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The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers more or less everything that you could ask for in a mid-size SUV - smooth driving dynamics, a spacious cabin and of course, brilliant off-roading capabilities. A new version is expected in the next few years, but for the time being, the venerable Grand Cherokee remains a perfect blend of capability, style, and comfort for families.
What's New For 2018
There is a new range-topping Trackhawk variant, which gets the monstrous 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V8 from Dodge's Hellcat twins. But Jeep giveth, Jeep taketh away – while owners can enjoy the Trackhawk, the 2018 Grand Cherokee isn't available with the popular 3.0-liter, EcoDiesel V6, owing to regulatory snafus. That could change later this year.
Among the comfort creatures, the highlight is a new 7.0-inch Uconnect touchscreen infotainment system that comes with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
Choosing Your Grand Cherokee
The Grand Cherokee is available in 10 trim levels — Laredo, Laredo E, Altitude, Limited, Sterling Edition, Trailhawk,Overland,Summit, SRT, and Trackhawk.
Except the SRT and the Trackhawk variants, all the variants get a 3.6-liter V6 engine as standard. It produces 296 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque and is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Mileage is 19 miles per gallon in city, 26 highway and 21 mpg combined. Two-wheel drive is available, but this is a Jeep, so plan on tacking on anywhere from $2,000 to $3,000 – depending on trim – for four-wheel drive (the Trailhawk, SRT, and Trackhawk all come standard with four-wheel drive).
While a V6 is standard, the Limited, Sterling Edition,Overland,Summit, and Trailhawk trims, are available with a more potent 5.7-liter V8 (provided the four-wheel-drive box is ticked). It might add $3,295 to the price but for that sum you get 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque under the hood and the best-in-class towing capacity of 7,200 pounds. The mileage does, however, take a hit with the EPA estimating 14 city, 22 highway, and 17 combined mpg.
As far as the performance-oriented SRT and Trackhawk models are concerned, the SRT gets a 6.4-liter HEMI V8 that makes 475 hp and 470 pound-feet of torque, while the Trackhawk is equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, good for 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. Remarkably, despite a curb weight of nearly 5,400 pounds, the Grand Cherokee Trackhawk accelerates from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds.
Every Grand Cherokee comes standard with a slick-shifting eight-speed automatic transmission.
Laredo
The Grand Cherokee Laredo starts at $31,690 (including $1,095 destination charges) and includes 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights, heated side-view mirrors, hill-start assist, push-button start, cloth upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering-wheel and shift-knob, rear-view camera, rear parking sensors, dual-zone climate control, and a seven-inch UConnect infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. No optional package available on this model.
Laredo E
The Laredo E is priced at $33,990 but despite costing over $2,000 more than the Laredo trim, the main additions to this variant are simple items like chrome roof-rails, eight-way power-adjustable driver seat with four-way lumbar support and eight-way manually-adjustable passenger seat. Otherwise, it appears as if the Laredo E carries a higher price-tag just so the customers can get access to four optional packages, which have their own premium. These packs are the Exterior Appearance Group, the Chrome Edition Group – as both of these are merely aesthetic packages, we'd recommend avoiding them – the Security and Convenience Group ($2,000) which includes a heated steering-wheel, heated front seats, a power liftgate, and remote engine start, and the Radio Group ($1,795), which combines a more advanced 8.4-inch navigation infotainment system with 18-inch wheels. Finally, an All Weather Trail Rated Package rings up at $1,695 and adds a wealth of off-road features ranging from underbody protection to hill-descent control and an upgraded four-wheel-drive system to Jeep's easy-to-use SelecTerrain drive mode system. It also includes convenience features, like a heated steering wheel and front seats.
Altitude
The Grand Cherokee Altitude, retailing at $37,785, is basically the Laredo E trim but with Security and Convenience Group and Radio Group as standard, and instead of 18-inch wheels, there are 20-inch alloys finished in black. That theme extends to the lower front fascia, grille surround, and the Grand Cherokee badges. An auto-dimming rear-view mirror and leather-trimmed upholstery are also standard. Like the base Laredo, there are no optional packages, although an Alpine audio system is a $695 standalone item.
Limited
The Grand Cherokee Limited costs $39,290 and new items include 18-inch wheels, leather upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver and passenger seats with four-way lumbar support and a memory function, and heated rear seats. That said, the infotainment system is the 7.0-inch unit, not the 8.4-inch one on the Altitude trim. But you can buy the latter as a $1,395 standalone option or with the Luxury Group II Package ($4,495), which also includes a nine-speaker Alpine audio system, bi-xenon headlights with automatic high beams and LED running lights, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof. The Limited also opens the door to a more potent off-road suite. The Off-Road Adventure II Package adds a stouter rear axle with an electronically locking rear differential, for added capability on slick surfaces, an air suspension that can increase ground clearance, and all the goodies from the Laredo E's Trail Rated package. At $2,495, it's a pricey addition, although the air suspension will do wonders for on-road ride quality, so the Off-Road II Package is far from a one-trick pony. The Chrome Edition Group, the Exterior Appearance Group and the Active Safety Group packs are also available.
Sterling Edition
Priced at $43,290, the “Sterling Edition” marks the Grand Cherokee’s 25th anniversary. It gets features of the Limited trim plus new 20-inch wheels, slightly revised exterior design, a leather-trimmed instrument panel and center console and new perforated leather seats with decorative stitching. The 8.4-inch infotainment system, nine-speaker Alpine audio system, and blind-spot detection with rear cross-traffic alert are standard as well. The only noteworthy addition to the Sterling Edition is the $1,795 Sterling Edition Luxury Group, which broadly mirrors the Limited's Luxury Group II Package, but at a more agreeable price, owing to the standard 8.4-inch infotainment system an Alpine audio.
Trailhawk
The Trailhawk trim, retailing at $43,290, is the most off-road focused variant of the Grand Cherokee, which is why it only comes with four-wheel drive. Other mechanical tweaks include a wide rear track, off-road air suspension, electronic rear limited-slip differential, and Jeep’s popular Selec-Speed Control system, which includes hill-descent control, hill-ascent control, and hill-start assist. There are also more comfort features like ventilated front seats, new leather-trimmed upholstery, power-folding side-view mirrors and the 8.4-inch infotainment system. A Trailhawk Luxury Group ($2,995), you guessed it, mimics the luxury packages on the Limited and Sterling Edition. Once again, the Active Safety Group is available.
Overland
Building on the Limited trim is the $46,090 Grand Cherokee Overland, which has 20-inch wheels, bi-xenon headlights, LED running lights, LED fog-lights, sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, under-seat lighting and the 8.4-inch infotainment set-up with the Alpine sound system – so essentially the bulk of the goodies from the Limited's Luxury Package. A 19-speaker Harmon Kardon audio system ($1,095) and rear-seat entertainment ($1,995) are two stand-alone items that are worth checking out. The Off-Road Adventure II package is still available, although its upgraded four-wheel-drive system – Quadra-Drive II – is available as a $695 standalone option.
High Altitude Edition
For 2018, Jeep is once again offering a High Altitude Edition (adds $2,495 to the price), which is like the Overland equivalent to the Laredo-based Altitude Edition. It features plenty of moody black trim, along with the Active Safety Group, as standard. That said, this stylish trim isn't available with the comprehensive Off-Road Adventure II package (although Quadra-Drive II is still available as an optional extra).
Summit
The Grand Cherokee Summit comes in at $52,090 and delivers on its king-of-the-hill name. The Active Safety Group, an active noise cancellation system, and Harmon Kardon sound system are all standard, as is virtually every piece of tech listed above. If you're still not satisfied, then have a look at the Signature Leather-Wrapped Interior Package ($4,995) which adds a Laguna leather upholstery that completely changes the interior look of the Grand Cherokee. The $995 Summit California Edition, meanwhile, replaces much of the exterior chrome with body-color enhancements.
SRT
At $68,490, the Grand Cherokee SRT carries a massive premium over the Grand Cherokee Summit but in return, it offers a far more dynamic driving experience. That character comes from a brilliant 475-hp powertrain, Bilstein active suspension, an updated four-wheel drive system with electronic rear limited-slip differential, Brembo brakes, Pirelli tires, launch-control function, and a sportier interior with a flat-bottom steering-wheel, carbon-fibre inserts and new leather upholstery. It's as cool as it sounds. Options include uprated Brembo brakes ($1,295), the Harmon Kardon sound system ($1,995), a panoramic sunroof ($2,095), and the Laguna leather upholstery ($5,295).
Trackhawk
The range-topping Trackhawk comes in at $86,995, and for that princely sum, you're getting one of the fastest SUVs on the planet. The 707-hp Trackhawk takes the Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and shoves it into a Jeep's body, taking all the SRT enhancements and adding a big dollop of power. Approach with caution, drive with pleasure.
With the astounding number of options, the right Grand Cherokee pick depends on your budget and requirements. If you want a Grand Cherokee for daily driving with occasional off-roading excursions a four-wheel-drive Limited with the Off-Road Adventure II Package is the most balanced choice, ringing up at just under $44,000 without any other options and promising capability that will satisfy 99.99 percent of drivers.
