The SUV segment of the automotive market is oversaturated. Every automaker has at least one SUV, usually more than one. With the popularity of the SUV and crossover SUV in the United States market, this makes sense. Unfortunately, these circumstances make it hard for potential SUV and crossover SUV buyers to figure out which vehicles are quality. And, moreover, which options are right for them and their situations.
Enter today’s competitors: the 2020 Toyota RAV4 XLE and the 2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude. Both are great vehicles, but they have some huge differences that we believe will be the deciding factor for many customers. Let’s take a look.
2020 Toyota RAV4 XLE |
vs |
2020 Jeep Cherokee Latitude |
$27,245 |
MSRP |
$27,395 |
2.5L-inline 4-cyl |
Engine |
2.4L-inline 4-cyl |
203 hp / 184 ft-lbs |
Horsepower / Torque |
180 hp / 171 ft-lbs |
FWD or AWD |
Drivetrain |
FWD or AWD |
8-speed shiftable automatic |
Transmission |
9-speed automatic |
28 / 35 / 30 mpg |
Fuel Economy |
22 / 31 / 35 mpg |
Toyota has always been known for producing efficient vehicles. The 2020 RAV4 is no exception. Rated at 28 city / 35 highway / 30 combined mpg, it absolutely trounces the Jeep Cherokee, particularly when it comes to city driving. That difference comes out to more than $300 in savings a year for the average driver (12,000 miles/year).
The Jeep Cherokee has some of the worst cargo volume in its class. With the rear seats up, it has a tiny 25.8 cubic feet of space; with the rear seats down, it only gets 54.7 cubic feet. On the other hand, the RAV4 has a class-leading cargo space with 37.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, and 69.8 cubic feet of space with the seats down.
Test out a RAV4 and see the difference for yourself.