2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2019 Grand Cherokee has a total of 10 trim options and they come in both RWD and AWD drivetrain configurations. You also have performance variants in the lineup - SRT and Trackhawk which will be reviewed separately. Pricing starts at $33,000 and goes all the way up to $56,000. 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee rivals the likes of 2019 Honda Pilot, 2019 Ford Explorer and 2019 Subaru Ascent.

The Grand Cherokee has a vast line-up in the segment. It is offered in a total of 10 exciting trim options, and all come in both 4x4 and 4x2 drivetrain options. The whole line-up is equipped with the naturally aspirated V6 motor as standard, while the ‘Limited’ and above trims get an option for V8 as well.

Some of the features which are available from the base trim are Rear Cross Path Detection, Uconnect 7-inch infotainment panel, Blind spot monitoring, Quadra-Trac 4x4 system, and 17-inch aluminum alloys. 

Apart from the above trim levels, you also have SRT and Trackhawk variants in the lineup. The SRT trim comes with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, Quadra-Trac Active On Demand 4WD system and a sport-tuned suspension system. The Trackhawk variant is a beast and comes with a supercharged 6.2-liter Hemi V8 engine with launch control, Brembo brakes, and a Bilstein adaptive suspension 

Which trim should you buy?

Jeep offers numerous trims to cater to every buyers’ needs. If you have a budget ranging from $33,000 to $35,000, then the ‘Laredo’ trim is the best choice there is. We recommend you to go for its AWD variant if you want some extraordinary off-roading capabilities. If you are more into off-roading and adventures, then we recommend you to go for the Trailhawk trim.

In the 2019 Grand Cherokee, the base engine offered is the 3.6-liter V6 which produces 295 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. of torque. This engine is paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission as standard. The ‘Limited’ and above trims have an option for a 5.7L V8 motor, which definitely offers superior performance but is inefficient. All the trims are offered in both RWD and AWD options except for the Trailhawk and the Trackhawk, which comes only in the AWD drivetrain.

Glancing at its performance, the V6 motor is capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 6.7 seconds, while the super quick V8 covers the same in just 6 seconds. And the quarter-mile time for the V6 was recorded as 15.2 seconds, which is appreciable in the segment. If you are satisfied with the performance, you can also opt for the 475-horsepower 6.4-liter V8 with the SRT variant and a 707-horsepower supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with the Trackhawk variant. Apart from the above engine choices, Jeep also offers a 240hp 3.0L turbo diesel V6 motor.

2019 Grand Cherokee puts out maximum power figures among the rivals in its base avatar. Apart from that, it is offered with an RWD drivetrain, making it a more fun-to-drive SUV in the segment. The 2019 Subaru Ascent has 2.4L turbo H4 engine and a CVT gearbox, despite that it is significantly quicker than the Explorer. The quickest in the segment is the 2019 Honda Pilot which covers a quarter-mile in just 14.8 seconds.

How well does the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee handle?

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is specially designed and tuned to give a fun-to-drive experience and tremendous off-roading capabilities. The SRT and Trackhawk packages are specially made to perform on tracks and have stiffer suspensions and agile handling. The other trims like Trailhawk, Altitude, and Summit, focus more on off-roading. All the trims of the SUV have a well-maintained body roll and have a comfy ride as well, and the adaptive suspension further enhances your driving experience.

Braking Performance

As an off-roader, along with the strong powertrain, the 2019 Grand Cherokee also shines in its braking performance as well. Weighing over 4 tonnes, the SUV manages its stopping distance quite well. The disc brakes are provided both in the front and the rear of sizes 13-inches, which are definitely bigger in the segment. It helps in decelerating the vehicle from 60-0 mph in 125 feet.

The Jeep definitely has bigger rotors but the Ascent is a little bit less on weight which helps in stopping it quite fast. The stopping distance of the Ford Explorer is the highest, but considering its curb weight and smaller brake rotors, we can’t complain about it.

The 2019 Grand Cherokee impresses you in every domain but it might disappoint you in this section. No doubt it is a powerful machine, but at the same time, it is thirstier too . It delivers an economy of 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. That’s for the V6 motor. The supercharged V8 consumes even more fuel, which definitely feels heavy on your pocket.

Although the Jeep has lower economy, the 24.6-gallon fuel tank helps it very well in managing its range over 450 miles in the city and over 600 miles on the highways. The Explorer has the worst mpg figures at 316 in the city with the smallest tank. Subaru Ascent offers the best fuel economy in the segment thanks to its turbocharged flat 4 engine.

The cabin of the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is definitely a nice place to be in but only for the 5 adults. It is the only one in its segment which doesn’t have the third row. This may disappoint someone looking for a 7 seater full-sized SUV. The cabin comes in all-black leatherette material which feels premium and upscale. The cabin is kept very minimalistic with a sophisticated look and covered with rich material everywhere. The dash has been designed to give it a rugged look and covered in soft-touch materials. The AC vents and the center console have brushed aluminum trims in them, which give a premium yet rugged appearance. 

Door panels are also equipped with soft-touch elements with well-cushioned armrests. Coming to its seating capacity, it can accommodate 2 adults at the front and 3 at the rear comfortably. All the seats are well-cushioned and bolstered and wrapped in black leather upholstery. The front bucket seats come with 4-way manual adjustments while the Limited and higher trims get power adjustments. With no third row, you surely got that whole space for the cargo. It has a capacity of 36.3 cu-ft. of the trunk behind the second row. And it can be expanded to 68.3 cu-ft. after folding down the second row.

The 2019 Grand Cherokee is the only one to offer 2-row seating capacity, and that too with less room than others. The remaining three SUVs have almost the same room inside. The trunk space on offer is obviously the most in the Jeep since you get all the space behind the second row, otherwise, the Explorer offers a voluminous trunk.

Standout interior features:

• 4-way power-adjustable seats (only in higher trims).
• Full-leather upholstery.
• Dual-zoned automatic AC.
• Panoramic sunroof.
• Leather with aluminum trims on the dash.

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee brings with it basic amenities for entertainment which includes a 7-inch Uconnect infotainment system paired with a 6-speaker audio system. The Altitude and higher trims come equipped with the 8.4-inch touchscreen LCD display. Other features include Android Auto and Apple Carplay which are available as standard.

The screen quality looks good and has decent graphics and touch response. You can also control the infotainment through physical buttons and knobs. For your music needs, you can also upgrade to a 9-speaker Alpine stereo system or a 19-speaker Harman Kardon sound system. Apart from this, you can also add a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

Standout infotainment features:

• SiriusXM satellite radio
• GPS navigation
• 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot
• Voice activation
• Radio data system
• Uconnect external memory control

The 2019 Grand Cherokee really attracts buyers with its bold and muscular structure. The front got the Jeep’s signature 7 slat grille highlighted with a silver finish. There is a massive air breather at the bottom also with the two red towing hooks, which looks attractive at a first glance. Coming to its side profile, it is kept very minimalistic with a limited number of cuts and creases. This gives it a classy look but seems a little old-school compared to the others in the competition. 

The ‘Laredo’ gets 17-inches aluminum alloy wheels while the higher trims get 20-inch alloys which are covered with high-profile tires. This adds a muscular look to the SUV. The rear fascia doesn’t attract much. It has got boxy tail lamps and some basic design elements. The 2019 Grand Cherokee kept quite high on the suspension and looks tall from the rear. The Jeep looks truly a rugged vehicle from the outside. 

The 2019 Grand Cherokee is the bulkiest in the segment, which also plays a significant role in its lower mpg levels. It is also the shortest in length which leads to its lesser cabin room. But the ground clearance offered in the Jeep is superior and gives you confidence while off-roading. The Ascent also has great ground clearance while the Pilot has the lowest.

Standout exterior features:

• 20-inches aluminum-alloy wheels
• 7- slat signature grille
• Deep tinted privacy glass
• Lip spoiler
• Automatic projector headlamps with DRLs

The 2019 Grand Cherokee is based on the FCA Giorgio platform which is also being shared with Alfa Romeo Stelvio. It secured an overall rating of 5-stars from the NHTSA and ‘Good’ in the majority of the domains in the IIHS crash tests. This shows its truly robust construction.Apart from that, it equipped with various passive and active safety features, which includes:

• Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection
• Rear Park Assist.
• Rear Backup Camera.
• Adaptive Cruise Control with auto speed assist.
• 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.

2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2019 Honda Pilot

Both the SUVs got almost the same capacity engines, where the Grand Cherokee churns out more power than the Pilot. But due to the curb weight, the Jeep lags behind in the 0-60 mph and quarter-mile run. Even the fuel economy delivered by both SUVs is almost the same. The Pilot looks more like a family SUV whereas the Jeep looks more like an off-roader. And the difference is their seating capacity, where the Grand Cherokee offers seating for 5 whereas the Pilot offers for 8.

2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2019 Ford Explorer

Again Jeep churns out more power than the Explorer. Despite being the bulkiest in the segment, the Jeep is much quicker than the Explorer. Coming to their mpg figures, the Explorer performs even worse than the Grand Cherokee and also has a significantly smaller tank. But the cabin room offered by the Explorer is much better than the Jeep.

2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2019 Subaru Ascent

The power figures of the Jeep are much higher than the Subaru and it is also quicker than Ascent. The stopping distance of the Ascent is much appreciable, and its mpg figures are the best in the segment. However, the cabin room on offer in the Ascent is much better than the Jeep, which adds to its pros. But looks-wise, Ascent doesn’t look appealing to the buyers whereas the Grand Cherokee is quite appealing.

The 2019 Grand Cherokee provides you a true off-road package along with a comfortable cabin. The SUV has a very robust drivetrain and a powerful motor that can do almost everything. The interior feels very premium and comfy, and there are a sufficient amount of amenities to keep you entertained. Other than that, the fuel economy might feel heavy on your pocket, but if you really want a powerful machine,compromise is the key. With a starting price tag of $35,000, the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is definitely a good choice.