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2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Overview

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is highly regarded in its category, as evidenced by its rankings. It tops the list of Best American Midsize SUVs, indicating its superior quality and performance among US-made vehicles in its class. Furthermore, it holds an impressive second place out of 28 in the Best Midsize SUVs for Towing category, demonstrating its exceptional towing capabilities compared to other similar vehicles. These rankings suggest that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a top-tier choice for those seeking a midsize SUV, particularly for those interested in towing capacity.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 5

Overview (Final Score: B-)

In terms of iconic Jeep models, the Wrangler would be on top. This would be followed by the Cherokee and then the Grand Cherokee. Introduced back in 1993, the Grand Cherokee has served as the brand's flagship and challenger to the world's best. The results of this have been mixed. The Grand Cherokee did quite a good job when it came to the rough stuff and featured some handsome looks. But the interior and powertrains left some people desiring more.

But two years ago, Jeep introduced a heavily revised Grand Cherokee lineup with major changes to the interior, powertrain, and overall refinement. Could it be that Jeep has finally a true challenger to the world's best?

What We Love About the Jeep Grand Cherokee


  • Wide range of engines and trims on offer

  • Well appointed interior

  • Simple infotainment system


What We Didn't Love About the Jeep Grand Cherokee


  • Very questionable reliability history

  • A little bit more mid-range punch for the V6 wouldn't be a bad thing

  • Fair amount of tire noise coming inside the cabin


2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 2

Exterior View (10/10)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is possibly the best way to describe the Grand Cherokee's exterior. The overall shape of the first-generation Grand Cherokee exists, but Jeep's designers made sure the current model has its own design DNA. The front end features the iconic seven-slot grille with chrome trim running along each slot. Headlights are slim and feature LED daytime running lights. One item that Jeep should be commended for is how each trim level has their own design touches to provide some differentiation. Case in point is our Summit tester that features chrome trim on the front and rear bumpers, and door handles. There is also a set of twenty-inch wheels.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 9

Interior Comfort, Quality and Ease of Use (9/10)

It is hard not to be impressed with the Grand Cherokee's interior. Jeep has put a lot of work of improving the design for better ergonomics and using higher quality materials. Slip behind the wheel and you'll note wood trim running along the dash and part of the steering wheel, along with a dash that matches the color of the seats. The only item that may disappoint some is the center stack with a large touchscreen for the UConnect system. It looks slight out of place when compared to the rest of the dash. The upside to the center stack design is a simple layout. Also, Jeep has swapped the weird joystick controller for the transmission for a regular lever. This change should make it easier for you to realize that the vehicle is indeed in park.

Seats come wrapped in a brown leather that looks scrumptious. Both the driver and passenger get eight-way power-adjustable seats, along with heat and ventilation. Pair this with a power tilt-telescoping wheel and memory function for the driver, and you'll be able to find a comfortable position. The seats themselves provide the right balance of comfort and support. In the back, there is plenty of head and legroom for most passengers. The Summit trim gives rear seat passengers heat and USB inputs for charging devices. Cargo space measures 36.3 cubic feet with rear seats up and 68.3 cubic feet with them folded.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 10

Technology (9/10)

Standard on the Laredo, Laredo E, and Limited is a 5-inch touchscreen, while the Overland, Summit, and SRT get an 8.4-inch touchscreen as standard. You can get it as an option on the Laredo E and Limited. Both systems feature FCA's UConnect system which has earned praise for being one of the easier systems to use. The interface is simple and features large touch buttons to perform actions or move to the various functions on offer. Jeep has added new features to the system such as a WiFi hotspot and integration with various smartphone applications. We do have a minor complaint. UConnect is starting to look somewhat dated when compared to competitor's infotainment systems.

Fuel Economy (9/10)

Our Grand Cherokee Summit was fitted with the base 3.6L V6. Paired with four-wheel drive, the model will return 18 City/25 Highway/21 Combined. We saw an average of 19 MPG for the week in mostly city driving.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 11

Predicted Reliability, Initial Quality Ratings (4/10)

If there is one weak spot of the Grand Cherokee, it would have to reliability. Both Consumer Reports and J.D. Power give the Grand Cherokee a below average rating. The big problem areas deal with the optional 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 engine's fuel system and various electronics such as the HVAC system.

Safety (7/10)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gives the Grand Cherokee a four-star overall rating, while the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gives the model their rating of ‘Good' in most of their tests. The only place where the Grand Cherokee didn't do so well is in the Small Overlap Front Test where it earned a ‘Marginal' rating. Standard on all models is a full suite of airbags, anti-lock brakes, stability control, and traction control. Limited and models above get a backup camera and rear parking sensors as standard. Optional on higher trims and standard on the Summit is the Advanced Technology Group that adds blind spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and front-collision mitigation with automatic braking.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 7

Performance (8/10)

Jeep offers four different engines for the Grand Cherokee lineup. Most Grand Cherokees will feature the engine found in our tester, a 3.6L V6 with 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. Next is a 5.7L HEMI V8 with 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. A 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 provides 240 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. Finally, there is a 6.4L HEMI V8 with 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This V8 is only available on the hot-rod SRT version. All of the engines come with an eight-speed automatic.

Rear-wheel drive comes standard and there is the choice of three different four-wheel drive systems. On the base Laredo, there is the Quadra-Trac I system that uses a single-speed transfer case and a fixed, 50/50 front-to-rear torque split. Limited and higher trims utilize Quadra-Trac II that uses a two-speed transfer case. This allows the four-wheel drive system to have low-range, along with hill descent control and Terrain Select - a system that can vary the setting of various components of the four-wheel drive system for specific terrains. Finally, there is Quadra-Drive which comes on V8 models. This features an electronic limited-slip rear differential and Selec-Speed - a low-speed cruise control system for off-road driving.

The 3.6L V6 is the best engine for most people as it offers the best balance of performance and efficiency. Leaving a stop is no issue as the V6 gets up to speed at a decent rate. However, the weakness of the powertrain comes into play when making a pass. Stab the accelerator pedal and there is no response for a few seconds until the transmission downshifts, allowing the engine to provide the extra speed needed. It also doesn't feel quite as fast in these situations due to our tester's curb weight of 4,955 pounds. The eight-speed automatic is smooth and provides quick upshifts. As we mentioned, downshifts could be slightly quicker.

Higher trims of the Grand Cherokee such as our Summit feature Jeep's Quadra-Lift air suspension. This suspension allows you to raise the Grand Cherokee's ground clearance to max height of 10.4 inches. The suspension also lowers the Grand Cherokee by 1.6 inches when it is put in park to make it easier to get in or out of the vehicle, and loading cargo. It also allows the Grand Cherokee to venture deep into off-road trails. Sadly we didn't get the chance to try the Grand Cherokee off the beaten path.

We can report the air suspension does provide a mostly smooth ride over some of the roughest roads on offer in the Metro Detroit area. Wind noise is kept to a whisper. We wished the same could be said for the road and tire noise as there was a fair amount coming into the cabin. The cause as we found out was our Grand Cherokee tester was wearing a set of low-rolling resistance tires and not off-road ones. Handling feels secure with little body roll and steering provide decent heft when turning.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 1

Pricing and Value (9/10)

The Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup starts $29,995 for the base Laredo two-wheel drive model and climbs to $65,695 for the SRT. Our Summit four-wheel drive tester came with a base price of $52,595. Equipped with the brown leather, the as-tested price came to $54,085. For that price, you are getting a lot of equipment such as the air suspension, adaptive cruise control, keyless entry and start, heated and ventilated front seats, panoramic sunroof, power liftgate, and much more. But for most people, the trim we would recommend is the Limited as it provides the best balance of features and price.

As for engines, stick with the V6 if you are planning not tow. If you are, we would lean towards the V8 over the diesel because of the reliability issues.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit 4

Total Score and Competitive Comparison (65/80, 81.2%)

The list of competitors to the Grand Cherokee is long thanks to the wide range of trims on offer. The closest ones we can think of is the Toyota 4Runner which has a similar reputation to the Grand Cherokee when going off-road and has excellent resale values. Then there is the Volkswagen Touareg which can match the higher trims of the Grand Cherokee in terms of luxuries and offers a diesel engine - although, at the time of this writing, Volkswagen has stopped selling it due to emission issues. The Dodge Durango shares the Grand Cherokee's platform and offers three rows of seating, but it isn't designed to go off-road.

Jeep does have something very special with the Grand Cherokee. It offers an impressive interior, wide range of engines, smooth ride, and off-road capability that puts in a class of its own. The only downfall for this model is its questionable reliability history which could put some buyers off. This is a shame because this is the best Grand Cherokee they have built. If Jeep can work out the reliability, we would be happy to recommend it. As it stands, we say proceed with caution if you have your heart set on one.

2016 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trims

Trim Engine Drive Train MSRP
4x2 Laredo 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 29995
4x2 Laredo 75th Anniversary 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 34975
4x2 Laredo E 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 32295
4x2 Limited 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 37565
4x2 Limited 75th Anniversary 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 41175
4x2 Limited 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X2 37565
4x2 Overland 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 44395
4x2 High Altitude 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 47090
4x2 Summit 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X2 49795
4x4 Laredo 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 32295
4x4 Laredo 75th Anniversary 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 36975
4x4 Laredo E 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 34295
4x4 Limited 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 39565
4x4 Limited 75th Anniversary 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 43175
4x4 Limited 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X4 39565
4x4 Limited 75th Anniversary 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X4 43175
4x4 Overland 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 47395
4x4 High Altitude 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 50090
4x4 Overland 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X4 47395
4x4 High Altitude 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X4 50090
4x4 SRT 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X4 65695
4x4 SRT Night 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X4 70675
4x4 Summit 4dr SUV 6 Cylinder 4X4 52795
4x4 Summit 4dr SUV 8 Cylinder 4X4 52795

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