In-depth reviews

Jeep Grand Cherokee review

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is terrific off road and loaded with kit, but it's starting to feel its age

Overall Auto Express Rating

3.0 out of 5

Price
£85,920 to £85,920
  • Fantastic off-road ability
  • Lots of standard equipment
  • Trackhawk offers huge performance
  • Feels dated
  • Quality can't match rivals'
  • Disappointing economy and emissions
Find your Jeep Grand Cherokee
Offers from our trusted partners on this car and its predecessors...
From:£26,990 cash
PCP finance available
Or are you looking to sell your car?
Advertisement

There’s no doubt the latest Jeep Grand Cherokee is head and shoulders above its predecessor when it comes to premium feel, ride comfort and the efficiency of its torquey 3.0 litre diesel V6 – although it's starting to lag behind rivals in this regard.

It’s stacked-out with equipment, too, making it look pretty good value on the showroom floor once the optional extras for its mainly European rivals start adding up. Satisfied Grand Cherokee owners rate comfort, performance and tech extremely highly, but they’re less impressed with build quality.

Fit and finish just doesn’t match up to the standard set by the Europeans, and a lavish spec-sheet can’t hide that fact. And while the Jeep is amongst the best in class off-road, it simply can’t match its rivals on it.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee sits at the top of the American brand’s range as a rival to large, luxurious SUVs including the BMW X5, Land Rover Discovery, Range Rover Velar and Volkswagen Touareg. It’s an older car than all of these and certainly retains an old-school feel as a result – the Jeep remains a very capable off-roader despite its creature comforts.

• Best 4x4s to buy now

Updates over the years have kept the Grand Cherokee fresh enough to be considered against its rivals. The brand’s latest 8.4-inch Uconnect infotainment features alongside a 17.8-inch digital instrument display in the cabin, while a number of standard active safety systems are also included. Visual changes have been minimal since the current generation arrived in 2011, but minor cosmetic changes have been made to help the car keep pace.

The Grand Cherokee’s previously expansive range has been simplified to include three trims – Overland, Summit and Trackhawk. Standard equipment is generous: even entry-level cars get 20-inch alloys, auto-dimming mirrors, all-round parking sensors with a rear-view camera, heated and ventilated front seats and a host of active safety kit. With prices starting at just over £54,000, the Grand Cherokee offers good value for money in this class – at least from an equipment perspective.

The range is topped by the Trackhawk model, which comes with its own unique package of equipment. That includes titanium-finished 20-inch wheels, as well as a stealth-like body kit featuring deeper front and rear bumpers with four beefy exhausts thrusting out at the back. It’s a rival for the likes of the Porsche Cayenne Turbo and BMW X5 M, albeit one that undercuts those on price by some margin.

If you’re looking for an SUV with serious green credentials, the Grand Cherokee isn’t the best choice – especially given the absence of a plug-in hybrid model. An all-new model in the coming years should aim to address this.

Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    2.0 Turbo 4xe PHEV Limited 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • Price
    £69,130

Most Economical

  • Name
    2.0 Turbo 4xe PHEV Trailhawk 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • Price
    £73,130

Fastest

  • Name
    2.0 Turbo 4xe PHEV Limited 5dr Auto
  • Gearbox type
    Auto
  • Price
    £69,130

More on Grand Cherokee

New Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 2023 review
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe - front
Road tests
14 May 2023

New Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe 2023 review

The tech-laden Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe sets its sights on premium competition in Europe
New Jeep Grand Cherokee on sale now from £69,900
Jeep Grand Cherokee
News
2 Aug 2022

New Jeep Grand Cherokee on sale now from £69,900

Jeep has brought its flagship Grand Cherokee to the UK, but there’s no V8 model yet
New 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee makes European debut with plug-in power
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe - front tracking
News
17 Feb 2022

New 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee makes European debut with plug-in power

The flagship Grand Cherokee SUV arrives in Europe with plug-in hybrid power only as Jeep looks towards an all-electrified engine line-up in 2022
New Jeep Grand Cherokee 2022 review
Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV - front
Road tests
4 Jan 2022

New Jeep Grand Cherokee 2022 review

The new Jeep Grand Cherokee is coming to the UK so to find out what we can expect, we've had an early drive in the US
Seven-seat SUV to join Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit - full front
News
11 Mar 2019

Seven-seat SUV to join Grand Cherokee

A new seven-seat Jeep SUV will sit above the Grand Cherokee and below the new Wagoneer
New Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk 2019 review
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk - front
Road tests
7 Dec 2018

New Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk 2019 review

The 707bhp Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk is mighty in a straight line, but how does the rest of the driving experience compare?
700bhp Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk on sale now
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk LA
News
4 Dec 2018

700bhp Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk on sale now

Just 20 right-hand-drive examples of Jeep's super-SUV heading to the UK this year, with more to follow in 2019
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee review
Used Jeep Grand Cherokee - front
Used car tests
17 Apr 2018

Used Jeep Grand Cherokee review

A full used buyer’s guide on the Jeep Grand Cherokee covering the Grand Cherokee Mk3 (2005-2011)
Hennessey upgrades Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk to 1,012bhp
1012bhp Hennessey Jeep Trackhawk - header
News
13 Apr 2018

Hennessey upgrades Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk to 1,012bhp

Hennessey has teamed up with Jeep to give the already monstrous Grand Cherokee Trackhawk more power
Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 2017 review
Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit - front
Road tests
22 Aug 2017

Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 2017 review

Latest top-spec Summit version of the evergreen Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV scores on comfort, kit and refinement, but will it be a hit?
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk review
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk - front tracking
Road tests
1 Nov 2016

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk review

The Trailhawk model is the Jeep Grand Cherokee at its toughest and most off-road focused. Does it make sense for UK buyers?
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT vs plane: which one wins?
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 vs plane - header
Features
19 Sep 2016

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT vs plane: which one wins?

In the ultimate track battle, we pitch a V8-engined Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT against a stunt plane - which one is faster around a track?
New Jeep Grand Cherokee given updates for 2016
Jeep Grand Cherokee 75th Anniversary
News
1 Jul 2016

New Jeep Grand Cherokee given updates for 2016

Jeep has updated the Grand Cherokee SUV with various tweaks and a couple of high-end special editions
Huge Fiat Chrysler recall after runaway injuries
Jeep Grand Cherokee front
News
23 Apr 2016

Huge Fiat Chrysler recall after runaway injuries

Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger models require gear selector modifications
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk revealed in leaked pictures
Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk - front
News
18 Mar 2016

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk revealed in leaked pictures

Beefed-up Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk off-roader gains sporty styling tweaks, but won’t be coming to the UK
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT vs Porsche Macan Turbo
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT vs Porsche Macan Turbo
Car group tests
12 Aug 2015

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT vs Porsche Macan Turbo

New Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT adds some muscle to the SUV class with its rumbling V8, but can it knock out the brilliant Porsche Macan Turbo?
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT review
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT - front cornering
Road tests
12 Aug 2015

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT review

We get behind the wheel of the Grand Cherokee SRT, which is powered by a 461bhp 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs rivals
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs rivals
Car group tests
2 Aug 2014

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs rivals

Tough yet luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee battles VW and Infiniti off-roaders
New Jeep Grand Cherokee 2014
Jeep Grand Cherokee front
Road tests
6 Jun 2014

New Jeep Grand Cherokee 2014

The facelifted Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV has a comfortable ride, but it's not exciting
6. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Car group tests
26 Dec 2012

6. Jeep Grand Cherokee

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8
Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 front tracking
Road tests
14 Oct 2011

Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8

Our verdict on monster HEMI V8 that gives SUV a supercar punch
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Rivals
Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Land Rover Discovery vs Volkswagen Touareg
Car group tests
8 Jul 2011

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Rivals

Jeep aims to get back to the top of the off-road pile with its new Grand Cherokee. Can it kick rivals from Land Rover and VW into the long grass?
Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee front
Road tests
10 Jun 2011

Jeep Grand Cherokee

All-new top-spec version of Jeep's Discovery rival is American firm’s most desirable model yet