2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee

There are cars that you drive, and there are cars that drive you. This, dear reader, is the latter. Granted, it isn’t the most practical choice around, but it would go places others can’t, especially if these places don’t have roads leading up to them. The capabilities of this SUV are immense, and you get a combination of ruggedness and luxury that is hard to find this side of 100,000 dollars. Yes, it’s the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. So what does the Jeep do better than the competitors?

There are 12 trims on offer, each adding or replacing certain features on consequent trims. You can have every trim with all-wheel drive, while the front-wheel-drive isn’t offered on the performance versions. Its best to refer to the neatly crafted table below, which lists and compares standard features.

Trim	Laredo	Laredo E	Upland	Altitude	Limited	Limited X	Trailhawk	Overland	High Altitude	Summit
MSRP FWD	$31,945	$33,795	$35,895	$37,890	$39,195	$44,095	-	$45,995	$48,490	$51,695
MSRP AWD	$34,245	$35,795	$38,390	$40,190	$41,195	$46,095	$44,295	$48,995	$51,490	$54,695
Engine	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6 (5.7 Liter HEMI V8 Optional)	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6	3.6-Liter V6
Key Features	Standard features include:	Same as Laredo with the following additions or replacements	Same as Laredo E with the following additions or replacements	Same as Upland with the following additions or replacements	Same as Altitude with the following additions or replacements	Same as Limited with the following additions or replacements	Same as Limited X with the following additions or replacements	Same as Limited X with the following additions or replacements	Same as Overlandwith the following additions or replacements	Same as High Altitude with the following additions or replacements
	Blind Spot Monitoring	Eight-Way Power Driver Seat with Four-Way Power	Black Interior with Blue Accent Stitching and Black Premium Cloth Seats	Heated Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel and Heated Front Seats	Heated Capri Leather-Trimmed Driver and Front Passenger Seats	Black Interior with Liquid Titanium Finishes and Heritage Seats	Leather-Trimmed Seats with Suede Inserts	Nappa Leather-Trimmed Interior with Real Wood	Black Nappa Perforated Leather-Trimmed Seats	Heated and Ventilated First Row Leather-Trimmed Seats
	Rear Cross Path Detection		Gloss Black Exterior Finishes	Gloss Black Exterior Accents	Hill Descent Control	Granite Crystal Exterior Accents	Dual Bright Exhaust Tips	Bi-Xenon High-Intensity Discharge Headlamps	Black Chrome Dual Exhaust Tips	Illuminated Sill Plates and Premium Headliner
	Rear Back-Up Camera		Desert Sky Accents on Badging	Power Liftgate	Heated Multifunctional Power Exterior Chrome Mirrors	Distinctive Limited X Badging	Skid Plates, Red Tow Hooks and Trailhawk Hood Decal	Rain-Sensing Windshield Wipers	Low Gloss Granite Crystal Badging	Interior Metal Package
	Rear Park Assist		20-Inch Gloss Black Wheels	Uconnect 4C NAV with 8.4-Inch Touchscreen	Quadra-Trac II 4x4 System with Selec-Terrain	20-Inch Low Gloss Granite Crystal Wheels	Quadra-Lift Air Suspension System	20-Inch Polished/Tech Gray Aluminum Wheels	Trailer Tow Group	20-Inch Fully Polished Aluminum Wheels
	Uconnect 4 with 7-Inch Touchscreen		Black Tow Hooks	Remote Vehicle Start System	18-Inch Polished Aluminum Wheels	Modified SRT Hood	Nine-Speaker Alpine Audio System with Active Noise Cancellation	Dual-Pane Panoramic Sunroof	20-Inch Wheels with Granite Crystal Low Gloss Finish	Harman Kardon High-Performance Audio System Featuring
	7-Inch Reconfigurable Driver Information Digital Cluster Display						18-Inch All-Terrain Tires with Distinctive Wheels		Jeep Active Safety Group	Adaptive Cruise Control
	Keyless Enter 'n Go						Rear Electronic Limited Slip Differential
	Quadra-Trac I 4x4 System (4x4 Models Only)
	17-Inch Aluminum Wheels

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You are spoilt for choice here, as there is a trim for every wallet size. The base trim is fine, with a powerful engine and plenty of features. That said, you can pick any trim up till altitude, as those are quite a value for money. Beyond that, you need to be sure if you want to spend the premium.

With many available engines and trim levels, there's a lot to choose from on the Grand Cherokee, but no matter which model you go with, off-road performance is rather good, even if handling isn't top-notch. -Edmunds

Engine and Transmission

There are quite a few engine choices here, ranging from naturally aspirated V6s to supercharged V8s. The base engine is good for 295 horses. Then there is the 5.7 Hemi V8, a 6.4-liter V8, and finally, the supercharged 6.2 V8 which bears the heart of the Trackhawk variant. Power outputs are 360, 475, and a bonkers 707 horsepower.

You get 8-speed automatic as standard, with flappy paddles behind the wheel (optional on some trims). All-wheel drive is offered on all trims, while the Trailhawk, SRT, and Trackhawk do not get an option for 2-wheel drive, the others do.

Models	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
MSRP	$31,695	$32,800	$31,450	$32,365	$31,995	$31,330	$29,995
Engine	3.6 Liter V6	2.5 Liter Inline-4	3.5-liter V6	3.5-liter Ti-VCT V6	2.4-liter turbocharged Boxer 4-cylinder	2.7-liter 4-cylinder	3.6 Liter V6
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	6-speed automatic	6-Speed Automatic	6-Speed Automatic	CVT	6-Speed Automatic	8-speed automatic
Horsepower	295 @ 6400	193 @ 6300	280hp @ 6000	288 @ 6500	260 hp @ 5,600	185 hp @ 5800	293 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque	260 @ 4000	188 @ 4400	262 lb.-ft. @ 4700 rpm	254 lb.-ft. @ 4000 rpm	277 lb.-ft. @ 2,000 rpm	184 lb.-ft. @ 4200 rpm	293 hp @ 6400 rpm

The different cars of this segment offer different base engines, ranging from tiny 2.4s to healthy 3.6 V6s. Power outputs vary consequently, and automatic transmission comes standard in all. The Grand Cherokee triumphs over the competition in terms of power figures. The ride's 3.6L V6 can churn out a punchy 295 hp along with 260 lb.-ft. of torque which happens to be the greatest in the segment. 

Acceleration

There aren’t any mechanical upgrades in the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The 3.6L V6 can push the ride from a standstill to a speed of 60 MPH in 7.0 seconds, which in turn is a respectable figure for a vehicle with such dimensions. The ride can dash the quarter of a mile distance in 15.5 seconds, which places it against the likes of the Subaru Ascent, and the Toyota Highlander. 

Models	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
0-60 MPH	7.0 secs	7.0 secs	6.2 secs	8.2 secs	6.9 secs	7.2 secs	7.6 secs
Quarter mile	15.5 secs	N/A	14.8 sec	16.3 sec	15.5 sec	15.5 secs	15.8 sec
Engine	3.6 Liter V6	2.5 Liter Inline-4	3.5 Liter V6	3.5 Liter V6	2.4 Liter Boxer-4	2.7-liter Inline-4	3.6 Liter V6
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	7.7	8.4	8.4	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

SUVs aren’t really known for their performance, but modern SUVs aren’t really slow. Ford Explorer is the slowest in the segment, hampered by its enormous weight. The Subaru has the most exciting engine, not high on power, but has a sweet muffled boxer burble. The Honda Pilot does justice to its name and comes out as the fastest car in the segment with a 0-60 sprint time of 6.2 seconds and requires just 14.8 seconds in order to cover the quarter-mile distance. 

Ride and Handling

The Jeep can hold its own against an equivalent small car, and it stands true for every trim. The SRT and Trackhawk are heavily track-focused, while all others get a much comfier driving experience. The Trailhawk, Altitude, and Summit trims specialize in off-roading and are capable of scaling canyons and peaks. The others are good for a quick dirt session, but function primarily as a family ferry. Adaptive suspension makes life easy for the passengers, and all cars here are nicely supple on road. However, the ride which simply conquers the rough tracks; somewhat struggles to keep things sorted in the city. The steering which enhances the control on rough terrains feels a bit disconnected from the city roads. Moreover, the humongous weight has its share of negative implications on the ride's acceleration, handling, and overall drivability.

Braking

Weighing over 2 and a quarter ton, this SUV is actually quite gigantic for a compact SUV. It gets discs on all wheels, which helps make braking a less complicated task for this mammoth. The exact figures haven’t been tested yet, but don’t expect them to set your pants on fire. A firm-feeling brake pedal maintains its calm in emergency-halting situations and the Cherokee's 60-mph-to-zero panic-braking performance seems average for the segment.

Model	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Brake Front (in.)	13	12.6	12.6	12.8	13.1	12.9	13.0
Brake Rear (in.)	13	12.4	13	12.8	13	12.2	13.0
Curb Weight (lbs.)	4513	3956	4036	4458	4430	4134	4680
60-0 MPH (ft.)	139	172 (70 to 0)	117 (est.)	108 (With optional tires)	119	126 (est.)	121

The Japanese contenders steal this show with their astonishing braking performance, taking surprisingly close to just 120 feet to come to a halt from 60 MPH. Other vehicles are fine too, not taking especially long to roll to a stop.

Towing Capacity

The base Jeep Grand Cherokee has a towing capacity of 3500 pounds, increasing up to 7200 lbs. for the largest engine. The SRT and Trackhawk can easily lug around practically anything you can lay your hands on.

Model	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Towing Capacity	3500	4,000	3500	5000	5000	1500	6200

The Durango has the strongest towing capacity for the base engine, good for a 3-ton haul. You could easily tow a colleague too if their car broke down and they are left stranded.

The Grand Cherokee has a nice fuel efficiency figure on the V6 engine, bordering on 25 miles to the gallon combined. The V8, well, let’s just say it will squeeze every last penny out of your pocket in fuel bills. If you love to haul metal around, better be prepared for it.

Model	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
MPG (city)	19	21	19	17	21	20	18
MPG (highway)	26	26	27	24	27	24	25
MPG (combined)	21	23	22	20	23	22	20
Fuel Tank (gallons)	24.6	19	24.6	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

The Explorer has the worst efficiency, followed closely by the Durango. Both the cars sport 3.5-liter V6s like the Jeep, and are quite powerful and understandably thirsty. Subaru Ascent is the most frugal car here primarily due to a smaller 2.4-liter engine and the brilliantly calibrated CVT gearbox.

The Grand Cherokee has excellent sound deadening, plus supportive seats and plenty of room to stretch out... ...Jeep's most recent improvements certainly make the Grand Cherokee's cabin a nice place to be. -Edmunds

Seating and Comfort

There are many things the Grand Cherokee can do. Seating 7 people is not anywhere on that list. The only SUV in the segment to not offer a third row of seats, the Grand Cherokee can seat 2 adults in the front cabin and is comfortable for 2 in the rear too. Officially, you can seat 3 people in the back, but as they say, three is a crowd. The seats provide great support and are quite a comfortable spot to be in. The ride provides a straight yet comfortable driving position and ample of outside visibility, so that you always stay in command of those unfair terrains. The interior of the Grand Cherokee is quite sensibly laid out with each and every button and knob lying within the driver's range. 

 

Model	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Passenger Capacity	5	7	8	7	8	8	7
Front Row (cu. ft) Headroom	40.3	39.9	40.1	41.4	41.3	40.7	39.9
Front Row (cu. ft) Shoulder room	59.4	58.7	62	61.5	61.1	59.3	57
Front Row (cu. ft) Legroom	41	40.3	40.9	42.9	42.2	44.2	40.3
Second Row (cu. ft) Headroom	39.6	39.2	40.2	40.6	40	40	39.8
Second Row (cu. ft) Shoulder room	58.7	58	62	61	60.3	60.3	42.8
Second Row (cu. ft) Legroom	39.7	38.6	38.4	39.5	38.6	38.6	38.6
Third Row (cu. ft) Headroom	37.5	N/A	38.9	37.8	36.3	36.3	37.8
Third Row (cu. ft) Shoulder room	54.3	N/A	57.6	50.8	57.2	57.2	42.8
Third Row (cu. ft) Legroom	31.1	N/A	31.9	32	31.7	31.7	31.5

As stated above, the entire segment sports 3 rows of seating as standard, with the exception of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Dodge Durango has the most cramped cabin out of all the cars here, and even the second row feels tight for full-sized adults.

Infotainment System

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes standard with a 7.0-Inch Touch Screen Display, and gets Integrated Center Stack Radio along with Steering Wheel Mounted Audio Controls. The ride's Uconnect infotainment arrangement may feel a bit obsolete at times, but it makes the operation quite easy and provides you with timely feedback 

Some of the other standard features are listed below:

 

• GPS Antenna Input
• Bluetooth Voice Command
• SiriusXM Sat Radio with 1 Year Radio Subscription
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Capable
• 2 USB Ports
• AUX input

Cargo volume

SUVs, owing to their larger bodies, have always held a natural advantage in terms of space over other car types. The trunk volume reflects that, and with over 36 cubic feet, you could simply lift the tailgate and have a picnic inside. You can also fold the second-row seats to liberate more than 30 additional cubic feet.

 

Model	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Cargo Volume in trunk (ft.3)	36.3	12.8	16.5	21	17.8	13.8	17.2
Cargo Volume 3rd Row folded (ft.3)	-	41.7	46.8	43.8	47.5	TBD	47.7
Cargo Volume 2nd row folded (ft.3)	68.3	79	83.9	80.7	86.5	83.7	84.5

GMC has the most disappointing trunk in the segment, poorer than a few sedans even. Thankfully, the last row folds down for 40 odd cubic feet. Subaru has a poor trunk volume too, but vastly improves when you fold those seats down.

The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV has a muscular, handsome design. True to its off-road roots, the GC has 8.6 inches of ground clearance, with the performance-oriented SRT model sitting slightly lower (8.3 inches), and the high-performance Trackhawk lower still (8.1 inches) -Kelley Blue Book

Seating and Comfort

The Jeep has a lot of weight under its skin, with the base model tipping the scales in excess of 2 tons. It is shorter in length than many of its rivals, mainly because it doesn’t need to fit in a third row of seats. It is a much more compact car, with smaller width as well. True to its off-roading lineage, the wheelbase is quite long, and there is a lot of ground clearance as well.

Model	Jeep Grand Cherokee	GMC Acadia	Honda Pilot	Ford Explorer	Subaru Ascent	Toyota Highlander	Dodge Durango SXT
Curb weight (lbs.)	4513	3956	4036	4458	4430	4134	4680
Length(in)	189.8	193.6	196.5	198.3	196.8	192.5	201.2
Width(in)	63.9	75.4	78.6	78.9	76	75.8	75.8
Height(in)	69.3	66	70.6	70	71.6	68.1	70.9
Ground clearance (in)	8.6	7.2	7.3	7.8	8.7	8.0	8.1
Wheelbase (in)	114.8	112.5	111	112.8	113.8	109.8	119.8
Track width (in) F/R	64.1/63.9	64.5/64.5	66.3/66.3	67/67	64.4/ 64.2	64.4/64.2	63.9/64.1

With over 200 inches of length between the front and back, Dodge Durango is the longest car here. It also has the highest ground clearance. The Honda and Ford SUVs are the largest SUVs overall, and can easily bully other cars on road.

Design and styling

The design for the 2020 model has been carried over from the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The sleek headlamp design and the signature 7-horizontal slit front grille capture the onlookers’ eye in an instant. The rear is simple and classy, unlike many others in the segment. The dimensions are quite compact, and you could easily fit this one into smaller spaces.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee has plenty of safety features as well. Standard features include:

• Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection
• Rear Park Assist
• Rear Backup Camera
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop
• Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking
• Lane Departure Warning with Lane Keep Assist
• Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist
• Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist System

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Ascent

Subaru might be the closest match to the Jeep in terms of off-roading heritage. The Ascent has enough ground clearance for a human to fit under it and is relatively light too. The brilliant boxer engine powers it through every situation, be climbing rocks, or carrying them behind in a trailer. The Jeep, however, is a much more handsome car and has better engines on higher trims.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Honda Pilot

Japanese cars have always been a practical choice, as they usually offer great build quality, reliable engine, and superb ride as well. With a new refreshed look, it looks like an SUV should, unlike the previous model which had the proportions of a Minivan. It still isn’t as pretty as the Jeep though, and the engine is quite underpowered for its size.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Dodge Durango

Here it is, the sibling rivalry. Jeep may be offered with the same engines and underpinnings as the Dodge, but the go about their day differently. While the Durango is cheaper and seats more, it is also quite crude and not as luxurious. The Grand Cherokee is extremely well built and feels much more premium than other cars here.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee is not a major improvement over the 2018 model. It has all the same mechanical parts and performs all the same tasks. You could go for its higher trims too, which are quite unbeatable on the broken trail, or the track too. The SRT and Trackhawk could be considered as competition to Mustangs and Corvettes, and the Jeep would easily manage to stand its ground against these nimbler machines.

You could ask for a lot more things an SUV can do, but you’d be losing out on a lot of things this SUV can do.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What kind of suspension setup is used in the Jeep Grand Cherokee? 

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee employs a Quadra-Lift Air Suspension System.

How many Terrains are available in the Grand Cherokee to choose from? 

There are 5 terrain modes in the Jeep Grand Cherokee, namely- Auto, Snow, Sport, Sand/Mud, and Rock.

Which is the ideal Jeep Grand Cherokee trim for off-roading? 

A competent four-wheel-drive system and Trail Rated certification is what makes the TrailHawk the perfect Grand Cherokee trim for off-roading purposes.