One Week with the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit
It’s been about 10 years since the current Jeep Grand Cherokee was launched, and though that’s ancient in automotive terms, Jeep has done much to keep its flagship Grand Cherokee current. Throughout the years, the midsize SUV has received plenty of upgrades; from new engines to new trims, the Grand Cherokee is taking good care of itself. Its lineup is so extensive that there’s pretty much a Grand Cherokee for everyone. From the wallet-friendly Laredo to the Hellcat-powered and performance-oriented Trackhawk, Jeep has the two-row midsize SUV game well covered. One of those newer trims is the Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit, which is positioned as the most upscale model of the lineup and offers luxurious materials and features to offer a better overall experience.
It makes sense. As transaction prices rise, brands look for ways to offer even more polished products, and the Grand Cherokee was already highly positioned within the Jeep brand. By offering 20-inch wheels, a unique grille and fascia, and nicer interior materials, the Grand Cherokee Summit distinguishes itself from other mainstream midsize SUVs. Add an optional V-8 and air suspension under its skin, and you suddenly have a really attractive and unique luxury SUV alternative.
We spent a week driving the top-trim Grand Cherokee and asked ourselves if the experience you get is really worth the extra dime.
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit: Interior
The Grand Cherokee Summit not only delights front-seat occupants; it pleases those in the rear. The second row has heated seats, two USB ports, and an optional entertainment system with two screens located on the front seatbacks. The system adds $1,995 to the price of the Summit and includes a DVD player. The downside is that the player is located in the center console, and it pretty much consumes all the space there. Those entertainment systems are still useful but are almost obsolete now, as tablets and smartphones can provide more content and games for kids at a fraction of the cost.
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit: The Drive
Our Grand Cherokee Summit was equipped with the optional 5.7-liter V-8 engine, which sends 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque to the wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. A Quadra-Trac four-wheel-drive system comes standard in the Summit, which will keep the Grand Cherokee out of trouble in case it goes off the pavement. On the road, the V-8 is a true performer. The engine has abundant torque for climbing hills or merging onto the freeway and always feels peppy and responsive. The eight-speed transmission holds gears for as long as it has to and shifts smoothly when it needs to.
On winding roads, the air suspension keeps body roll to a minimum, and whether you drive over bumps or ruts, the vibrations in the cabin are well controlled. Even when driving on Southern California’s Palos Verdes Peninsula, which is known for rippled pavement caused by frequent land movements, the Grand Cherokee Summit kept its composure all the time. There’s no doubt Jeep has gotten its return on investment back with the Grand Cherokee. The SUV rides on older Mercedes-Benz M-Class-derived architecture, and this has proven to be a solid strategy, as it doesn’t drive like it’s a decade-old product. The changes that Jeep has made to the chassis over the years have helped keep the Grand Cherokee fresh.
Where we’d like to see more improvement is on the steering feel. Although its soft—like most owners would prefer it—there’s little feedback coming from it. The steering is precise, but we wish it gave the driver more feel for what’s happening on the road.
Having a Jeep means that you should definitely go off-roading at least once. Besides offering a reliable 4×4 system with a two-speed transfer case, the Summit comes with a Selec-Terrain system with five easy modes to choose from—Snow, Sand, Mud, Rock and Auto. With the air suspension and the four-wheel drive system, the Summit is able to go rock crawling or trail running and it will not hesitate to do so.
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit: Should I buy it?
Priced at $62,775, our Summit felt closer to a luxury SUV than to a base Grand Cherokee. Jeep did a great job modifying things in the grand scheme to make its flagship SUV more premium for those who wanted something more exclusive in the Grand Cherokee lineup. Although there are ways where the interior can improve, drivers are getting a more premium experience in the Summit than in any other Grand Cherokee.
And despite being a decade old, the Grand Cherokee doesn’t feel antiquated. Its capability off the road continues to be great, and its handling and power delivery are top notch.
We know the next-generation Grand Cherokee is coming soon. How soon? Probably next year. In the meantime, the Jeep Grand Cherokee will most likely continue to be the best-selling two-row midsize SUV and please a big group of people, ranging from those who buy the wallet-friendly Laredo to those who prefer the ultimate experience that the Summit offers.
| 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4×4 | |
| BASE/AS-TESTED PRICE | $56,990/$63,375 |
| LAYOUT | Front-engine, 4WD, 5-pass, 4-door SUV |
| ENGINE | 5.7L/360-hp/390-lb-ft OHV 16-valve V-8 |
| TRANSMISSION | 8-speed auto |
| CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST%) | 5,236 lb (54/46%) |
| WHEELBASE | 114.7 in |
| L x W x H | 189.8 x 76.5 x 69.3 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 6.6 sec (MT est) |
| EPA FUEL ECON | 14/22/17 mpg |
| ENERGY CONSUMPTION, CITY/HWY | 241/153 kW-hrs/100 miles |
| CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB | 1.16 lb/mile |
| ON SALE | Currently |
Summit 4dr 4×4
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a stalwart member of the Jeep family, considerably more capable and refined than the crossover SUV models that form the rest of the lineup outside of the Wrangler and the Gladiator. The Grand Cherokee covers a wide bandwidth, from the attractively lease-priced V6 Laredo, to the off-road-specialist Trailhawk, and from the luxurious Overland and Summit, to the brutally quick Trackhawk. No matter the iteration, the Grand Cherokee is a strictly two-row midsize SUV that comfortably accommodates four (or five) adults and a fair bit of luggage. Interior trim can range from fairly modest to quite luxe, and while the 7-inch touchscreen is less visually impressive than what many rivals offer, the interface is easy to use. The Jeep’s similarly sized crossover competitors generally offer superior on-road ride and handling, but any 4WD Grand Cherokee will be able to travel further off the beaten path. The Jeep also can tow up to 7,200 pounds.
There are only minor changes for 2020, this despite the fact that the Grand Cherokee is now in its 10th model year since its last major redesign.
The 2020 Grand Cherokee is offered in numerous trim levels. The Laredo, Laredo E, Upland, Limited, and Limited X form the mainstream branch of the family tree, priced from the mid $30,000s to the mid $40,000s, with four-wheel drive optional. The 4WD Trailhawk is the off-road specialist, while the Overland ($46,000) and Summit ($52,000) compete against luxury brands. Still more expensive are the sporty SRT and Trackhawk variants, although compared similarly high-performance competitors they’re something of a bargain — even the $87,000 Trackhawk.
The base 3.6-liter V6 (295 horsepower, 260 pound-feet) pairs with a polished eight-speed automatic and is adequate for most needs. Its EPA estimates of 18/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined (17/25/21 mpg with 4WD) are only okay, and fuel economy drops precipitously from there. The step-up V8, a 5.7-liter Hemi with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft, comes standard with four-wheel drive and is a temptation Jeep’s competitors don’t offer. But don’t expect more than 17 mpg combined. Moving into the performance realm, the SRT has a 6.4-liter Hemi (475 horsepower, 470 lb-ft), while the insane, Hellcat-powered Trackhawk baits SUVs from Mercedes-AMG and BMW M with its 707 horsepower, 3.5-second 0-60 time and 180-mph top speed.
You can use the rest of this page to find more in-depth information about the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, including features, specs and where to find a good deal near you.
The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a stalwart member of the Jeep family, considerably more capable and refined than the crossover SUV models that form the rest of the lineup outside of the Wrangler and the Gladiator. The Grand Cherokee covers a wide bandwidth, from the attractively lease-priced V6 Laredo, to the off-road-specialist Trailhawk, and from the luxurious Overland and Summit, to the brutally quick Trackhawk. No matter the iteration, the Grand Cherokee is a strictly two-row midsize SUV that comfortably accommodates four (or five) adults and a fair bit of luggage. Interior trim can range from fairly modest to quite luxe, and while the 7-inch touchscreen is less visually impressive than what many rivals offer, the interface is easy to use. The Jeep’s similarly sized crossover competitors generally offer superior on-road ride and handling, but any 4WD Grand Cherokee will be able to travel further off the beaten path. The Jeep also can tow up to 7,200 pounds.
There are only minor changes for 2020, this despite the fact that the Grand Cherokee is now in its 10th model year since its last major redesign.
The 2020 Grand Cherokee is offered in numerous trim levels. The Laredo, Laredo E, Upland, Limited, and Limited X form the mainstream branch of the family tree, priced from the mid $30,000s to the mid $40,000s, with four-wheel drive optional. The 4WD Trailhawk is the off-road specialist, while the Overland ($46,000) and Summit ($52,000) compete against luxury brands. Still more expensive are the sporty SRT and Trackhawk variants, although compared similarly high-performance competitors they’re something of a bargain — even the $87,000 Trackhawk.
The base 3.6-liter V6 (295 horsepower, 260 pound-feet) pairs with a polished eight-speed automatic and is adequate for most needs. Its EPA estimates of 18/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined (17/25/21 mpg with 4WD) are only okay, and fuel economy drops precipitously from there. The step-up V8, a 5.7-liter Hemi with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft, comes standard with four-wheel drive and is a temptation Jeep’s competitors don’t offer. But don’t expect more than 17 mpg combined. Moving into the performance realm, the SRT has a 6.4-liter Hemi (475 horsepower, 470 lb-ft), while the insane, Hellcat-powered Trackhawk baits SUVs from Mercedes-AMG and BMW M with its 707 horsepower, 3.5-second 0-60 time and 180-mph top speed.
You can use the rest of this page to find more in-depth information about the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee, including features, specs and where to find a good deal near you.