Compare the2023 Subaru OutbackVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Outback have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Outback are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Outback (except Base/Premium) offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Outback. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The Outback’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The Outback’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Outback and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Outback	Grand Cherokee
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	26%	28%
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/249 lbs.	401/317 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Grand Cherokee:

	Outback	Grand Cherokee
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	131	172
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.4/.7 kN	4.9/2.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	3%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Tibia index R/L	.59/.48	1.06/.54

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Outback is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

	Outback	Grand Cherokee
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	28	37
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	126 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	116	121
Hip Force	635 lbs.	689 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	146	163

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Outback its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2022, a rating granted to only 81 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick.”

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the Outback have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Subaru higher than Jeep.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 11 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Outback XT/Wilderness’ standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Outback XT/Wilderness 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee V8:

	Outback	Grand Cherokee
Zero to 60 MPH	5.9 sec	6.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.6 sec	14.9 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95.9 MPH	92.8 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Outback lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability (That’s why Porsche uses boxer engines.). The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Outback gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee:

			MPG
Outback
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/32 hwy
		XT 2.4 turbo flat-4	22 city/29 hwy
		Wilderness 2.4 turbo flat-4	21 city/26 hwy
Grand Cherokee
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

Regardless of its engine, the Outback’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee V6.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Outback uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Subaru Outback higher (6 to 7 out of 10) than the Jeep Grand Cherokee (3 to 7). This means the Outback produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Grand Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

The EPA certifies the Subaru Outback as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Jeep Grand Cherokee is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

Transmission

The Outback has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a CVT.

Tires and Wheels

The Outback Wilderness/Onyx XT has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Grand Cherokee. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Outback Wilderness handles at .74 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Outback Wilderness executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.6 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 (27.2 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Outback’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Grand Cherokee’s (36.1 feet vs. 37.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Outback has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee (8.7 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the Outback to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Subaru Outback may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 850 to 1300 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Outback has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Grand Cherokee uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The front grille of the Outback 2.5i uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Outback has 3.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Grand Cherokee (109 vs. 105.4).

The Outback has .2 inches more front headroom, 2.5 inches more front legroom and .9 inches more rear legroom than the Grand Cherokee.

The front step up height for the Outback is 1.5 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee (19” vs. 20.5”). The Outback’s rear step up height is 2.3 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee’s (18.5” vs. 20.8”).

Cargo Capacity

The Outback has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat folded (75.6 vs. 68.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the Outback easier. The Outback’s trunk lift-over height is 28.4 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 32.4 inches.

The Outback’s cargo area is larger than the Grand Cherokee’s in almost every dimension:

	Outback	Grand Cherokee
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42”/75”	38.5”/74.2”
Max Width	51”	47.6”
Min Width	43.3”	41.7”
Height	32.1”	33.5”

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Outback’s liftgate can be opened just by holding your hand near the emblem on the trunk, leaving your hands completely free. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Ergonomics

The Outback’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Grand Cherokee’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The Outback Limited/Wilderness/Touring/Onyx Edition’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Outback’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Outback Base). The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Outback’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Grand Cherokee’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Poor.”

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Outback has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer cornering lights.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Subaru Outback (except Base) offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Outback owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Outback with a number “5” insurance rate while the Grand Cherokee is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Outback is less expensive to operate than the Grand Cherokee because typical repairs cost much less on the Outback than the Grand Cherokee, including $577 less for a muffler, $57 less for front brake pads, $38 less for a starter, $12 less for fuel injection, $21 less for a fuel pump, $328 less for a timing belt/chain and $118 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Subaru Outback, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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