The Subaru Outback is a favorite among many, as is the Jeep Cherokee. But when it comes to comparing these two SUVs? There are several differences worth keeping in mind. And, unfortunately for the Jeep Cherokee, most of those differences mean you should probably stick with the 2021 Subaru Outback. Because, in this case, choosing the 2021 Jeep Cherokee over the Subaru Outback would probably be a mistake.

The 2021 Subaru Outback did better in road tests

You probably want to enjoy driving your next vehicle. If that’s the case, then you’re going to want to stick with the 2021 Subaru Outback because, in road tests, this year’s model did much better than its Jeep competitor. According to Consumer Reports, this year’s model handles responsively and offers an impressive overall ride. Kelley Blue Book added that the 2021 Subaru Outback is “amply powered and rewarding to drive.”

As for the 2021 Jeep Cherokee? Consumer Reports says that you can expect a pretty stiff ride when getting behind the wheel of this SUV. Its transmission certainly isn’t helping things either. According to Consumer Reports, it’s “neither responsive nor smooth.” The only time the Cherokee outshined the Outback in road tests? When Consumer Reports took it off-road. But let’s be honest, how much time do you spend off-roading? If it’s not much, then choosing the Cherokee over the Outback just doesn’t make much sense.

You can count on the 2021 Subaru Outback to keep you safe

The 2021 Subaru Outback doesn’t just offer a better ride. It also fared much better in crashworthiness tests than the Jeep Cherokee. But that shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. This year’s new Outback is standard with a wealth of safety features, including forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane-keep assist. 

Equipped with these safety features, the Subaru Outback earned a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) also tapped it as a Top Safety Pick+. Unfortunately for the Jeep Cherokee, it only earned a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. It wasn’t named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS either. 

For higher resale value, stick with the Subaru Outback

If you plan on selling your new SUV sometime in the future, you’re going to want to keep resale value in mind. In this case, that means sticking with the 2021 Subaru Outback, which is pretty well known for its resale value. Kelley Blue Book even named it as having the ‘Best Resale Value’ in its class for 2020. But how does its resale value compare to the Jeep Cherokee?

According to CarEdge, you can count on the Subaru Outback to depreciate 45% after five years, giving it a five-year resale value of about $18,820. When it comes to this year’s new Jeep Cherokee, CarEdge says that you can expect it to depreciate 53% after five years and have a five-year resale value of approximately $16,537. 

Find out if this Subaru is the right fit for you

There’s no denying that the 2021 Subaru Outback has a lot going for it, especially compared to the 2021 Jeep Cherokee. It’s not only more enjoyable to drive, but it also offers better safety ratings and has a higher resale value than its Jeep competitor. So why not try taking this year’s model out for a test drive? After all, that’s the best way to determine whether or not this year’s Outback is the right fit for you.