2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Is a Rival to Most Off-Roaders

When Jeep launched the Grand Cherokee thirty years ago, it was seen as America’s answer to the Range Rover. Today, in a sector that’s fragmented into dozens of sub-markets, the Grand competes at numerous levels. This makes it tricky for Jeep newbies to navigate the range.

If you want to save money, most models are available with RWD, however blasphemous that might seem in a Jeep. Cheaper AWD models have a Quadra-Trac 1 transfer case that’ll cope with snow but little else, while Quadra-Trac 2 models offer low-range modes. You can also specify Quadra-Drive 2 for a limited-slip diff. Then things get really complicated. The Grand can be acquired in the standard five-seater guise or seven-seat L configurations, as a 4xe hybrid or with two gas engines – a 3.6-liter V6 or a 5.7-liter V8. Trailhawk models are designed for off-road use with chunky wheels and more ground clearance, while a top-line Grand costs almost double the $41,500 starting price for a RWD Laredo.

Is the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Well-Equipped?

Again, that depends on which model you’re considering. The Laredo hits the ground running on empty, with cloth seats and a disappointingly small touchscreen. You’ll have to find a further $2,000 if you want all four wheels driven, and $600 if you don’t fancy white paint, which doesn’t suit the Grand’s chunky profile.

At the other end of the scale, a Summit Reserve comes with everything from a head-up display and night vision to Nappa leather trim. It’s clearly aimed at a very different audience. In between these two extremes are six other trim levels, most of which can be ordered as RWD or AWD, and with two or three rows of seating. To add to the confusion, 4xe models have only six trim levels, two of which are unique to this hybrid model.

The 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Delivers a Mixed Safety Picture

The Grand Cherokee has so far failed the only crash test the IIHS has carried out – a moderate-overlap front test. We’ll update this section after other testing has been completed. The NHTSA clearly has more faith in the big Jeep, giving it a five-star rating. Every Grand is fitted with active lane control, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise, but you’ll have to buy a more expensive model to get parking sensors as standard, let alone a surround-view camera system. At least there’s good outward vision.

The 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Still Cossets Its Occupants

Twenty years ago, the Grand’s wood-and-deep-pile-carpet interior felt a cut above most rivals. It takes a lot more to impress today when even Hyundais come with massaging seats as standard. Fortunately, Jeep has pulled out all the stops, providing a roomy cabin with generous cargo space.

Avoid the Laredo, and you can expect power-adjustable heated front seats, which are leather-clad from Limited models up. You’ll also skip Laredo’s cheap-looking 8.4-inch touchscreen in favor of a brighter 10.1-inch version; we’re less convinced by the optional front passenger screen. Third-row occupants in L models might wish they were in a Honda Pilot, but they’ll be fine over short journeys.

Does The 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Get Good Fuel Economy?

Given the plethora of different engine/drivetrain/bodyshell combinations, the short answer is “only if you choose a 4xe”. Offering up to 26 miles of electric-only driving, it achieves a 46 MPGe score. Plump for the V8 and you’ll see 17 mpg combined, while the rest of the gas-powered range returns low twenties.

Is the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee a Good Car?

With so many variants on offer, it’s hard to apply a conclusion to the entire range. It’s easy to rule out some variants, though – the cost-cutting Laredo, overpriced Summit Reserve, and RWD-only models. Imagine the embarrassment of being unable to drive your Grand through light snow or a muddy field; only Trailhawk models truly live up to Jeep’s reputation for off-road dependability.

The 4xe Grands cost up to 50% more than their ICE-powered siblings, making them hard to justify as an ownership proposition; they’re also less smooth to drive. On that basis, our final rating refers to a mid-tier gas model with AWD fitted. Whether you need five or seven seats, the Grand is a comfortable and spacious vehicle with impressive tech and an extremely pleasant cabin. In a market filled with strong overseas competition, it’s also iconically American.

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Alternatives

Numerous vehicles could be regarded as competition for the sprawling Grand Cherokee range. At the $40,000 price point, the Mazda CX-90, Kia Telluride, and GMC Terrain are obvious rivals, while the off-road Trailhawk’s competitors include the unburstable Toyota Land Cruiser and the sexy Land Rover Defender. Flagship Grands are outclassed off-road by the go-anywhere (and we do mean anywhere) Range Rover Sport, and on it by the sumptuous Mercedes-Benz GLS.