The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Beats the Toyota 4Runner in Key Areas
The ‘ole Jeep Grand Cherokee has done it again. Despite being an older model, it’s tough to beat. Even the infamous Toyota 4Runner is finding it difficult to take down the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee as it continues to excel with competitive excellence.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. the Toyota 4Runner
We called the Jeep Grand Cherokee old, but if you think about it, the 2021 model is the 10th year of the current generation. But the Toyota 4Runner is also pretty ancient. It was last redesigned in 2009.
So, both of these SUVs must be operating under the idea that if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. They have both kept their style, off-roading capabilities, and more. Only, the Grand Cherokee has had a few updates to take out rivals.
The 4Runner has less passenger space
The team at AutoBlog got to spend some time with the 2021 Grand Cherokee and noticed a few areas where it dominates the Toyota 4Runner. For example, the Grand Cherokee provides more space for passengers.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has more headspace, shoulder room, and legroom than the 4Runner. It may be more comfortable for longer trips and taller passengers. However, the Toyota 4Runner does have more cargo room and a third-row seat.
Despite the third-row being cramped, according to U.S. News, they can fit children. When folded flat, there is 46.3 cubic feet of space in the trunk area with up to 88.8 cubic feet of cargo storage total. The Grand Cherokee tops out at 68.3 cubic feet.
The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee is more comfortable
The AutoBlog team admits that the Grand Cherokee has a rougher ride than rivals like the Kia Telluride or Chevy Blazer, but those aren’t off-roaders. Also, they mention that the Grand Cherokee has a smoother ride than the Toyota 4Runner.
While Edmunds has plenty of positive features to mention about the 2021 Toyota 4Runner, ride quality isn’t one of them. They said the ride is choppy, bouncy, and stiff. The brakes can also cause a nosedive. There is also quite a bit of road noise to deal with.
With the 2021 Grand Cherokee, Edmunds noted that the cabin feels peacefully isolated from the road. It’s quiet with supportive seats. However, the acceleration could be a little more exciting, and the handling feels heavy.
The Grand Cherokee is more luxurious
Autoblog also said that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is more luxurious than the Toyota 4Runner. This seems to check out as U.S. News mentions that the 4Runner has a plastic interior that looks outdated.
When reviewing the Grand Cherokee, U.S. News mentioned that the interior consists of high-quality materials. There are soft-touch surfaces and a refined feel. However, they claim it’s still behind other rivals.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee also provides a V8 engine option, while the Toyota 4Runner only has a V6. This makes the Grand Cherokee a more capable option with the ability to tow up to 7,200 lb while the 4Runner can only tow up to 5,000 lb.
