Used 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

As Jeep’s flagship SUV, the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is as well regarded as its iconic stablemate, the Jeep Wrangler. This 5-passenger SUV is also known for its rugged off-road ability, luxurious interiors and powerful engine lineup. While competitively priced against such SUVs as the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Toyota 4Runner, many owners place the Grand Cherokee in the same league as the BMW X5, Land Rover Discovery and Volvo XC60. Of course, few rivals can match the big Jeep’s off-road ability, and none offer anything close to the 707-horsepower Trackhawk. Yet even in its less extravagant trims, the Grand Cherokee represents an outstanding value, with numerous standard features and cutting-edge options like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Despite its impressive off-road credentials, the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee is a remarkably civilized prospect. In both city and highway driving, the Grand Cherokee exhibits the ride comfort of a luxury SUV with the power and handling of a large sedan. Straight-line performance varies by engine choice, but all models exhibit good cornering and braking, with minimal lean in hard turns. The steering still feels a bit soft and the boxy design experiences more wind noise than in sleeker rivals like the Nissan Murano or Ford Edge. Once off-road, however, the Grand Cherokee’s generous ground clearance and numerous 4×4 systems provide the confidence to go places the aforementioned competitors dare not tread. Those more interested in what the Grand Cherokee can do on road rather than off will no doubt gravitate to the performance models, with the 475-horsepower SRT trim claiming a 4.8-second 0-60-mph time, and the insane 707-horsepower Trackhawk slicing that time to a mere 3.4 seconds.

Depending on trim, the Grand Cherokee spans from a reasonably comfortable SUV to one capable of giving some luxury brands a run for their money. All models are 2-row/5-passenger configurations — there is no 3rd-row option. This layout means good room for passengers and a healthy 36.3 cubic feet of cargo room behind the rear seats. Folded, that space expands to 68.3 cubic feet. Base Laredo models look the part with cloth and manually adjusted front seats, but stepping up just one trim brings power operation to the driver. Higher-end models are awash in leather and feature heated and ventilated front seats.

The 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV has a muscular, handsome design. True to its off-road roots, the GC has 8.6 inches of ground clearance, with the performance-oriented SRT model sitting slightly lower (8.3 inches), and the high-performance Trackhawk lower still (8.1 inches). The new Trackhawk also stands out with quad tailpipes and “supercharged” emblazoned on the lower front doors. It also gets distinctive red tow hooks, an anti-glare hood decal, and 18-inch off-road wheels. Despite its tall profile, the Grand Cherokee is easy to get into, making it convenient for the vertically challenged. Conversely, the liftgate can be a bit difficult to reach when fully extended, but you can opt for the power-operated liftgate.

JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE TRACKHAWK
Putting a 707-horsepower supercharged engine in a Jeep might seem the height of absurdity, but we Americans love everything over the top, and that includes our cars. The Trackhawk can’t handle like its Hellcat cousins, but it does offer the traction of all-wheel drive and modest off-road ability.

QUADRA-LIFT AIR SUSPENSION
When steel springs just aren’t enough, the Grand Cherokee’s optional Quadra-Lift air suspension provides five separate height settings ranging from near-car height for ease of entry to 10.6 inches for clearing the largest off-road obstacles. The Trailhawk trim gets a unique version for better off-road wheel articulation.

The Grand Cherokee lineup now spans seven trims, including the roughly $88,000 Trackhawk high-performance SUV. Of course, most buyers will stay far south of that. Starting with the base Laredo, you get a V6 engine, new higher-resolution 7-inch touch-screen Uconnect system, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, dual-zone climate control, parking sensors and a rearview camera. We recommend stepping up to at least a Limited model. This adds a power liftgate, power front seats, heated front and rear seats, and the ability to opt for the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 or 3.0-liter diesel V6.

From advanced 4-wheel-drive (4WD) systems to an 8.4-inch touch-screen Uconnect system with navigation and CarPlay/Android Auto capability, there’s a bevy of options available for the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Some can be had by climbing trims. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, for example, comes with the Quadra-Drive II 4WD, plus creature comforts like ventilated front seats — a welcome feature on a hot day. Our ears are pleased with the premium Harman Kardon audio system. Active safety and driving features include adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist, which can move the vehicle back into a lane if it drifts, and automatic emergency braking if a collision appears imminent and the driver doesn’t take action.

While Jeep offers no less than five engine options in the 2019 Grand Cherokee, most will roll out the door with either the 3.6-liter V6 or 5.7-liter Hemi V8. In truth the V6 has more than enough power for most needs, although the V8 is better for towing. A third choice is the 3.0-liter diesel V6 that offers more torque than the Hemi V8 and better fuel economy than the 3.6-liter V6. The high-performance Grand Cherokee SRT uses a 6.4-liter V8 that spits out 475 horsepower and can blast to 60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the Trackhawk boasts a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine borrowed from the Charger and Challenger Hellcat twins. With 707 horsepower, it screams to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds or less. The V6 engines come with 2-(rear)-wheel drive (2WD) or optional 4-wheel drive (4WD), while the V8 models are 4WD. All Grand Cherokees use an 8-speed automatic transmission. The Grand Cherokee is rated to tow an impressive 7,400 pounds.

3.6-liter V6
295 horsepower @ 6,400 rpm
260 lb-ft of torque @ 4,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 19/26 mpg (2WD), 18/25 mpg (4WD)

5.7-liter V8
360 horsepower @ 5,150 rpm
390 lb-ft of torque @ 4,250 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/22 mpg (4WD)

3.0-liter diesel V6
240 horsepower @ 3,600 rpm
420 lb-ft of torque @ 2,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 22/30 mpg (2WD), 21/28 mpg (4WD)

6.4-liter V8 (Grand Cherokee SRT)
475 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
470 lb-ft of torque @ 4,300 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 13/19 mpg

6.2-liter supercharged V8 (Grand Cherokee Trackhawk)
707 horsepower @ 6,000 rpm
645 lb-ft @4,800 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 11/17 mpg