2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review

　　

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review

byTravis LangnessReviews Editor

　　Travis Langness has worked in the automotive industry since 2011. He has written thousands of car-related articles and tested and reviewed hundreds of vehicles over the course of his career.

　　The current-generation Grand Cherokee has been on sale for nearly 10 years. Normally, that would be cause for concern — going that long often results in a vehicle having a stale design and outdated features. But Jeep has done an admirable job of keeping this well-known SUV fresh.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$172/mo  for Grand Cherokee Laredo

　　Grand Cherokee Laredo

　　Laredo 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $32,150 MSRPLaredo 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,450 MSRPLaredo E 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $34,000 MSRPLaredo E 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,000 MSRPUpland 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $36,835 MSRPUpland 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,330 MSRPAltitude 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $38,245 MSRPAltitude 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $40,545 MSRPNorth Edition 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $38,895 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $39,955 MSRPLimited 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) (Most Popular) - $41,955 MSRPLimited X 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $45,050 MSRPLimited X 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $47,050 MSRPTrailhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $45,155 MSRPOverland 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $46,695 MSRPOverland 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $49,695 MSRPHigh Altitude 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $49,440 MSRPHigh Altitude 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $52,440 MSRPSummit 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $52,495 MSRPSummit 4dr SUV 4WD (3.6L 6cyl 8A) - $55,495 MSRPSRT 4dr SUV 4WD (6.4L 8cyl 8A) - $68,895 MSRPTrackhawk 4dr SUV 4WD (6.2L 8cyl S/C 8A) - $87,400 MSRP

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　Avg. Midsize SUV

　　Part of the credit goes to the Grand Cherokee's mix of features. You'll find the latest advanced driver safety aids, for instance, as well as a crisp-looking infotainment system that includes standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The interior has an easy-to-use center console layout, too.

　　Under the hood, Jeep no longer offers the optional diesel-powered V6. Thankfully, there are plenty of choices left. There's the standard V6 plus three available V8s. From the 5.7-liter V8 with 360 horsepower all the way up to the Dodge Challenger Hellcat-sourced supercharged 6.2-liter V8 putting out 707 hp, there's plenty of entertainment to be had in this family SUV.

　　The 2020 Grand Cherokee also has excellent off-road and towing capabilities. For a midsize SUV, its 7,200-pound towing capacity is top-notch. Then there's the range of four-wheel-drive systems you can choose from (including the one on the dirt-specialized Trailhawk) that can take you far off the beaten path.

　　It does have some downsides. Acceleration from the base V6 engine is underwhelming, so we recommend ponying up for one of the V8s. That, alas, is also a potential problem: Once you start adding a lot of specialty options, the Grand Cherokee's value becomes less appealing. But if you're searching for a sturdy and off-road-capable five-passenger SUV, the seasoned Grand Cherokee is one of our top recommendations.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Average

　　7.4

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

7.0/10

　　How does the Grand Cherokee drive? The standard V6 in the Grand Cherokee isn't very exciting. In our testing, 0-60 mph took 8.0 seconds, which is slow for a five-passenger midsize SUV. We'd suggest getting the optional V8. The brakes, however, are strong. In zzdcar testing, a stop from 60 mph took 124 feet -- a reasonably short distance for a SUV this size.

　　Part of the problem here is the Grand Cherokee's significant weight, which affects acceleration, handling and overall drivability. Another negative is the steering, which doesn't give you a good feel of the road. This combo makes the Grand Cherokee overly heavy and lethargic to pilot around turns. For off-roading, though, the GC does well thanks to several available off-road-ready options.

　　

Comfort

7.0/10

　　How comfortable is the Grand Cherokee? The Grand Cherokee provides an isolated feel in the cabin. The V6 is nicely muted most of the time. At full throttle, there's a bit of a rumble from under the hood that's neither annoying nor particularly satisfying. Otherwise, it's quiet to the point that it's almost serene. The seats are very supportive and the air conditioning works quickly. The heated and ventilated seats, however, aren't very effective.

　　Our test vehicle came equipped with the optional air suspension. We weren't impressed. It provides a somewhat floaty ride quality on the highway and struggles to soak up smaller pavement ripples. Big bumps are absorbed to a point, but hit one midcorner and the JGC loses its handling composure. The standard suspension might be a better choice.

　　

Interior

8.0/10

　　How’s the interior? The Grand Cherokee provides plenty of interior space and has generous headroom and legroom in all four major seating positions. It also has a commanding driving position, good visibility and relatively simple controls. Everything is within the driver's reach thanks to an impressive range of seat and steering-wheel adjustability.

　　The Uconnect infotainment interface is a bit dated, but it's easy to use thanks to large, grippy knobs for the stereo and fan speed. The only real shortcomings are the thick windshield pillars that obscure some of your view through turns.

　　

Technology

7.5/10

　　How’s the tech? The Grand Cherokee Uconnect interface features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. We also like that the voice controls are pretty apt at understanding commands, whether you're entering a navigation destination or changing the climate settings. Audio quality from the optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon system is good, if a bit bass-heavy. There are plenty of charging options for front and rear passengers.

　　The operation of some of the advanced driving aids, however, is lackluster. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning are both a little too sensitive for our tastes, for example.

　　

Storage

7.5/10

　　How’s the storage? While the Grand Cherokee is certainly versatile, its 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats isn't class-leading. It trails behind smaller vehicles such as the Honda CR-V. This smaller space is mostly due to the full-size spare under the rear floor. On the flip side, hey, there's a full-size spare! That's something you'll want if you go off-road or tow ― two things the Grand Cherokee does very well.

　　Small-item storage is limited to a small center console, can-size cupholders in both the front and rear seats, and slim door pockets. The rear child-safety seat anchors are well-marked and easy to find, and there's a good amount of space for most child seats. The standard V6 can tow up to 6,200 pounds, and the optional V8s have an increased maximum tow rating of 7,200 pounds.

　　

Fuel Economy

7.5/10

　　How’s the fuel economy? With the base V6 and the eight-speed automatic, the Grand Cherokee is good for 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving for both the rear- and four-wheel-drive models. Not outstanding perhaps, but it trounces the 4Runner, its main V6 SUV competitor with similar off-road abilities.

　　

Value

7.5/10

　　Is the Grand Cherokee a good value? Build quality is top-notch in the Grand Cherokee. You'll find tight panel gaps and impressive leather. But decked-out versions such as the Summit get quite expensive, and at that point some luxury rivals start to look more attractive. You'll find the most value with the Trailhawk and the Limited. The Grand Cherokee's warranty is typical. Roadside assistance is good for the class with five years/60,000 miles of coverage.

　　

Wildcard

7.0/10

　　The Grand Cherokee's optional air suspension isn't something we'd recommend to lead-footed drivers. We're also not enamored with the base V6. But other choices are available, including the impressive Hemi V8 and the absolutely bonkers 707-horsepower Trackhawk. And of course, the available Quadra-Trac II 4x4 system means you can get pretty far in off-road or snowy conditions. This Jeep is a midsize SUV with a wide range of appeal.

　　

Which Grand Cherokee does zzdcar recommend?

Most owners will be happy with a midlevel Grand Cherokee. There are plenty of features for the class and lots of available options if you want to upgrade or customize your Jeep. For a bit more off-road capability and flare, though, we'd go with the Trailhawk trim level. It has a sophisticated four-wheel-drive system and impressive feature content, plus you can ditch the standard V6 engine for the available 5.7-liter V8.

　　

2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee models

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a five-passenger midsize SUV that comes in seven trim levels: Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, SRT and Trackhawk. Most Grand Cherokees are available with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive (4WD), the Trailhawk is 4WD only, and the SRT and the Trackhawk get specialized all-wheel-drive systems.

　　Standard feature highlights for the base Laredo include a 3.6-liter V6 engine (295 horsepower, 260 lb-ft of torque), an eight-speed automatic transmission, rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 7-inch touchscreen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and a six-speaker sound system.

　　For the Limited and above, you can go with the standard V6 or the optional 5.7-liter V8 (360 hp, 390 lb-ft). The Limited adds remote start, a power liftgate, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, leather upholstery, an 8.4-inch touchscreen and power-adjustable front seats.

　　The off-road-focused Trailhawk adds unique exterior styling, off-road tires, 4WD with low-range gearing (Quadra-Trac II), and an electronic rear differential that works with a terrain-selectable traction control system (Quadra-Drive II). The Trailhawk also has an adjustable air suspension (Quadra-Lift), underbody skid plates and an upgraded instrument cluster display.

　　Next in the Grand Cherokee lineup is the Overland. It forgoes some of the Trailhawk's specific off-road upgrades but is otherwise similarly equipped.

　　The luxury-leaning Summit trim adds to the Overland with a self-parking system, active noise-canceling technology, a suite of advanced safety features, upgraded leather upholstery, and a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system.

　　The high-horsepower SRT trim level is broadly equipped like the Summit trim level. But it also gets a 6.4-liter V8 (475 hp, 470 lb-ft), a specialized all-wheel-drive system (tuned more for high-performance driving than off-road use), summer performance tires, an adaptive sport-tuned suspension, sport-tuned steering and brakes, a sport body kit, a limited-slip rear differential and selectable performance modes.

　　Then there's the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk. The Trackhawk gets most of the SRT's standard equipment plus the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 (707 hp, 645 lb-ft), an upgraded eight-speed transmission, an upgraded adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, and lightweight 20-inch wheels with high-performance tires.

　　zzdcar Latest Jeep Grand Cherokee News

　　You Can Now Order a 2-Door Jeep Wrangler With 35-Inch Tires

　　

2020 Grand Cherokee Highlights

Type: SUVSRTTrackhawkSUV

　　Trim: LaredoLaredo EUplandAltitudeNorth EditionLimitedLimited XTrailhawkOverlandHigh AltitudeSummitSRTTrackhawkLaredo

　　

Base MSRP	$32,150
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	21 MPG
Cost to Drive	$172/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	36.3 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	rear wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles