2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

A 2026 refresh introduced the Hurricane turbo-4 engine, but the 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokee still comes with standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) and a V6. It retains that iconic SUV styling fronted by a vertical 7-slot grille and framed with boxy ends and wheel arches. The interior leans upscale, especially beyond the Laredo trims, which account for four of a dizzying array of 10 trim choices.

A 10.1-inch touchscreen replaces the 8.4-inch unit on base trims and Jeep brought back the Overland and Trailhawk off-road grades with standard 4-wheel drive (4WD). A new Laredo Upland trim builds off the Laredo Altitude and adds some Trailhawk bits such as 4WD, 18-inch all-terrain tires, and recovery tow hooks for about $5,000 less than the Trailhawk. We review the 3-row Jeep Grand Cherokee L separately.

We’ve logged hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in so many different configurations that it may seem hard to assess how it stacks up against rival SUVs. That’s why we’re here. The price delta of $41,515 for the base Laredo to $62,895 for the top Summit mirrors the price and range of our top-rated SUV, the 2027 Kia Telluride, meanwhile, the Honda Pilot costs more at the base but is less expensive at the top.

For the Grand Cherokee, first ask if a third row is worth $2,000? That’s the upcharge for the 3-row Grand Cherokee L, and $2,000 is what it costs to upgrade from RWD to AWD. A more sophisticated 4WD version is also on offer. For everyday road use, the Laredo X V6 and its heated front seats strike us as the best value, but for the more potent turbo-4, the bidding starts with the well-equipped Laredo Altitude.

Before buying a Jeep Grand Cherokee, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. The Grand Cherokee’s resale value is below average for its class. Recouping more money when selling a vehicle can mean a bigger down payment and lower monthly payments on the next one.

Jeep has used iterations of the 293-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 since 2011, revising it with a fuel saving heavy-duty start/stop system for the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee in 2021. It pairs with an 8-speed automatic transmission sending power to the rear wheels (RWD), though three variants of all-wheel drive (AWD) are offered — two of which are actually 4WD. It’s powerful but not overwhelming, and the 8-speed is optimally tuned to deliver quick shifts.

That 8-speed is not as well-integrated with the new Hurricane-4 introduced last year. While the 324-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter turbo-4 has more explosive power and 1 mpg better efficiency than the V6, it lags from a stop and the transmission can downshift abruptly, which makes the lag reappear when coming out of a turn or going uphill.

These inconsistencies might only be noticed by aggressive driving, and it can mostly be overcome by Sport mode, which holds gears longer and makes it twitchier. The steering feel can be loose in default Comfort mode, but nice and resistant in Sport mode. It requires a few touchscreen pokes to change those settings, instead of a preferred hard button or toggle.

Quibbles aside, it outperforms the V6 and rival turbo-4s proliferating in the midsize SUV segment. Some active noise cancellation dials in a soundtrack that sounds like a V6.

It handles more for quiet and comfort than agility, which is one of the burly Grand Cherokee’s proven tricks over the years.

We’ll update the off-road capability of the new Upland trim and the resurrected Overland and Trailhawk models once we get our dirty hands on it.

Powertrain

The Grand Cherokee seats up to five people, while the larger Grand Cherokee L adds a third row to seat up to seven passengers. Both configurations feel open and roomy, with clean sightlines over the low, horizontal dash.

Even with the newly standard 10.1-inch touchscreen on the base Laredo trims, and the 12.3-inch unit across the rest of the lineup, a bank of climate control buttons means you don’t have to use the touchscreen to adjust the temperature and fan speed. Small audio and tuning knobs flank the screen, which has crisp graphics and good responsiveness, though the icons tend to be on the smaller side. A wide center console that holds cupholders and the gear and drive mode selector eats up some knee room.

The back seats are wide enough to fit three child car seats, but otherwise, two large adults can fit in back in comfort behind two other large adults.

On the 3-row Cherokee L, accessing the third row is easy with manual latches on the seat tops that tilt and slide the second-row captain’s chairs. Higher trims have power-folding second- and third-row seats via the cargo hold, from behind the rear door, or even from the touchscreen. That alone might be worth a trim upgrade. Otherwise, it’s manual pull straps and latches.

Cargo volume is above average for the class.

Smart ADAS
Jeep equips every Grand Cherokee with safe and convenient driver-assist systems, such as advanced cruise control. Jeep’s advanced hands-free driving technology is available throughout the Grand Cherokee lineup ($2,995 option). It offers longer durations of hands-free driving and semi-automatic lane changes, as long as the driver monitor detects that the driver is still paying attention to the road. We tested it on long stretches of interstate with increasing confidence. It’s not as sophisticated as competing hands-free systems like GM’s Super Cruise or Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, but it provides a nice respite for highway hauling.

More Affordable Upland Grade
For the off-road intending, consider the new Laredo Upland. At $49,990 including destination, it builds off the well-equipped Laredo Altitude but has “Trailhawk-inspired” wheels and a front fascia, 18-inch all-terrain tires, recovery tow hooks, a body-color roof, gray exterior accents, and, on the inside, black synthetic leather and suede front seats. It has the 324-hp turbo-4 instead of the V6, it comes standard with 4WD, and it costs $5,000 less than the Trailhawk.

Three AWD Systems
Jeep offers three AWD systems, which include two bona fide 4WD systems with a two-speed transfer case and a low-speed crawling gear. The options once again give the Grand Cherokee shopper tons of choice based on how they intend to use their vehicle. For drivers with no real intention to go off-roading, the Quadra-Trac I should be just fine. It’s a full-time system, which is why fuel economy suffers a bit, and it distributes torque from up to 52% on the rear axle to 48% to the front. The Quadra-Trac II brings 4-High and 4-Low modes, the latter of which is ideal for muck and mud and navigating the gnarls at low speed; it can send all the torque to either axle. Not to be confused, Quadra-Drive II adds a limited-slip rear differential that can send all the torque to the single rear wheel with grip. It’s the most capable off-road system.