2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee Road Test and Review

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a mid-size SUV with diverse appeal. It can be a family car, an off-road machine, an economical commuter car, or a decadently equipped luxury vehicle. 

In recent years, the Grand Cherokee had drifted more toward the latter – losing some loyal customers in the process. For 2025, Jeep aims to change things up with a new, more affordable base model, along with price cuts on other trim levels. In this review, we’ll explore how the Grand Cherokee stacks up at these lower (though not low) prices. Keep reading to learn about its pros and cons to see if it has the right balance of qualities for you. 

Ranging From Mainstream to Luxury

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at $36,495. That’s not a budget ride. But it’s $2,000 less than the 2024 starting price and $4,000 below its 2023 peak. Going purely by the starting price, Jeep erases inflation going all the way back to 2021 – the Grand Cherokee’s previous generation. 

Even the base Laredo A model includes a 293-horsepower V6 engine, a power driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, an 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen, adaptive cruise control, front and rear automatic braking, and blind-spot monitoring with a rear cross-traffic alert. However, you can only get it with white paint and with rear-wheel drive. For any upgrades, you need the Laredo, which means the Laredo A exists primarily to artificially lower the base price. Fortunately, even the regular Laredo doesn’t cost much more: $37,035. 

For an extra $2,000 apiece, you can upgrade to four-wheel drive and/or the extended-length three-row Grand Cherokee L. Other notable trim levels include the Altitude with leatherette upholstery instead of cloth ($41,640), the genuine-leather Limited ($42,905), and the top-of-the-line Overland ($56,995), Summit ($58,560), and Summit Reserve ($63,040). Adding options can push the Grand Cherokee past $70,000, even after this year’s price cuts. Still, that’s in part due to features you’d find on a Range Rover sooner than a Honda – massaging front seats; a hands-free driving system; Capri, Nappa, or Palermo leather upholstery; a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo; a night-vision system; and heated and ventilated front and rear seats. 

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ・ Photo by Brady Holt

V6 Power Comes Standard

The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with a choice of two powerful powertrains. A 3.6-liter V6 comes standard, making 293 horsepower and 257 lb-ft of torque. It’s already agreeably quick and makes a throaty roar, particularly in comparison to the growing number of four-cylinder rivals. We popped the hood of one test vehicle to confirm Jeep hadn’t snuck in a V8. (A previously available V8 was discontinued this year.) The V6 Grand Cherokee can tow up to 6,200 pounds. 

EPA fuel economy ratings are in line with many light-duty crossover SUVs at up to 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. Our test vehicle came up short of those numbers to average just 17 mpg in five days of mixed driving, though primarily in punishing subfreezing temperatures. Its trip computer also reported a still-disappointing 19.5 mpg over the previous 2,500 miles of driving. 

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Or There’s a Plug-In Hybrid

The second Grand Cherokee powertrain is the “4xe” plug-in hybrid. Available only with the standard-length five-seat Grand Cherokee, the 4xe pairs a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo gas engine with an electric motor. The result is a combined output of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque, good for a sprint to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds. 

Plug in the Grand Cherokee 4xe to charge its electric battery, then enjoy an EPA-estimated all-electric range of up to 25 miles. It also averages 23 mpg once that range is used up, quite good for such a speedy SUV. However, when we tested the 4xe, we found its speed trumped its efficiency. We only managed 20 miles of electric range, and most of the time, even the most EV-focused drive mode still ran the engine extensively. And due to the 4xe’s power and weight, this engine isn’t very efficient. When we tested one a couple years ago, we averaged only 26 mpg despite repeatedly recharging the battery. And our test vehicle’s trip computer reported an even more disappointing 23 mpg average from its previous drivers. 

The 4xe is expensive, too. It starts at $60,490, which is about $15,000 more than an equivalently equipped V6 Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4. A $3,750 federal tax credit offsets a bit of that price hike, and remember that you’re also paying for the extra power. 

2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe ・ Photo by Brady Holt

High-End, High-Tech Interior

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee exterior is simple and restrained. The five-passenger model has chunkier proportions versus the more stretched Grand Cherokee L, and the rear end is dressed up more with a lightbar and a “floating roof” effect. 

Inside, the Grand Cherokee reveals its hidden elegance. A thoroughly modern dashboard includes crisp digital displays and high-end wood and leather trim. You can get the leather upholstery in a variety of snazzy colors to dress things up further. An 8.4-inch touchscreen is standard equipment, while our test vehicle included the available 10.1-inch upgrade. You can even get a second 10.25-inch touchscreen that hides on the passenger side of the dash. If that sounds daunting, Jeep also provides physical buttons and knobs, and its interface is usually easy to understand. The Grand Cherokee’s digital graphics don’t look cutting-edge next to newer rivals, though. 

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Usefully Roomy Cabin, But Not Massive

Although the Grand Cherokee has long been a popular family car, it has always offered modest cargo space for a mid-size SUV (unless you opt for the L version that we’ll discuss more soon). With 37.7 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind its rear seat and 70.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded, it has a useful amount of storage space – but smaller crossovers like the Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, and Nissan Rogue have even more cargo room. (On the other hand, good luck towing a heavy trailer with those light-duty vehicles.) 

Passengers have space to spread out in the front and rear seats. We didn’t love the front seats, which looked pretty but felt awkwardly stiff to us; your impressions may vary. Similarly, our test vehicle’s optional massaging front seats felt weak to us in all the available modes, but we’ve read about some owners who swear by them. We did appreciate that the rear seat is adult-friendly even for folks to sit three across, though you’ll find some smaller SUVs with even more rear legroom. 

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ・ Photo by Brady Holt

The Three-Row Option

Jeep waited a near eternity to offer the Grand Cherokee with seven-passenger seating, and it did so with an extended-length version. The Grand Cherokee L, pictured here, stretches nearly a foot longer than the two-row Grand Cherokee. 

To our eye, the regular Grand Cherokee’s proportions appear more natural than the stretched model, but the L is unquestionably more useful. The third-row seat fits adults OK as long as you’ve slid the middle-row seats forward a bit. And cargo capacity improves to 46.9 cubic feet behind the second-row seat and 84.6 cubic feet behind the front seats. (Space behind the third row is modest at 17.2 cubic feet, but that’s not too unusual for a three-row mid-size SUV.) These numbers still don’t lead the class, but they’re competitive with three-row rivals like the Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, and Toyota Highlander. 

2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Drives Well On or Off the Road

The Grand Cherokee isn’t the best-driving mid-size SUV. That’s understandable. Most of its competitors are light-duty crossovers that are engineered for smooth rides and agreeable on-road handling. Still, we found the Grand Cherokee comfortable to drive, with a smooth ride and decent handling limits. The steering felt unnaturally heavy to us at low speeds, but lighter at higher speeds. 

On-road decency is excusable when you factor in the Grand Cherokee’s off-road excellence. This is a true SUV, not some minivan with boxier styling. A respectable 8.4 inches of ground clearance comes standard, while an optional air suspension lets you lift that up to a whopping 10.9 inches and ford up to 24 inches of water. And you can kit out the four-wheel-drive system with a two-speed transfer case and a rear limited-slip differential. The max-capability Trailhawk model is sold only with the 4xe plug-in hybrid powertrain (letting you off-road in emissions-free silence if you’ve charged it up), but no four-wheel-drive Grand Cherokee will struggle with ordinary off-road tasks. 

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Competitors to Consider

When you’re looking for a mid-size SUV that can go off-road, the Grand Cherokee’s top rivals include the Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, Subaru Outback, and Land Rover Discovery. The newly redesigned 4Runner and Land Cruiser are capable but sold only with four-cylinder engines, and the Land Cruiser has less space than the Grand Cherokee. Neither Toyota has the Jeep’s luxury vibe, either; that’s saved for the costlier, less economical Lexus GX.

Meanwhile, the Outback is extremely sensible and comfortable, and it can handle conditions like a muddy road or snowy day. But it’s neither ultra-capable nor ultra-luxe. And while the Land Rover takes the Jeep’s mix of on-road luxury and off-road talents to an even higher level, even the base four-cylinder model costs $60,000. 

When off-road capability isn’t a factor in your purchase decision, the Grand Cherokee faces a broader array of excellent crossovers. A growing number of models even offer off-road-themed versions, including the Ford Explorer Timberline, Honda Passport TrailSport, Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, Kia Telluride X-Line, and Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition. Any of these models is objectively better at everyday driving than the Jeep – but without the Grand Cherokee’s cool factor. 

2024 Toyota Land Cruiser 1958 ・ Photo by Brady Holt

Capability With Less Compromise

Many off-road machines are either crude like Jeep’s own Wrangler or frightfully expensive like a Land Rover. The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee delivers capability with less compromise. Creating a posh, comfortable family car that can also tackle challenging off-road is an impressive engineering feat. 

Now, when you aren’t interested in maximum off-road capability, many on-road-optimized SUVs will probably fit your life better. After all, “less compromise” doesn’t mean “no compromise.” But when you do value the Grand Cherokee’s go-anywhere abilities, today’s model has a broad range of other talents to supplement them. 

2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit ・ Photo by Brady Holt