2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee is available in six trim levels that include Laredo, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and SRT. The Grand Cherokee SRT is the high-performance version of the standard Grand Cherokee so we have covered it in a separate review, so don't forget to check it out. The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at $30,395 for the Laredo trim level, $37,995 for the Limited trim level, $43,095 for the Trailhawk trim level, $44,795 for the Overland trim level, and $50,495 for the topmost Summit trim level. All the trims are powered by a V6 gas engine while from the Limited trim and above you also get the option to choose between the available turbodiesel V6 and a gas-powered V8 engine.

Except for the Trailhwak trim that comes with a 4WD configuration as standard, all the other trim levels are RWD as standard while the 4WD is available for an extra cost. Right from the base trim the Grand Cherokee comes with a lot of desirable features and has added the rear parking sensor and a rearview camera as standard this year. Although the advanced driver-assist features are clustered on the Summit trim making you pay over fifty grand if you want to have access to features like forward collision mitigation with automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and a few more.

We Recommend

For a buyer looking to go for the Grand Cherokee, we suggest putting your money on the Trailhawk trim that comes at $43,095. For approximately a ten grand premium over the base trim, you get Trailhawk specific exterior trims, an adaptive air suspension setup, more off-road-oriented equipment, an underbody skid plate, a bigger touchscreen and a better audio setup, etc. These nifty features not only improve the off-road prowess of your Grand Cherokee but the exterior enhancements make your steed stand out from the mundane Grand Cherokee.

"The EcoDiesel V6 is the way to go if you're serious about fuel economy, towing and off-roading. Plus, it's quicker than the standard V6."-Edmunds

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine and Transmission

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee is powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that is mated to an 8-speed automatic gearbox. The V6 engine puts out 295 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque which is channeled via an 8-speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels as standard. All the trims come with an option of upgrading to a 4WD configuration while the Trailhawk trim comes with the 4WD configuration as standard.  

Except for the base trim, all the other trim levels come with a choice of a 3.0-liter turbocharged diesel V6 engine or a 5.7-liter V8 engine. The turbodiesel V6 engine puts out 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque while the V8 engine produces 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque. The standard V6 engine is sufficient for daily driving and highway crushing while those who need more power can go for the bigger V8 engine and the mileage-conscious folks are better off with the turbodiesel V6 engine option.

The GMC Acadia is not only the cheapest SUV in this comparison but also the only one that comes with an inline-4 engine when for a slight premium the rivals get much powerful V6 engine options. Among the V6-powered SUVs, the Toyota Highlander produces the highest power and torque figures. Compared to it the Grand Cherokee puts out a similar power figure but 3 lb-ft less torque.

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Acceleration

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee powered by the V6 engine can sprint from 0-60 mph in 7.6 seconds while it took 15.7 seconds to cover the quarter-mile. The Grand Cherokee isn't the faster V6-powered SUV here and that is attributed majorly to its 4,545 pounds curb weight and a slow-to-respond eight-speed automatic gearbox. Those looking for quicker acceleration time can opt for the V8-powered Grand Cherokee that goes from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds and covers the quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds.

Among the rivals, the more torquey Toyota Highlander is 0.4 seconds quicker in the 0-60 mph run compared to the Grand Cherokee. While the less powerful Ford Explorer manages to cover the fastest quarter-mile and beats the Grand Cherokee's quarter-mile time by half a second. 

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ride and Handling

The heavy curb weight and a stiffer suspension setup ensure that the Grand Cherokee not only rides stiffs but isn't exciting to handle either. The steering wheel is chunky and feels good to hold but feels disconnected thus robbing you of the feel of driving the Grand Cherokee with confidence. 

The heavier curb weight of the Grand Cherokee gives you a planted feel while doing highway speeds but being a big SUV there is plenty of body roll and pushing around the corners will unsettle the Grand Cherokee in no time. Although the Grand Cherokee thanks to the adaptive air suspension and a competent 4WD setup rides and handles well off-road. 

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Braking

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee is equipped with a 13.0-inch disc at both front and rear. The setup stops the 4,544 pounds Grand Cherokee from 60-0 mph in 116 feet. 

None of the rivals weigh more than the Grand Cherokee yet they took more than 10 feet to brake from 60-0 mph compared to it. 

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Towing Capacity

The V6-powered Grand Cherokee can tow up to 3500 pounds while the same equipped with the towing package takes the towing capacity to 6,200 pounds. The V8-powered and turbodiesel V6 powered Grand Cherokee can tow up to 7,200 pounds. 

In their standard guise, the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer can both tow 1500 pounds more compared to the Grand Cherokee. While the inline-4 powered Acadia has the least towing capacity among all.

As per the EPA, the V6-powered 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee returns 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. Replacing the RWD with the 4WD configuration sees a dip of one mpg across the three parameters. The turbodiesel V6 engine of the Grand Cherokee is the most frugal and it returns 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. While the V8 engine of the Grand Cherokee is a gas guzzler and you can expect it to return somewhere around 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. 

.Among the V6-powered rival SUVs, the Toyota Highlander is the most fuel-efficient and beats the Grand Cherokee's EPA estimates by 2 mpg in the city and 1 mpg on the highway. The Ford Explorer on the other hand is the least efficient among all and also comes with the smallest fuel tank of just 18.6-gallon compared to it the Grand Cherokee gets a 24.6-gallon fuel tank which is the largest among all.

"Jeep's most recent improvements certainly make the Grand Cherokee's cabin a nice place to be. " - Edmunds

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Seating and Comfort

For an affordable midsize SUV costing slightly over thirty grands, the Grand Cherokee's interiors are well designed and look premium for the most part. The dash design is simple and is done in a typical Jeep fashion. The Jeep Grand Cherokee due to its higher seating position allows for a commanding view to its driver although the chunky roof pillars cause massive blindspots while going around the corner.  Being a tall SUV with around 8.6-inches of ground clearance smaller folks may need to climb inside the cabin but the available adaptive air suspensions make that easy by lowering the ride height while your ingress and egress.

The Grand Cherokee Laredo trim gets fabric-trimmed seats with manual adjustment but climbing above the trim levels gets you leather-trimmed seats and power-adjustable seats with heating and ventilation function. With leather or without leather the seats of the Grand Cherokee are comfortable for the most part and provide sufficient support. The rear seats are also comfortable and offer recline function to adjust the seat angle according to your comfort. Being a two-row five-seater SUV there is no dearth of legroom inside the cabin. While the Grand Cherokee is a tall and wide SUV for its segment so there is no question of compromise in terms of headroom and shoulder room.

All the rivals here, are available standard as a three-row seven or eight-seater SUV except for the Grand Cherokee. Although the Grand Cherokee has the longest wheelbase it is the Ford Explorer that has the best legroom and space in all three rows. The Toyota Highlander is the least spacious three-row SUV especially in the third row while the GMC Acadia slots between the Explorer and Highlander in terms of cabin space.

Interior Features

• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Available eight-way power-adjustable front seats w/ four-way lumbar adjustment
• Available heated front and rear seats
• Available heated steering wheel
• Available leather upholstery

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Infotainment System

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee features a Uconnect infotainment interface that runs on a 5-inch touchscreen on the Laredo and Limited trim levels while the Trailhawk trim and above gets a bigger 8.4-inch touchscreen. The infotainment interface is easy-to-use for the most part and the bigger touchscreen further improves the usability with sharper image quality and bigger icons. The Laredo and Limited trims come with a mediocre six-speaker sound setup while the nine-speaker sound system available with the 8.4-inch touchscreen is the real deal for the audiophiles here.

Key infotainment features include:

• USB connection
• Auxiliary audio input
• USB ports w/ external media control
• Satellite radio
• AM/FM radio

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Cargo Capacity

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a cargo capacity of 36.3 cubic feet behind its rear seats which can be expanded to up to 68.3 cubic feet by folding the rear seats down. The cargo capacity is not only mediocre in the segment but also the higher boot lip and taller ride height make it a task to load luggage inside the cargo area. The adaptive air suspension equipped Grand Cherokee is a saving grace here as they lower the boot lip making it easy to put in heavy luggage. 

As all the SUVs except for the Grand Cherokee are three-row SUVs we will compare the cargo space behind the 2nd-row seats. In this comparison, the Ford Explorer offers the highest cargo capacity of 43.8 cubic feet followed by the Highlander with 41.7 cubic feet. Compared to the two the cargo capacity of the Grand Cherokee is short by 7.5 cubic feet and 6 cubic feet respectively.

"From the big, bluff front to the slabby sides, the Cherokee oozes macho off-roader credentials. " - Cars Guide

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Dimensions and Weights

The 2017 Grand Cherokee has grown over time into a machine that strikes a fine balance between classic and contemporary. The boxy design of the Grand Cherokee has been rounded around the corners to give it a more modern look. Upfront the slimmer headlights and all-new seven-slat grille lend it the uncanny Jeep looks with an upmarket appeal. Moving to the sides who will notice the stark resemblance to European styling with a clean design and big square wheel arches.

The 8.6-inches of ground clearance is evident from the gap between the wheels and the wheel well. While the tall 68.1-inches height of the Grand Cherokee gives it an imposing stance. The wheelbase of the Grand Cherokee is 114.8-inches, the longest among rivals but due to the shorter overhang, the cargo space gets compromised. At the rear, the wrap-around taillamps extend up to the boot lid.  

When we talk about dimensions there is no comparison of the Ford Explorer's length, width, or height. Compared to it the Grand Cherokee is 8.5-inches smaller, 2.4-inches less wide, and 1.9-inches shorter. Although the Grand Cherokee comes with the highest ground clearance, highest curb weight, and the longest wheelbase among all the rivals.

Exterior Features

• 17-inch alloy wheels
• Automatic headlights
• Rear parking sensors
• Foglights
• Available 18- and 20-inch alloy wheels
• Available dual-pane panoramic sunroof
• Available Xenon headlights w/ LED daytime running lights 

Even though the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee boasts of a tough build, the lack of advanced safety and driver-assist features as standard crippled its chance of impressing the safety agencies. The NHTSA gave the 2017 Grand Cherokee an overall rating of four out of five stars, the front and side crash test were rated a perfect five stars while the rollover mitigation was rated three out of five stars.

Meanwhile, the IIHS gave the 2017 Grand Cherokee the highest rating of 'Good' in four out of five parameters while the small front overlap crash was rated as second-lowest 'Marginal' for the driver side and lowest 'Poor' for the passenger side. 

Safety Features:

• Rearview Camera w/ rear parking sensors
• Electronic Stability Control
• Available adaptive cruise control
• Available Hill Start and Descent Control 
• Available Park assist w/ front parking sensors
• Available forward-collision mitigation w/ automatic emergency braking

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2017 Toyota Highlander

The 2017 Toyota Highlander costs two grands more than the 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee but for the small premium, it gets extra third-row seats and a more torquey V6-engine. The Highlander is lighter than the Grand Cherokee which helps it put quicker 0-60 mph and quarter-mile timing. Not only this the Highlander returns a better gas mileage in both city and highway driving conditions compared to the Grand Cherokee.

When we talk about the cabin space the Highlander not only has an extra row of seating space but offers better shoulder and legroom in the first two rows compared to the Grand Cherokee. Even though the Highlander has a smaller wheelbase compared to the Grand Cherokee it is longer than the latter and thus offers more cargo capacity with the third-row folded. So unless you need a serious off-roader the Highlander is a better fit over the Grand Cherokee.

2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2017 Ford Explorer

If you look at the power and torque figures of the V6-powered Ford Explorer you will be surprised that even though it is less powerful than the Grand Cherokee it still managed to beat the Grand Cherokee in both the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile runs. Although the more powerful Grand Cherokee returns better gas mileage compared to the Ford Explorer. 

Step inside the cabin and you would realize how spacious the Explorer is even in the third-row seats and compared to that the two-rows Grand Cherokee feels cramped. The Explorer also offers better cargo capacity than the Grand Cherokee which can be attributed to the fact that it is longer than the Grand Cherokee. The Explorer demands a small one grand premium over the Grand Cherokee but offers a more practical and spacious SUV over a rugged Jeep.

The 2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a capable off-road SUV especially with the introduction of the Trailhawk trim. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the lone sub fifty grand SUV that can boast of having a comfortable and luxurious cabin, better on-road manners, and an enviable off-road prowess. This is a rare combo in the affordable midsize SUV segment which is mostly riddled with soft-roaders and mall-crawlers. With a starting price of as low as $30,395 this go-anywhere SUV is best suited for someone who loves off-roading but can't afford to have a separate daily driver and an off-roader.