History/Overview
Jeep's Grand Cherokee has been one of the best choices for a luxury off-road crossover without breaking the bank on something like a Range Rover. In later years, it's upped the luxury, the off-road capability, and even the performance, with Jeep building more and more variants. The current model has been on sale for a few years now, so expect an all-new generation coming soon.
What's New / Key Changes from Last Year
With a new model expected, and the three-row version of it already shown, Jeep has made no changes of note to the Grand Cherokee for 2021. There are 80th Anniversary edition models available to celebrate Jeep's anniversary.
Available Trims
Grand Cherokee trims include Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, SRT and Trackhawk. Entry-level models get power is from a 3.6L V6 or a 5.7L V8. SRT gets a 6.2L V8, and the Trackhawk uses a supercharged version of the 6.2L. An eight-speed transmission and four-wheel drive are standard in all trims, though there are different 4x4 systems depending on the model. In addition to the 80th Anniversary, special editions include Altitude, Limited X, and High Altitude.
Standard Features
Laredo trim comes with heated side mirrors, 17-inch aluminum wheels, fog lights, automatic on/off headlights, LED taillights, interior LED lighting, cloth upholstery, a six-speaker stereo, 7.0-inch infotainment display, leather-trimmed steering wheel and shift lever, dual-zone automatic climate control, 12-way power driver's seat with four-way lumbar, fold-flat front passenger seat, 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster display, tilt-and-telescopic steering column, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, passive keyless entry, rear park assist sensors, and blind spot monitoring with rear cross traffic alert.
Limited trim adds 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, heated front and rear seats, Selec-Terrain drive modes, hill descent control, garage door opener, driver's side auto-dimming mirror, power tailgate, upgraded fog lights, auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 115-volt power outlet, a 12-way power front passenger seat, cargo cover and a heated steering wheel.
Trailhawk trim brings a limited-slip differential, air suspension, underbody skid plates, a full-size spare tire, tow hooks, power-folding side mirrors, Nappa leather seating, nine-speaker stereo, and an 8.4-inch infotainment display with navigation.
Overland trim builds on Limited, adding rain-sensing wipers, air suspension, 20-inch wheels, auto-dimming passenger side mirror, auto-levelling HID headlights with automatic high beams, LED daytime running lights, wood steering wheel trim and other wood accents, under-seat lighting and leather dash and console trim.
Summit models gain headlight washers, performance all-season tires, perforated leather seats, a 19-speaker stereo, suede headliner, adaptive cruise control, park assist, lane departure warning with lane keep assist and forward collision detection with automatic braking.
SRT's additions are mostly performance-related, including a sport suspension, Brembo brakes, upgraded engine cooling and a shift indicator. It also reverts to the Overland's nine-speaker stereo, and loses the Summit's wood trim and a suede headliner.
Trackhawk gets competition suspension and a black painted hood to go along with the more powerful V8. It also has a limited-slip rear differential and exclusive performance pages in the infotainment system.
This year's specials include their 80th Anniversary, which adds 20-inch granite-finish wheels, Nappa leather seats, and anniversary badges to Limited. Altitude adds 20-inch black wheels and Nappa seats as well as an 8.4-inch infotianment system to Laredo, Limited X adds 20s and HID headlights as well as Nappa leather seats to Limited, and High Altitude does much of the same to Overland.
Key Options
Jeep offers a Protech option group that adds the Summit's driver assists to lower-end trims. An off-road Adventure Group package brings bits like skid plates, a lift, and all-terrain tires to non-Trailhawk models. There's also a rear-seat entertainment system and the Summit's 19-speaker stereo to add to some lesser trims, as well as a dual-pane panoramic roof. Trailhawk Luxury adds Nappa leather and power adjust wheel.
Summit offers a Laguna leather interior and both SRT models offer an uprated leather interior.
Fuel Economy
Jeep's fuel consumption estimates for the Grand Cherokee are 12.7/9.6 L/100 km (city/highway) with the V6 engine; 16.7/10.9 for the 5.7L V8; 18.3/12.6 L/100 in SRT guise; and 20.9/13.8 for the Trackhawk.
Competition
While mid-size SUVs is a large segment, not many offer the same things that the Grand Cherokee does. Crossovers like the Ford Edge, Chevrolet Blazer, and Honda Passport offer more sporting styling but much less performance, luxury, and capability. Likewise, the SRT models could do battle with the Porsche Cayenne, Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class, and Jaguar F-Pace, but falls behind them in luxury and some build quality areas, though offers more performance for less money.
