. The Grand Cherokee's cargo area provided 1,028 litres of space, expandable to 1,934 litres with the rear seats folded. Interior storage was adequate, though the rear-seat entertainment system took up space in the centre console bin.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered a comfortable interior with an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front cushions, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat provided decent legroom and excellent foot space, with a reclining backrest for added comfort. The RAV4 Hybrid's dashboard was well-organized, with large climate control knobs and easy-to-use infotainment controls. The cargo area offered 1,059 litres of space, expandable to 1,977 litres with the rear seats folded. The RAV4 Hybrid's interior was accommodating, with useful storage solutions and a user-friendly infotainment system.

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 offered SiriusXM satellite radio, Traffic Plus, Travel Link services, and SiriusXM Guardian. The Grand Cherokee's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim included a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Grand Cherokee was "tech lite," offering essential features and advanced driving assistance systems.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid offered several infotainment systems, with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen display. The larger screen included SiriusXM satellite radio, Remote Connect, Safety Connect, and Service Connect. The test vehicle featured an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system with dynamic navigation. The 8-inch display was user-friendly, with shortcut buttons and stereo knobs. The RAV4 Hybrid also offered camera-based technology, including a 360-degree surround-view camera system and a camera rearview mirror.

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. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Grand Cherokee "Marginal" for driver-side small-overlap frontal-impact collisions and "Poor" for the front passenger. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also received a "Poor" rating unless upgraded. The Summit trim included the ProTech II Package, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The RAV4 Hybrid also featured blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The RAV4 Hybrid earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top marks from the IIHS, except for its headlights. The adaptive front headlights on the RAV4 Hybrid Limited received a "Good" rating from the IIHS.