The all-new Cherokee contains the first-ever Jeep brand hybrid system, which is a 1.6-liter turbo-four hybrid propulsion system. This system is paired with a battery and two electric motors to get you as much as 230 pound-feet of torque and 210 horsepower. Those are huge numbers for a vehicle of this size, especially one with hybrid capabilities that can get you around 507 miles of range. You won't have to stop at gas stations as often, and you'll actually be saving money in the long run. We also have to make sure we mention the unsurpassed-in-class towing capacity that sits at 3,500 pounds. How else does the capability of the Cherokee impress? You'll love the standard Jeep Active Drive I 4x4 system, Selec-Terrain traction management, a best-in-class approach angle of 19.6 degrees, and departure angles of 29.4 degrees. The Cherokee is proving itself as the defining SUV in the class.

How does the 2026 RAV4 respond to the Cherokee? It's here that you will be getting a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with two electric motors and a battery. Front-wheel drive is standard with this vehicle, though you can find all-wheel drive on higher trims. You will not find four-wheel drive capability, which is a big letdown compared to the off-roading you can enjoy with the Cherokee. The base towing numbers, with AWD, sit at 1,750 pounds. To get more towing, you'll need to check out the rest of the trim lineup, which is something you may not want to do. While there is an off-road-specific trim called Woodland, this is more of a vehicle meant for more basic drives on trails, rather than something that can actually handle the environment around it.

Now that you know how prepared the all-new Cherokee is for anything you throw at it, it's important to take note of all of the standard equipment you can enjoy with your ride. This is a well-rounded vehicle that is prepared for anything that you could be getting ready for. Some of the top features we want to mention include wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, drowsy driver detection, automatic emergency braking, a passive entry system, a Uconnect 5 infotainment system, active driving assist, rain-sensing wipers, rear park assist, rear cross-path detection, and blind-spot monitoring. Everywhere you turn is a vehicle that you can be proud of and excited to drive. What's not to love?

The Toyota RAV4 has some catching up to do, especially as it does falter when it comes to the overall capability that is available. You want a vehicle that can handle anything, and that is prepared to get you where you need to go with ease. The RAV4 comes into this model year with standard features like Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, a push-button start, fabric-trimmed seating, LED projector headlights, blind-spot monitoring, a backup camera, a manual interior rearview mirror, low-profile roof rails, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, 3 USB-C charging ports, and 6-way passenger adjustments. Nothing here really stands out or gets anyone excited. These are pretty basic standard features that the Cherokee is already outpacing with some pretty exciting features of its own.