Not every Grand Cherokee is ready to tackle the vaunted Rubicon Trail, but your neighborhood’s pockmarked pavement will pose no challenge. We rate the 2024 Grand Cherokee at 7 out of 10 thanks to its good acceleration and its impressive off-road ability, when properly equipped.
Rear-wheel-drive versions of most trim levels exist for those in Sunbelt states.
Only the Trailhawk version boasts Jeep’s full arsenal of four-wheeling bits, though. Base Grand Cherokees with their Quadra-Trac 1 transfer case are essentially all-wheel-drive crossovers meant for snow or light dirt paths. The available Quadra-Trac 2 system includes a low range, while Quadra-Drive 2 tosses in a limited-slip differential for even better traction.
How fast is the Jeep Grand Cherokee?
The base 3.6-liter V-6 puts 293 hp to the wheels, which is just fine for most commuters. The optional 5.7-liter V-8 isn’t that much gutsier on paper, but it ups towing capacity to 7,200 pounds (a 1,000-pound gain over the base version).
Our choice here is as much practical as it is based on passion. The 4xe powertrain takes a 2.0-liter turbo-4 and bolts on a hybrid system good for a total output of 375 hp. It’s peppy but it also allows for tailpipe emissions-free driving for more than two dozen miles, which makes it a perfect (and almost silent) commuter, so long as you plug it in.
No matter its propulsion, any Grand Cherokee rides quite well. The independent suspension smothers bumps—or, wait, maybe it’s that even the fleetest Grand Cherokee weighs 4,300 pounds. It’s hard not to smother the road below.
Grand Cherokee L versions have a longer wheelbase that helps smooth out an already fantastic ride.
Good steering heft helps make the Grand Cherokee nimble around town, while it tightens up for canyon cruises. Impressive active lane control keeps this big Jeep centered in its lane at speed, too. The available air suspension provides an even more cosseting ride, plus it hunkers down at speed to improve stability. Trailhawk versions can hike up their suspensions to provide 11.3 inches of clearance, at the expense of wheel droop for off-road articulation. Still, they’re plenty capable for most owners ready to head into the wilderness in $60,000-plus vehicles.
