Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Grand Cherokee - Which SUV is Better?

Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee Deals at CDJR of Ellwood City

SUVs are the hottest segment on the highways and backroads today and it won't be an exaggeration to say that Jeep Cherokee and the Jeep Grand Cherokee are two of the hottest vehicles in this category. 

People are flocking to Jeep dealerships in droves to scoop up the latest in innovative vehicles that can serve as a family taxi, a cargo hauler, a tow vehicle and more. A Sport Utility Vehicle like Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee can be many things to many different people.

Here, we will compare two of the best: the Jeep Cherokee for sale and the Jeep Grand Cherokee for sale at Napleton CDJR Ellwood City. Hopefully, after reading this, you'll have a better idea of which vehicle suits your needs - the Cherokee or the Grand Cherokee.

The Jeep Cherokee: On of the more robust compact-crossover SUVs, the Jeep Cherokee offers a variety of trim, features and capabilities that its competitors could only wish for. With competition like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and Nissan Rogue, Jeep decided that bringing their best to the table was absolutely necessary and that's whay the Cherokee has been completely redesigned from the ground up. With a bold new style and a now standard hybrid powertrain, the Cherokee is better than ever..

The Jeep Grand Cherokee: One of the best all-around SUVs on the road today, the Jeep Grand Cherokee continues to improve. A 2 or 3-row SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee features performance, off-road capabilities and even a touch of luxury.

Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee Looks

The Jeep Cherokee has been recently restyled with a refreshed grille and nose and new LED headlamps. Its appearance ushers in a new era of jeep design where technology meets ruggedness. There will also be an off-road equipped Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk model that features more aggressive off-road accessories and beefier off-road capable tires.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee features a look that continues to grow on us after all these years. Off-road abilities? The Jeep Grand Cherokee has got plenty, thanks to 10.9 inches of ground clearance. There are other Jeep trim levels, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT and the Jeep GC Trackhawk, with supercharged HEMI engine and quad pipes out-back.

Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee Interior:

Logically laid out, the Jeep Cherokee features the latest in modern features with a tech forward cockpit with a now standard Uconnect® 5 with 12.3-Inch Touchscreen Display and a 10.5 inch digital gauge cluster. The use of improved materials inside the Jeep and comfortable seating throughout makes the cabin of the Jeep Cherokee as warm and inviting as, well, a cabin!

The Jeep Cherokee offers 33.6 cubic feet of cargo space with a maximum of 68.3 cu.ft of cargo space with the rear seats down. It also offers generous passenger space for it's segment with 41.3 inches of legroom in the front and 38.5 in the rear.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has options for either a 2-row, five passenger layout or a 3-row, seven passenger layout. This alone could be the deciding factor depending on your needs. Currently the Grand Cherokee doesn't have as large of an infotainment screen with 8.4 inches standard with an upgrade to 10.1 available. For two row models, there is 36.3 cubic feet of of cargo behind the rear seat and up to 70.80 cu.ft with rear seats down. The three row model comes out at 17.2 cu.ft. with all seats up and up to 84.6 cu.ft. with all rear seats down.

The Base level Jeep Grand Cherokee is standard with cloth fabric seats. Climb the options ladder to quickly find yourself swaddled in leather with heated and ventilated seating surfaces as well as power-adjustable lumbar support. There's even a panoramic sunroof available to enjoy your Jeep Grand Cherokee even more.

Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee Power:

The base Jeep Cherokee is now powered by a 1.6L I4 Turbo Hybrid engine producing 210 total horsepower and 221 lb-ft of torque. EPA mileage estimates say to expect around 39 city / 35 highway in front-wheel-drive mode from your Jeep Cherokee. If fuel efficiency is your primary decision maker this is the clear winner.

The Jeep Cherokee is mated to a continuously variable transmission. All-wheel-drive is now standard on all trim levels as well. If you plan on towing, the 3,500 lb towing capacity is enough for most basic needs but might not be enough to tow a larger boat or big camper.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a bigger vehicle, so naturally, you would expect to find a larger powerplant under the hood. In this case, you would be right! Motive power comes from a choice of two engines. The standard 3.6L Pentastar V6 delivers 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. The new 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo is even more powerful producing 324 horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque.

All that power does come at the expense of some fuel efficiency with the Pentastar V6 getting 22 mpg combined and the Hurricane turbo getting around 23 combine MPG. 

So, Jeep Cherokee vs Jeep Grand Cherokee - which one is better? Both are excellent vehicles and you can't go wrong going with either of them. It all depends on your needs. But before you make the final choice read the five most important things to keep in mind while on the market for a new Jeep SUV.

Five Things to Think About When Buying a Jeep SUV or Crossover

• Can it take me off-road? The Jeep Cherokee boasts 8 inches of ground clearance while the Jeep Grand Cherokee clears almost 11 inches. Grand Cherokke is quite a bit more But they are still very capable vehicles. Able to take you way off the beaten path and back again.

• Will it fit in my garage? We don't know! That's why it's a good idea to measure out the parking spot in your garage in advance. Use a tape measure to mark off the overall length, width and height of where you anticipate parking your vehicle. Find that information online by consulting the manufacturer's website. Advanced planning and even seeking an alternative parking area will go a long way to avoid post-purchase disappointment.

• Will it Tow? If you intend to tow a boat, four-wheeler, jetski or whatever, consider how much it weighs, first. The Jeep Cherokee can tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the Jeep Grand Cherokee can handle up to 6,200 pounds. Those are typically at the limits of what a big boat or camping trailer might weigh. If your load is heavier, you might need to consider another vehicle.

• Is it fast? The Jeep Cherokee, with its 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder will scoot. The Hurricane-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee will scoot even faster still.