2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Pros:

• A wide range of powertrain options can pull a lot
• A wide range of modern driver aids come standard and can be added on.
• Compared to most midsize SUVs, it can go farther off-road.

Cons:

• A confusing set-up of buttons
• Some parts of interior design look great in photos, but they could be better in real life.
• It seems heavy at times when you turn it in.

How is the Grand Cherokee to drive? We tested the Grand Cherokee’s optional V8 engine, which gives it more horsepower than you might expect. In our tests, the Grand Cherokee with the V8 engine went from 0 to 60 miles per hour in less than 6.5 seconds, giving it quick power when needed. Because it has two more engine cylinders and a simple and quick automatic transmission, it is undoubtedly the fastest car in its class.

Our test Jeep stopped at about 115 feet when going 60 miles per hour because the brakes were safe and easy to use. We also like how easy and accurate it is to steer. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t turn as well as other cars. Even though it’s not a big, unwieldy SUV, it doesn’t handle it well and isn’t fun to drive. The Grand Cherokee makes up for this by being a champion off-road. If you add the Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and the adjustable air suspension to your Jeep, it will be the best midsize SUV you can buy.

How lovely is the Grand Cherokee to ride in? This is one area where the Grand Cherokee shines. The front seats are very comfortable, even on long trips, and the front and back outboard seats can be heated and cooled. The ride’s optional air suspension can help level out bumps without making the vehicle appear squishy or floaty.

Our Grand Cherokee can be set to four different temperatures. Even when the fans were going as fast as they could, they didn’t blow as much air as we wanted, but they did an excellent job of keeping the temperature where we wanted it to be. The Grand Cherokee fell short in one way: it made too much noise on the highway for an expensive SUV.

How does the inside look? Even though the Grand Cherokee’s cabin isn’t the biggest in its class, it still has a lot of space. People up to 6 feet tall can sit comfortably in the second row, which can lean back. You’ll need a vital step up to get into the Grand Cherokee because it sits pretty high. We also found that the Grand Cherokee’s large front pillars and side view mirror sometimes made it hard to see ahead. Buy a camera system that lets you see everything around you to make parking much more accessible.

Even though some dials are tiny and some buttons are in odd places, most controls are easy to use. At some angles, the sun may also make it impossible to read the labels on some touch-sensitive rules.

How good is the tech? The Grand Cherokee can be bought with Jeep’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system. The integrated navigation system with the car has clear graphics and helpful step-by-step directions. Direct sunlight can sometimes make the screen’s vertical shape pick up glare. The 19-speaker McIntosh surround-sound system in our test car made the sound full and clear.

Connectivity to smartphones and a crazy number of USB ports are standard (we counted 12 total in our loaded test car). We also like how the Grand Cherokee’s new driver-aids work and how many there are. For instance, the adaptive cruise control slows down and speeds up smoothly, and the lane-keeping system works excellently without making too many sudden changes.

What about putting things away? The Grand Cherokee’s standard second-row bench folds to reveal 37.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which is about par for the course for a vehicle in this class. For example, the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport has 40.3 cubes. The back seats can be separated and folded flat for moving large items. The relatively high height of the load-in may be the only thing that stops some people.

There is a lot of space to store small items in the first and second rows, thanks to the many cup holders and large bins in the center console. There’s a lot of headroom in the rear bench seat. The anchors for the chairs on the outside are hidden under beautiful leather flaps.

With a maximum capacity of 6,200 pounds for the V6 and 7,200 pounds for the V8, the Grand Cherokee can pull much more than its competitors.

How well does it use gasoline? With 4WD and a V6 engine, the Grand Cherokee gets more than the average 22 mpg on the highway. This makes it a midsize SUV. The Grand Cherokee also comes with a hybrid drivetrain to plug in. But since our test vehicle has a V8 engine, we have to give this area a grade based on that. The EPA says the Grand Cherokee gets 17 mpg with the V8 and 4WD. Our test vehicle got 17 mpg on our standardized evaluation route, mainly on the highway. This means we would get at most 17 mpg in regular driving. So, put some money aside to pay for gas.

Should I invest in a Grand Cherokee? The Grand Cherokee is on sale in a vast number of places. The base price of a Grand Cherokee is about the same as that of its competitors, but it lacks critical standard features found in those cars. Then some versions are fully equipped, like our test vehicle. Even though it costs like a luxury car, it has features not found in its class and a surprisingly good cabin. In either case, there are better matches than this.

People trying to save money will want more value than what entry-level models offer, but people with more money to spend will almost certainly want a premium brand. Also, the construction felt more sturdy than we thought it would for the price. The Grand Cherokee could appeal to buyers who want a V8 or something that can go off-road better, but we don’t think that will be the majority. The Jeep warranty is standard. It covers three years, or 36,000 miles, and the engine and roadside assistance for five years, or 60,000 miles.

The Grand Cherokee has the Jeep brand cachet that many people love, whether it’s because of the vehicle’s robust exterior design, its optional V8 engine, or its excellent towing and off-road capabilities. Even though it’s not the perfect midsize SUV, it looks good.

It might be hard to choose a Grand Cherokee because there are so many trims and engines to choose from. Most people who want an SUV should be happy with the Limited trim level. It comes well-equipped and can be upgraded in many ways.

Jeep Grand Cherokee variants

For 2023, there will be five trim levels for the midsize Jeep Grand Cherokee: Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, and Summit. Trims are often set up in a way that looks like a ladder, with higher levels having more parts than lower levels. The Trailhawk is different from the others because it has off-road features that the others don’t have.