When you're on the search for a powerful vehicle for your commutes around Chittenden County, South Burlington, and St. Albans, VT, it's important to do an ample amount of research in order to decide which car is the right choice for you. Two highly capable SUVs you may be considering are the Jeep Cherokee and Toyota RAV4.
Here at Goss Dodge Chrysler, we're dedicated to helping our drivers every step of the way through the car-buying journey, and we know that starts right here. Check out our 2020 Jeep Cherokee vs. 2020 Toyota RAV4 review to see which one is the perfect vehicle for you. Now, let's see how these two stack up!
Powertrain and Engine Specs
To get started, let's head right under the hood of these two vehicles.
When taking a look at the Jeep Cherokee trim levels, you'll notice you have the choice between three different engines: the standard 2.4L I4 engine, the available 2.0L I4 turbocharged engine, and the available 3.2L Pentastar® V6 engine with Stop/Start technology.
With the Toyota RAV4 trim levels, you'll only have one engine option: the standard 2.5L Dynamic Force 4-cylinder engine.
The RAV4 has a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds when properly equipped, while the Jeep Cherokee blows that away by providing a max towing capacity of 4,500 pounds when properly equipped.
Over in the Cherokee, you'll have the choice between three available 4-wheel drive (4WD) systems. In addition, the available Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System lets you choose between five customized modes: Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud, and Rock. Over in the RAV4, you'll find the available Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive (TV-AWD) system.
If you're looking for advanced powertrain specs and the ability to customize your vehicle to your liking, it's clear the Jeep Cherokee is going to be the choice for you!
Exterior Design
Now, let's take a look at the exterior build and design.
With the Jeep Cherokee, you have a choice between a plethora of vibrant finishes, including:
- Billet Silver Metallic
- Blue Shade Pearl
- Bright White
- Diamond Black Crystal Pearl
- Light Brownstone Pearl
- Olive Green Pearl
- Spitfire Orange
- Velvet Red Pearl
The Toyota RAV4 also offers many color options, but they're primarily in shades of blue, silver, white, and black. If you're looking to stand out from the crowd, you won't find much luck with the finish options offered in the 2020 RAV4.
To compare the two SUV's exteriors even further, we'll explore some of their other features worth noting, such as their wheels. Both the Jeep Cherokee and Toyota RAV4 come with 17-inch wheels. However, the Jeep gives you a bit more style with painted aluminum wheels, compared to the Toyota's standard steel wheels. For an even bolder look on the Jeep Cherokee, you can opt for the available 18-inch gloss black wheels or 19-inch granite painted wheels.
Although the Cherokee and RAV4 have some attention-grabbing exterior designs, the Jeep is just a bit more iconic. The Jeep brand is known for bold bodies and well-known features, like the standard Jeep grille.
While the Jeep Cherokee is stylish, it's also known for convenience, thanks to some of its standard and available exterior features. The standard tire fill alert feature works to send you an audible warning when your tires need more air pressure. The alert will also let you know how much to fill them.
You'll also love available features, like the windshield wiper de-icer, which offers a heated windshield wiper to quickly and easily remove snow and ice from your windshield. You can also enjoy the available hands-free power liftgate feature that's designed to help you open the liftgate by just hovering your foot below it.
Interior Technology
Both vehicles offer available advanced multimedia systems and come equipped with standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, which means you can easily hook up your smartphone and stream music. In the Jeep Cherokee, you'll find the available Uconnect® 4C NAV with 8.4-inch display. Over in the Toyota RAV4, the available Audio Plus system includes a smaller 8-inch touchscreen display.
Standard on the High Altitude trim of the Jeep Cherokee, you'll enjoy convenient technology features, like the Uconnect® 4C NAV. This navigation system helps make getting to places much easier. Even if you aren't sure where you want to go, the system can show you a variety of restaurants, stores, and more in the area.
When it comes to staying connected to your vehicle from anywhere, both the Jeep Cherokee and Toyota RAV4 deliver. The SUVs offer a similar system that helps you access your car from either your smartphone or smart watch.
The Jeep gives you the Uconnect® app, whereas the Toyota offers the Toyota Remote Connect feature. These systems allow you to do things like unlock and lock your vehicle, start and stop your engine, and even locate your parked vehicle, all at your fingertips or with the voice control feature.
One last thing to highlight as far as technology goes is the Jeep and Toyota safety features. You'll drive with ease knowing these vehicles are both equipped with some of the most up-to-date systems. The Cherokee and RAV4 offer similar features, including a blind spot monitoring system, a lane departure warning system, a park assist feature, a rear-view backup camera, and much more.
2020 Jeep Cherokee vs 2020 Toyota RAV4: What's the Best Car for Families?
While both of these vehicles are a great choice for your travels around Chittenden County, South Burlington, and St. Albans, Vermont, it's clear the 2020 Jeep Cherokee outperforms the 2020 Toyota RAV4 in crucial categories. The Cherokee delivers some impressive powertrain specs and helps keep you connected and safe on the roads ahead, thanks to its standard technology features.
If you're interested in checking out the Jeep Cherokee for yourself, don't hesitate to call or stop by Goss Dodge Chrysler today. We look forward to helping you get behind the wheel of the perfect SUV!