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?

You are spoilt for choice here, as there is 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. We would recommend an AWD however. Probably the Altitude AWD at an MSRP of $40,190.

"A broadly appealing SUV that can almost certainly be specified exactly to your tastes." - Car and Driver

There are 11 trims on offer, each adding or replacing certain features on consequent trims. You can have every trim with an all-wheel drive, while the front-wheel-drive isn’t offered on the performance versions. The 11 trims offered to get a basic 3.6L V6 engine that belts out 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. This basic powertrain is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The trims range from a base MSRP of $31,945- $54,695 for the high-end summit AWD trim. From the Limited trim, there is yet another engine on the offer, a 5.7L V8 engine that can put out as much as 360 hp. There are other engine options as well that are mentioned later. It's best to refer to the neatly crafted table below, which lists and compares standard features.

"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

There are several engine choices here, ranging from naturally aspirated V6s to supercharged V8s. The base engine, a 3.6L V6 that belts out 295 horses come in for all the trims as standard. 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 an 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. The entire range of the eleven trims is priced between $31,945- $54,695.

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. 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 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. The Jeep Grand Cherokee ranks second with a timing of 15.5. Finally comes in the Dodge Durango with a quarter-mile timing of 15.8 seconds. In terms of handling, 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.

Weighing over 2 and a quarter tons, 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.

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 perform equally well, not taking especially long to roll to a stop. 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. 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.

"Four-wheel drive is standard with this model, and fuel mileage shows as 14/22 city/highway." - Motor Trend

The 2020 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, after its initial price $40 grand plus. If you love to haul metal around, better be prepared for it.

The Dodge Durango SXT has the worst efficiency, followed closely by the Jeep. Both the cars sport 3.5-liter V6s or above, and are quite powerful and understandably thirsty. Honda 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

There are many things the Grand Cherokee can do. Seating 7 people are 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 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. 

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.

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

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.

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.

"A single-pane sunroof is standard on Limited and Trailhawk models." - Car And Driver

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 the 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.

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 is the largest SUVs overall, and can easily bully other cars on road.

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.

"It may have missed the best crash-test ratings by a wide margin—it did not perform well in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small-overlap front-crash tests but the Grand Cherokee still offers a comprehensive list of driver-assistance features." - Car and Driver

The RWD scored four stars on five in the NHTSA overall safety tests. the score was split as five stars in the side crash and four stars in the other three categories. The AWD version of the 2020 Grand Cherokee scored five on five stars in the overall rating.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee has plenty of safety features as well. The 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 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 they 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 are what make the TrailHawk the perfect Grand Cherokee trim for off-roading purposes.