2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan aesthetic, presenting a more SUV-like appearance. Its wide grille and sleek LED headlamp arrays gave it a modern look, while the sculpted sliding side doors and various alloy wheel sizes added to its assertive stance. The rear design managed to look wide and low, maintaining Toyota's high standards of fit and finish. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a comfortable seating position and a simple, uncluttered dashboard. The center console was practical, featuring multiple cupholders and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows provided ample comfort and flexibility, with the second row sliding fore and aft for maximum utility.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, with its timeless design, continued to impress more than a decade after its debut. Combining rugged utility with upscale sophistication, it featured big wheels under flared fenders, creating a balanced and appealing look. The Grand Cherokee lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the luxurious Overland and Summit, and the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk. The Summit trim, in particular, stood out with its premium leather, genuine wood, and real aluminum interior. However, the interior showed signs of aging, with outdated switchgear and non-flush panel fits. Despite this, the Grand Cherokee's design remained a significant factor in its continued success.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while maximizing fuel efficiency, tended to blunt throttle response. The Sienna offered four selectable drive modes: Normal, EV, Eco, and Sport. Handling was significantly improved over previous models, thanks to new front suspension and steering, and independent rear trailing arm suspension. The big news was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city, highway, and combined, and AWD models rated at 35/36/35 mpg combined.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee came standard with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, capable of towing up to 6,200 pounds. For those seeking more power, an optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8 was available, delivering 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved fuel efficiency, though it still managed only 17 mpg combined. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system, hill-descent control, and Selec-Terrain traction management made it highly capable off-road. The Summit trim included a Quadra-Lift air suspension, enhancing both on-road and off-road performance. Despite its off-road prowess, the Grand Cherokee remained responsive and relatively quiet during daily driving, though it could feel bouncy on uneven surfaces.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience and functionality, essential for a minivan. It featured a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that easily stored away, and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy access. The cabin boasted 16 cupholders and ample storage cubbies. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood with the tailgate closed, offering 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate, responsive to kick motions, added to its family-friendly features.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit offered a luxurious interior with quilted and perforated leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The rear seat, while comfortable, had somewhat snug legroom for taller adults. The optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia, though large windows and a panoramic sunroof helped alleviate this. Interior storage was adequate, but the rear-seat entertainment system's DVD/Blu-Ray player took up much of the center console bin. The Grand Cherokee provided 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expandable to 68.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded flat. Practical features included grocery bag hooks and a power liftgate closing button.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna was packed with technology, starting with a standard nine-inch touchscreen offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, and SiriusXM. Connectivity features included a year's trial of Safety Connect and Remote Connect, a ten-year trial of Service Connect, and a three-month trial of AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered Qi-compatible charging and a 1500-watt inverter. Audio systems ranged from a six-speaker stereo to a 12-speaker JBL system with Dynamic Navigation. A rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display was available. The driver benefited from a multi-information display, a 10-inch Head-Up Display in Platinum trims, and a digital rearview mirror. Remote keyless entry and push-button start were standard, with the Smart Key System on higher trims.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, known for its user-friendly interface, fast response, and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a Jeep Skill for Amazon Alexa. SiriusXM services included six months of satellite radio, five years of Traffic Plus and Travel Link, and a year of SiriusXM Guardian. The voice recognition technology worked well, allowing control of many features through voice commands. The Summit trim boasted a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. While the Grand Cherokee offered advanced driving assistance systems and sophisticated 4WD systems, it remained relatively "tech lite" compared to newer models.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System, with enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology, was also standard. The Sienna featured 10 airbags, LATCH connectors, a rear-seat reminder system, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Crash-test ratings for the 2021 model were not yet available, but the 2020 Sienna received high marks from both IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee had mixed safety ratings. While it received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA for 4WD models, its performance in IIHS tests was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in small-overlap frontal-impact collisions. The Grand Cherokee's headlights also rated "Poor" unless upgraded. However, the Summit trim included a comprehensive suite of safety features, such as 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. Additional features included a backup camera, parking sensors, and ParkSense parking assistance.