2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review: Tamed Off-Road Luxury

The fifth-gen 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of those cars that manage to straddle the line between capable off-roading and comfortable daily use. It's versatile as a model, too, since you can have it in various configurations, and its potent V6 engine is surprisingly efficient. Developing 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, it gives the Jeep plenty of power to take on its more mundane competition in the USA, like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas. However, the Grand Cherokee has a bit of an edge thanks to the option for an extended body that lets you squeeze in an extra row of seats - and buyers of the long-wheelbase version can throw in a 357-hp V8 on certain trims. Most rivals to the Keep Grand Cherokee are extremely good value for money, but they can't hope to match the Jeep for versatility. But is that reason enough to pick it over the rest?

New for 2024

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV gets new standard 18-inch polished/painted aluminum wheels on certain trims for both the regular and extended versions. Other than a slight price increase, the 2024 Grand Cherokee remains unchanged.

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Price: Which One to Buy

Considering its size, the price of the 2024 Jeep Cherokee is quite reasonable. It has a starting MSRP of $39,535 for the Laredo, although a special order, Laredo A, is available at $36,495. The Laredo X is more like a package than a whole new trim, and the $750 bump in price reflects that. Similarly, the Altitude and Altitude X cost $44,140 and $44,640, respectively. From there, more extensive changes are made, starting with the Limited at $48,780. It is a massive increase to the $61,995 Overland, which is far more luxurious than the lower trims. The final spots are taken up by the Summit at $65,360 and Summit Reserve at $69,840.

Up until the Limited, every model can be had with four-wheel drive for an extra $2,000, with the latter trims already including it. Similarly, you could also get a new Jeep Grand Cherokee L SUV in each of the mentioned trims for an additional $2,000, though the Laredo X is only $1,750 more expensive. Adding the V8 to the top three L models will swell the total cost by $3,995. These prices do not include the $1,795 destination charge.

The sweet spot in the range is the Limited, which starts at $48,780 but includes the bigger infotainment scree, heated rear seats, LED fog lights, and some additional conveniences for the front seats.

Interior and Features

There is plenty of space inside the Grand Cherokee, and even more if you opt for the L, all of which is stylishly appointed in fine materials.

To show off its more urbane personality, the Grand Cherokee has an upscale and stylish interior that looks like it could belong in a much more expensive car. Of course, you do have to spend over $60k to get the leather upholstery and wood veneer. But, no matter the trim, you get a good list of standard features. Slap in the middle of the dashboard is the large touchscreen in the upper trim levels, with physical buttons both below and above to control the air conditioning and a few other more common systems. There is loads of space, too, and the cabin feels even more open when you install the optional sunroof.

Space

If you opt for the regular Grand Cherokee, you get five seats across two rows with more than enough head- and legroom for most adults. As with most SUVs, getting inside is easy, especially since Jeep doesn't try to be overly fancy with a sloping roofline or any such shenanigans. The driver's seat is power-adjustable as standard, so finding a comfortable position with good sight lines is relatively easy. Thanks to its much longer wheelbase, the Grand Cherokee L has even more interior space. The automaker capitalizes on this by sticking in a third row of seats, which turns the car into a six-seater. Accessing the rear-most positions can be tricky in lower trims since power-folding second-row seats are only added at the upper echelons.

Cargo

Given its size, it is not surprising at all that the Grand Cherokee has loads of cargo space, no matter which configuration you go for. The standard five-seater model offers a generous 37.7 cubic feet, which grows to 70.8 cu-ft. when you fold down the rear seats. There are also some roof rails that further increase the overall capacity, and the SUV can handle a payload of 1,283 pounds.

The Grand Cherokee L is bigger, and while most of that additional space goes towards the third row of seating, some trunk space gets lost behind the rear seats, leaving just 17.2 cubes for actual cargo. Fold down the third row, however, and you get 46.9 cubes. Maximum trunk space in the Jeep Grand Cherokee L comes in at 84.6 cubic feet behind the front seats. The convenient liftover height and available power liftgate make loading your stuff pretty easy.

As for smaller items, you get cupholders in each row of seats, a glove compartment, a large bin below the center console, and an armrest cubby. Each door gets a sizeable door pocket.

Materials and Colors

Across the many different trim levels, you get access to a variety of materials and interior colors. This starts off with basic Black cloth in the Laredo, which is then upgraded to Capri leatherette/suede in the Altitude, with Wicker Beige added as a color choice in the Limited.

Nappa leather coats the interior of the Overland, but Black is the only option. Tupelo/Black is added to the list for the Summit and Reserve. From the Limited upward, the dashboard gets wood veneer for a bit of extra class.

Features and Infotainment

Jeep ensures that even its base models come outfitted with a good list of standard features, covering both conveniences and comforts. This includes dual-zone climate control, a four-way power driver's seat, keyless entry, push-button start, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, and an 8.4-inch touchscreen display programmed with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and Sirius XM. The standard sound system comprises six speakers. A larger 10.1-inch touchscreen is standard on the upper trims, and it adds navigation and SiriusXM Traffic, with the option of a ten-speaker sound system. Other upgrades include power-adjustable heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, tri- or even quad-zone climate control, and a dual-pane panoramic sunroof. Six USB ports and an optional wireless charging pad help keep your devices going.

Performance

While it can go quickly in a straight line, the Grand Cherokee is a large and heavy vehicle that shows better aptitude off the beaten path.

There is only one engine available to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, a 3.6-liter V6 that develops 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. This power plant is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, and you get the choice of a rear- or four-wheel drivetrain for most of the trims, with only the Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve being 4x4 exclusively. However, there is not just one 4x4 setup to choose from: Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II, and Quadra-Drive II with a rear electronic limited-slip differential. Most of this is true for the Grand Cherokee L, but it differs in the fact that the top three trim levels let you upgrade to a more potent 5.7-liter HEMI V8 engine that makes 357 hp and 390 lb-ft. The Jeep Grand Cherokee isn't about 0-60 mph times, but the V8 block can launch the heavy vehicle to the benchmark in 6.2 seconds. Top speed is set at 180 mph, and with the right equipment, the SUV boasts a towing capacity of 6,200 pounds with the V6 and 7,200 lbs with the V8.

There is no denying that the Grand Cherokee is a large car, especially in its extended guise, and you'll feel that size and weight when you're behind the wheel. It may share its platform with some sporty Alfa Romeos, but the Jeep is far from athletic. The suspension is definitely tuned more toward comfort, and the steering is light and responsive - ideal for city driving. It is worth it to opt for the 4x4 drivetrain, as it helps keep the car poised and ensures that you can get the most out of its off-roading capabilities.

Fuel Efficiency

There are a few engine and drivetrain combinations, each with its own gas mileage. The V6, with either RWD or 4WD is the most basic Jeep Grand Cherokee with 19/26/22 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles. With the longer wheelbase, the Cherokee L with RWD gets 19/26/21 mpg, losing just one mile per gallon for city and highway cycles when equipped with 4x4. This drops considerably when you equip the V8 engine, down to 14/22/17 mpg.

Strangely, both the regular and extended-body Jeep have the same fuel capacity of 23 gallons, which means that the V8 will see you across 391 miles, while the V6 maxes out at 506 miles.

Safety

Jeep includes loads of standard safety tech, including blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alert, and earns excellent safety reviews.

The safety rating review of the Jeep Grand Cherokee by the NHTSA is quite generous, giving it an overall score of five stars. The IIHS also gives it a rather impressive score of Good in most categories but Poor for moderate overlap front, yet it still awarded the car a Top Safety Pick+ for 2023. It's worth noting that this award applies only to vehicles built after March 2023.

Safety systems include six airbags, ABS, stability and traction control, and a rearview camera. However, you also get forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane-keep assist, and rear parking sensors. This is a very extensive standard list, but you can still add a few things like night vision, intersection collision assist, parallel and perpendicular parking assist, and a driver-attention feature.

Reliability

Jeep has had a checkered past with its more urban-focused models, but the reliability of the Jeep Grand Cherokee is pretty good. JD Power rated the 2023 models at 77 out of 100 for quality and reliability and gave it a consumer rating of 80 out of 100.

At the time of writing, there were recalls listed for the 2024 model after there were four last year. Reasons included no display from the rearview camera, incorrectly installed rear coil springs, incorrectly assembled steering columns, and missing dashboard air bag warning labels. The warranty for the 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee includes three years/36,000 miles of limited coverage and five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage.

Warranty

Design

Jeep has an iconic design philosophy that makes it impossible to mistake any of the brand's vehicles for anything else. The Grand Cherokee may not be as much of an off-roader as the rest of the Jeep range, but it's still extremely chunky and bold. A seven-slot grille immediately draws the eye to the front, but it's not overly large and overbearing. Similarly, the LED headlights are sleeker than on other models, with integrated LED daytime running lights. The lower bumper is extremely broad, which hints at off-roading capabilities, and there is room for fog lights. At the back, slim taillights match the front, and once you upgrade past the Altitude, you get a power liftgate for easier access. While available to lower trim levels, only the upper three trims get a dual-pane sunroof as standard.

The base Laredo rolls on 17-inch wheels, but from the Laredo X to the Limited, 18-inch wheels fill the arches. Overland and Summit models get 20-inch alloys as standard, while the top trim is equipped with the biggest 21-inch items in the lineup.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee A Good SUV?

The 2024 Grand Cherokee is easily one of the better SUVs on the market, and the fact that it can be had with an extended body and room for up to six passengers makes it even more versatile and desirable. However, there are better choices out there in terms of practicality and standard features at this price, and they generally have better road manners, too. The Jeep does have something to offer that they can't match, though, and that is its impressive off-roading performance. With a choice of three different 4x4 setups and an available air suspension, it can go where no city cruiser could while still feeling comfortable enough on the road. If you need a responsible family car for the week but also want to go on adventures over the weekend, there are few cars that can get the job done as well as the Grand Cherokee.