2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee
The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee remains a near-perfect melding of style, function and comfort almost unmatched by competitors at this price point. With the 5.7-liter V8 option, it’s even more fun to drive. Selec-Terrain system simplifies off-roading but leaves some driver options open. Although the styling is beginning to age, it still looks plenty sharp and is certainly distinctive. But some low crash test ratings may convince some buyers to wait for the expected 2021 redesign.
What’s New
- Jeep Active Safety Group, which includes forward collision and land departure alerts, automatic high beams and advanced brake assist, is now available on Grand Cherokee Laredo
- Grand Cherokee Limited and Trailhawk models now feature a standard single pane sunroof
- Available lighting upgrades to lower trim levels
- New interior color options and new wheel designs available on some grades
- The six-cylinder diesel engine is dropped for 2020
Pros & Cons
- Laughs at off-road obstacles that would stymie more expensive rigs
- Interior comfort and ride quality still a cut above most competitors
- Quadra-Lift adjustable suspension system can coddle or conquer
- Worrisome crash test ratings
- Options drive up the price in hurry
- Exterior style has a few grey hairs
REVIEW
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee: A Distinctively American SUV
Our team of experts has decades of experience evaluating vehicles . While we sometimes, but not always, evaluate manufacturer-supplied vehicles, we operate them in the real world as real consumers would to provide an unbiased view of their capabilities. . Read More
The Grand Cherokee hasn’t had a significant style makeover in nearly a decade, but that’s not an issue as evolutionary updates to its distinct visage means it doesn’t appear dated and there’s no mistaking its seven-slot grille. The stance remains muscular but refined, with an optional V8 howl to back it up.
The base Pentastar V6 gets the job done, but in the eyes of many, it’s not a Jeep without a V8 under the hood. That’s why the Trailhawk is a solid choice as its 5.7-liter Hemi brings more power, big torque and a lot of fun. Plus, it bumps towing capability to over 7,000 pounds. Gas mileage? Not that bad! The Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Trac traction systems are huge assets.
Jeep has refined the Grand Cherokee by degrees since 2011, and it’s a comfortable, capable place to embark on an adventure. Surfaces feel high-quality and the Uconnect4 infotainment system is among the best in the industry. Rear cargo space is average, but that’s nothing a cargo box can’t fix.
Time has not been kind to the Grand Cherokee in terms of IIHS ratings, where it falls short of many more up-to-date competitors. It ranks as good in most categories, including its comprehensive but optional safety tech suit, but has a Marginal overall rating due to safety cage and rollover concerns. It’s not a death trap, but buyers should be aware that it ranked below many competitors.
Opting for a V8 in a Jeep of any kind makes clear that fuel economy isn’t a primary concern. That said, the 5.7-liter Hemi includes cylinder deactivation and switchable start/stop, netting it 22 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in city driving. It could be worse for the size, weight and power on hand.
The Grand Cherokee hasn’t had a significant style makeover in nearly a decade, but that’s not an issue as evolutionary updates to its distinct visage means it doesn’t appear dated and there’s no mistaking its seven-slot grille. The stance remains muscular but refined, with an optional V8 howl to back it up.
The base Pentastar V6 gets the job done, but in the eyes of many, it’s not a Jeep without a V8 under the hood. That’s why the Trailhawk is a solid choice as its 5.7-liter Hemi brings more power, big torque and a lot of fun. Plus, it bumps towing capability to over 7,000 pounds. Gas mileage? Not that bad! The Quadra-Lift air suspension and Selec-Trac traction systems are huge assets.
Jeep has refined the Grand Cherokee by degrees since 2011, and it’s a comfortable, capable place to embark on an adventure. Surfaces feel high-quality and the Uconnect4 infotainment system is among the best in the industry. Rear cargo space is average, but that’s nothing a cargo box can’t fix.
Time has not been kind to the Grand Cherokee in terms of IIHS ratings, where it falls short of many more up-to-date competitors. It ranks as good in most categories, including its comprehensive but optional safety tech suit, but has a Marginal overall rating due to safety cage and rollover concerns. It’s not a death trap, but buyers should be aware that it ranked below many competitors.
Opting for a V8 in a Jeep of any kind makes clear that fuel economy isn’t a primary concern. That said, the 5.7-liter Hemi includes cylinder deactivation and switchable start/stop, netting it 22 mpg on the highway and 14 mpg in city driving. It could be worse for the size, weight and power on hand.
The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee represents a unique choice in the midsize SUV segment, especially when it comes to dollars-for-capability ratio. It’s a highly capably vehicle with upscale styling, a spacious cabin that seats five and a lot of storage (there’s 36.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats).
Now its fourth generation, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers buyers a whopping twelve different trims (four of them are limited editions) and four different four-wheel-drive systems for varying levels of off-road prowess. The base Laredo starts at $33,500 and the plush Summit is $54,000. The track-ready SRT and Trackhawk variants boast five different drive modes. Both sit at the top of the range and cost $70,000 and $88,000, respectively. The mid-grade Trailhawk costs $46,450 and is designed with dirt in mind. It has more rugged styling, red tow hooks and 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires. Its 4×4 system has rear electronic limited slip differential.
With so many options available, the Jeep Grand Cherokee casts a wide net in terms of features, capabilities and pricing—part of the reason it’s been such a perennially popular SUV over the years and a mainstay in the segment.
All models except the SRT, Trackhawk and Trailhawk come with a rear-wheel-drive 3.6-liter V6 engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers 293 horsepower. Each option can be configured as a 4×4 for between $2,000 and $3,000 (SRT, Trackhawk and Trailhawk are 4×4 only). A 5.7-liter Hemi V8 that delivers 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque is standard on the Trailhawk. The SRT is powered by a 6.4-liter V8 rated at 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The Trackhawk gets a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 with max output of 707 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque.
A $1,495 Advanced Active Safety Group package is available on most trims and adds all of the newest advanced driver-assist technology, including adaptive cruise control that will come to a full stop, brake assist (also comes to a full stop), lane warning and lane keeping, parking assist (it will parallel park by itself) and auto wipers.
The Trailhawk variant is ideal for buyers that want a well-equipped, capable, near-luxury vehicle without the premium of a comparable Range Rover Sport. It’s quadra-Lift air suspension system is both smart and effective. Coupled with the Quadra-Trac II 4×4 System and Selec-Terrain Traction Management System, it provides a smooth highway ride while self-lowering for better fuel mileage, and then works with the traction systems to provide up to 10.8 inches of ground clearance.
The 4×4 system is “on” all the time and doesn’t toggle between two- and four-wheel-drive like many others. Even off road it still does much of the thinking for the driver. Most drivers will leave the Selec-Terrain in Auto mode for daily duties because it adapts to conditions as needed. For more extreme situations, the dial can call up programs for Mud, Sand, Snow and Rock. A Sport mode also adjusts for more on-road performance. If need be, the Trailhawk also allows drivers to manually adjust ride height, drop the transmission into 4-Low and lock the differential for true rock-crawling abilities.
And like the Range Rover, the inside of the Trailhawk coddles passengers front and rear. Heated and cooled leather-trimmed seats, a heated steering wheel and quality surfaces are arranged in a pleasing pattern. And while the Jeep’s interior doesn’t feel quite as refined as the Range Rover’s, it’s still comfortable, especially with the upgraded nine-speaker premium audio and the intuitive Uconnect4 infotainment system on the 8.4-inch touch screen. There’s also an app that tracks the status of the suspension system.
In the end, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is an extremely capable off-road partner and road trip facilitator, loaded with capability and performance. The question is whether to hold off until a hoped-for redesign arrives in 2021 or take advantage of discounts now for a proven platform that has a bit of black eye for safety.
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Guide
From its initial unveiling in 1992, the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s purpose was abundantly clear. Jeep’s new SUV would provide the same spacious qualities of earlier Jeep wagons while exhibiting luxury far in excess of the industry standard. When coupled with unsurpassed trail capabilities, these welcoming amenities proved infinitely desirable.
By 2020, Jeep had perfected this recipe for success, serving up industry-leading appeal, one Grand Cherokee at a time. Finally, it appeared as if the Grand Cherokee had come of age, taking on a more mature, sophisticated appearance, both inside and out. By almost every account, the popularity of Jeep’s luxury SUV had reached an all-time high.
The End Of An Era
Though consumers were still transfixed with almost every detail of the fourth-generation Grand Cherokee, by 2020 Jeep’s WK2 platform had begun to show its age. Further exacerbating this issue was the fact that the WK2 had not received a major styling update since 2014.
Nonetheless, sales remained strong, as the WK2 Grand Cherokee powered toward its eventual replacement by the fifth-generation WL. Through subtle revision and clever marketing, the Grand Cherokee remained pertinent enough to fend off most comparable competition.
Modern Stylings, Legendary Performance
The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee was offered with a total of four available powerplants, spanning the performance gamut. A 3.6L Pentastar V6 (295 hp, 260 lb-ft of torque) served as the Grand Cherokee’s base engine, while a 5.7L Hemi V8 (360 hp, 390 lb-ft of torque) served as a highly popular optional powerplant.
Those seeking increased top-end performance could opt for Jeep’s 6.4L Hemi V8 (475 hp, 470 lb-ft of torque), which served as the motivating force behind the manufacturer’s SRT package. However, for true thrill-seekers, yet another option was offered. Fiat-Chrysler’s supercharged Hellcat V8 (707 hp, 645 lb-ft of torque) provided the Grand Cherokee with an authoritative punch, well in excess of the industry norm.
Noticeably absent from the 2020 Grand Cherokee’s engine lineup was any form of an optional diesel powerplant. Jeep opted to drop the VM Motori supplied 3.0L turbo-diesel V6 used in earlier Grand Cherokee production, prior to the 2020 model year.
All 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokees, regardless of engine configuration, come equipped with an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission. Additionally, the Grand Cherokee could be purchased in both 2WD and 4WD formats. As in previous years, the full range of Jeep Quadra-Trac 4×4 systems were available for selection.
One of the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s most significant selling points came in the form of the SUV’s numerous driver assistance and safety features. Adaptive Cruise Control, Parallel/ Perpendicular Parking Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Automated Emergency Braking were all offered on an optional basis, and even came standard in certain top-tier trims.
The Competitive Edge
The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s all-encompassing appeal has proven quite valuable, allowing the luxury SUV to hold its own in a highly competitive market. The 2020 Grand Cherokee served as a fine example of this appeal, as consumers continued to make purchase after purchase, despite the somewhat dated status of the fourth-generation WK2. As history has shown, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a survivor, despite finding itself in the midst of an ever-changing consumer landscape.