2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport had been long-awaited and didn’t disappoint when finally unveiled. It channeled some of the iconic Bronco styling cues from the 1966 – 1996 era. Despite being a smaller, more suburban-oriented version of its bigger Bronco sibling, it still carried a rugged charm. The front overhang was very short, enhancing its approach angle, and the rear overhang was equally impressive. Tall fender wells and tucked-in body sides were designed for trail driving, minimizing the risk of catching on obstructions. The front end, reminiscent of the bigger Bronco, along with a rear design that harmonized with its overall aesthetic, tied the Sport to its legacy. The "BRONCO" lettering in bold white on the grille and tailgate, followed by a subtle “SPORT” postscript, added a distinctive touch. The blue Ford oval was placed modestly on the tailgate.

Wheel options varied across trims: the Base model featured 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels, Big Bend had 17-inch Carbonized Gray-painted high-gloss aluminum wheels, Outer Banks sported 18-inch machined-face aluminum Ebony Black-painted wheels with all-season tires, and Badlands flaunted 28.5-inch all-terrain tires on similar wheels. The First Edition model had 17-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels with 29-inch all-terrain tires.

Inside, the Bronco Sport maintained a rugged yet tasteful appeal, avoiding overstatement. Repeating unique shapes for the HVAC vents created a unified cabin feel. The center stack had several convenient open storage cubbies, topped by a perfectly placed 8-inch infotainment screen. The rotary gear selector on the center console was complemented by two cupholders. Interior trims improved predictably from model to model, featuring cloth seats that transitioned to leather-trimmed and heated sport-contour bucket seats, culminating in Navy Pier Leather power front seats in the First Edition.

In contrast, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, despite being in its fourth generation, still looked terrific and maintained a perfect balance of rugged utility and upscale sophistication. Its design was marked by big wheels pushed to the corners under purposefully flared fenders. This aesthetic greatly contributed to its continued success. The Grand Cherokee defied easy categorization, appealing as a mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV.

Trim levels ranged from affordable Laredo and Limited to the upscale Overland and Summit. On the performance end, it had the SRT and Trackhawk models, while the Trailhawk catered to serious off-road enthusiasts. Minor updates for 2021 included value-oriented Laredo X and 80th Anniversary Edition versions, with pricing spanning from $35,000 to nearly $90,000.

The Summit trim featured body-color mirror caps, door handles, side sills, and lower bumpers with platinum chrome finishes, enhancing its premium appeal. The interior boasted premium leather, genuine wood, real aluminum, and simulated suede, particularly the Indigo and Ski Gray color scheme, offering sharp contrasts and luxurious touches like quilted seat bolsters and a thick-rimmed wood-and-leather steering wheel.

However, while the Grand Cherokee’s exterior styling was timeless, its interior showed signs of aging. Old-school switchgear, non-flush panel fittings, and tacked-on components made a redesign necessary to match modern standards.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport showcased impressive performance credentials during its media drive at Holly Oaks ORV Park in Michigan. Ford offered two engine choices depending on the trim. The Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims were powered by a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline direct-injection engine, delivering 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the Badlands and First Edition models featured a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline direct-injection engine, producing 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and came with all-wheel drive (AWD).

The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, owing to its short wheelbase (105.1 inches), four-wheel independent suspension (MacPherson struts in front and double lateral link rear with stabilizer bars), generous suspension travel (7.4 inches front and 8.1 inches rear), and decent ground clearance (7.8 to 8.8 inches). It offered a stable and controlled experience even in challenging terrain.

On-road, the Bronco Sport exhibited good manners, making it suitable for commuting, family hauling, and general use. The 2.0-liter engine felt more in harmony with the vehicle’s character, while the 1.5-liter engine felt strained and noisy under pressure.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, generating 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. This engine powered either the rear or all four wheels via an excellent eight-speed automatic transmission and could tow up to 6,200 pounds.

For those desiring additional power, Jeep offered an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 paired with a Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, delivering 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. This configuration provided a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds and a satisfying V8 rumble during acceleration. However, it came with a lower fuel economy of 17 mpg combined, as per EPA ratings.

The Quadra-Trac II system equipped the Grand Cherokee with a two-speed transfer case, hill descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management, allowing the driver to choose from Snow, Sand, Mud, Auto, and Rock settings. The Quadra-Lift air suspension system provided 4.1 inches of variability, lowering for efficiency on the highway and raising ground clearance from 8.6 to 10.8 inches off-road.

During daily driving, the Grand Cherokee offered speed and responsiveness, though the V8 consumed fuel aggressively in the city. Despite an air suspension, the ride could sometimes feel bouncy and wobbly on uneven surfaces. A tight turning radius proved beneficial for both parking lot maneuvers and backcountry driving. Brakes were effective, and overall visibility was good, although the absence of surround-view and forward-view camera systems was noted.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered well to active buyers with several clever features. The cargo space was designed to accommodate two 27.5-inch wheel mountain bikes. Ford’s catalog included over 100 factory and aftermarket accessories to transport kayaks, surfboards, skis, camping equipment, and other gear. The roof could hold up to 150 pounds (100 with the moonroof), and towing capacities were 2,200 pounds for the 2.0-liter engine and 2,000 pounds for the 1.5-liter engine. The rear glass flipped up, an often forgotten but handy feature, while an optional cargo management package included a slide-out work table, a 400-watt inverter, and liftgate floodlamps.

In the front cabin, ample storage options, including big door pockets and multiple cubbies, facilitated organization. However, the driving position had some drawbacks. Taller drivers could find it challenging to see past the roof overhang to spot traffic lights, and off-road visibility was somewhat obscured by the hood bulges.

Inside the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, passengers enjoyed flat, firm, and supportive seats. Both front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. Unlike traditional buttons, controls for seat and steering wheel heating and seat ventilation were integrated into the Uconnect infotainment system, which could be distracting.

Rear seats offered reasonable comfort, but taller adults might find legroom tight. The optional rear-seat entertainment system, with its folding dual seatback screens, exacerbated feelings of claustrophobia. However, large side windows, a panoramic sunroof, and light interior colors alleviated this to some extent. Despite adequate interior storage, the DVD/Blu-Ray player took up significant space in the center console bin. The Grand Cherokee’s grocery bag hooks on front seatbacks were a notable practical feature.

Cargo space behind the rear seat was 36.3 cubic feet, featuring a recessed bin for milk jugs or wine bottles and under-floor storage around the spare tire. With the second-row seats folded, maximum cargo space was 68.3 cubic feet—a decent but modest capacity for a midsize SUV.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured the latest Ford infotainment systems. An 8-inch touchscreen connected to SYNC 3 compatible with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Ford+Alexa, and SiriusXM. FordConnect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot was standard. Base audio included a six-speaker AM/FM stereo, with an optional Bang & Olufsen system available from the Outer Banks trim up, ranging from $1,595 to $2,595. Other tech options included a 360-degree camera with split view and washer, useful for off-road enthusiasts.

The terrain management system incorporated G.O.A.T. modes: Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks offered Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery, and Sand modes, while Badlands and First Edition also included Mud/Ruts and Rock Crawl. These functionalities adjusted steering, transmission, and throttle response settings for various conditions. Trail control technology allowed for a cruise-control-like feature for off-roading.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 2021 model had the Uconnect 4C with Nav setup. Even though the next generation promised Uconnect 5 systems, the existing setup offered a nearly flawless user experience, swift input responses, and pleasing graphics. Highlights included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM provided six months of satellite radio, five years of Traffic Plus and Travel Link services, and a year of SiriusXM Guardian with remote access to locks, engine starting, vehicle finder, SOS emergency calling, and more.

Voice recognition was robust, and the Harman Kardon 19-speaker sound system in the Summit was particularly impressive. Apart from the infotainment and advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS), the Grand Cherokee was technologically basic, though this analog simplicity could appeal to some buyers.

Each trim level of the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features. This included pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, dynamic brake support, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, auto high-beam headlamps, and a reversing camera.

The Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, costing $795, was available across all trims except Base and included adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, voice-activated touchscreen navigation with pinch-to-zoom, SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link, and road-sign recognition (not on Big Bend). This package offered elements towards semi-autonomous driving.

Trailer sway control, priced $495 as part of a tow package, was essential for safe towing. AWD enhanced the vehicle's safety, offering built-in traction control, anti-lock braking, and electronic stability control.

The IIHS and NHTSA had not released crash-worthiness ratings for the Bronco Sport by the time of this review.

Conversely, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. The NHTSA awarded the 4WD model a five-star overall rating, while the 2WD model received a four-star rating due to a three-star rollover resistance rating.

However, in the more rigorous IIHS testing, the Grand Cherokee received less favorable marks. For small-overlap, frontal-impact collisions, it scored "Marginal" for the driver and "Poor" for the front passenger. Its standard headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded to high-intensity discharge headlights with automatic high-beam assist.

Depending on the trim, the Grand Cherokee came with several preventative safety features. The ProTech II Package, standard in the Summit trim, included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high-beam headlights. These features functioned well, providing the driver with adaptive and traditional cruise control options, and easily accessible lane-keeping assistance.

The Grand Cherokee also included a backup camera with guidance lines, parking sensors, and the ParkSense parking assistance system for parallel and perpendicular parking.