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The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of those mainstay American vehicles that it is hard to imagine the automotive landscape without. This is because it was one of the first cars to offer off-road ability in a more road-friendly package that struck a chord with American buyers when it first came out over 30 years ago. Five generations later, with the current generation having been introduced in 2021, the Grand Cherokee is rivaling midsize SUVs as diverse as the Honda Passport, and the Mercedes-Benz GLE. There are, however, an overwhelming number of Jeep Grand Cherokee trim levels.

Base Trim Engine

3.6L Pentastar V6 ICE

Base Trim Transmission

TorqueFlite 8-speed automatic

Base Trim Drivetrain

Rear-Wheel Drive

This could very well increase the appeal of the Grand Cherokee to consumers, as more Jeep Grand Cherokee models, all at different price points, means there is bound to be the right one for everyone. However, it is still a little overwhelming to navigate. That is why, in this feature, we will be looking at the differences between all 15 Keep Grand Cherokee models in order from least to most expensive, separated by price categories of $10,000, so you can choose the perfect Grand Cherokee for you.

The $30,000-$40,000 Trims

Grand Cherokee Laredo A

This is absolutely the cheapest way to get your hands on the Grand Cherokee – the Laredo A being the budget-friendly version of the already low-end Laredo. Despite this, you can have, for a starting price of just $36,495, safety features like adaptive cruise control, Active Lane Management as well as wireless smartphone mirroring and a digital instrument cluster. It is also worth noting that, unlike all other trims, the Laredo A is only available with rear-wheel drive and not all-wheel drive, and can only be had with two rows of seats, unlike all other trims.

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Grand Cherokee Laredo

The Laredo offers a similar, if slightly more complete, recipe than the Laredo A, costing just $580 more. Like all gasoline Grand Cherokee trims, it is now only available with a 3.6-liter V6 making 293 horsepower, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. All cars are also capable of 26 mpg on the highway. The reason it is more complete, however, is because, unlike the Laredo A, this trim is the first to be available with all-wheel drive. Specifically, it is Jeep’s Quadra-Trac I Active On-Demand 4×4 System, one of the two AWD systems available on the Grand Cherokee – the other one being available higher up in the range. The available AWD system on this version means it has a much higher towing capacity of 6,200 lbs to the Laredo A’s 3,500 lbs.

Grand Cherokee Laredo X

The Laredo X is really more of a package rather than a whole new trim, but despite this, there are still things that you get on this version that you can’t on the Laredo. These include, on the outside, 18-inch fully painted wheels, bigger than the 17-inch wheels offered on the Laredo A and Laredo. Inside, upgrading to the Laredo X gets you a single-pane power sunroof. Other than this, the Laredo X has a lot of the same safety features the previous two have, as well as the digital instrument cluster and premium cloth seats. As the most expensive Laredo, it will set you back $37,785, and it is the last model below the $40k mark.

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The $40,000-$50,000 Trims

Grand Cherokee Altitude

The first Grand Cherokee to break into the lower-mid-tier pricing segment, the Altitude justifies this higher cost with extra black accents and gloss black wheels on the outside, as well as more premium leatherette seats with suede inserts on the inside. Along with these design upgrades, the seats are also heated, as is the leather-wrapped steering wheel, and the driver’s seat is also power-adjustable. The Altitude even adds wireless charging and remote vehicle start into the mix as well. This model will cost you $41,160 with two rows of seats and RWD, but it also available with AWD and three rows.

Grand Cherokee Altitude X

Like the Laredo X mentioned earlier, the Altitude X is more of a package rather than a separate trim, and the modest $500 price hike reflects this. It is, however, listed as one of the trims, so it is worth mentioning what, if anything, makes it unique among the different types of Jeep Grand Cherokee. If not having a power sunroof is a deal-breaker, then it is worth choosing this version over the normal Altitude, as this only comes as part of the X package. It is also worth noting that the towing capacity of the Altitude versions is 200 lbs less than what it is in the Laredo.

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Grand Cherokee Limited

Also sneaking into the sub-$50k Jeep Grand Cherokee trim levels is the Limited, which is often described as the sweet spot in the Grand Cherokee range, earning its reputation as one of the most sensible SUVs on the market. With the Limited, things do start to change from the more entry-level trims already discussed, and some of these changes include getting a 10.1-inch infotainment display over the 8.4-inch screen the lower trims get, and wood veneer added to the dash for a bit more luxury. The seats are now plusher Capri leatherette, and there is now a memory function for the power adjustability, while the second row of seats are heated as well as the first. The Limited comes with a powered liftgate as well, something which really makes it worth spending the $42,905 for this version.

The $50,000-$60,000 Trims

Grand Cherokee Overland

Moving up into the slightly more premium Grand Cherokee versions, the Overland is the first Grand Cherokee to only be available with AWD as standard rather than RWD. The AWD system is also different from the one available as an option on the models we’ve talked about before. This is because it is the Quadra-Trac II, which, unlike the Quadra-Trac I, has a low-range function and hill-descent control, for better off-road capability. The wheels have also grown in size once again, with the Overland getting 20-inch alloy wheels as standard. On the inside, you now get multicolor LED ambient lighting, Nappa leather, and a 10-speaker premium Alpine Audio sound system. The MSRP for all this goodness is $56,995.

Grand Cherokee Summit

The car stopping the $50-$60k section from being a one-car show is the Summit, the second most expensive non-hybrid Grand Cherokee at $58,560. Two-tone paint is now available, with a black roof helping to visually separate the Summit from the Overland trim below it. Also exclusive to the Summit trim is quilted leather trim and quad-zone climate control. Another area where the Summit really steps things up is with the on-board safety features, as it has parallel/perpendicular parking assist, intersection collision assist, and a 360-degree view camera. The AWD system and the Quadra-lift air suspension system are both the same as in the Overland.

The $60,000-$70,000 Trims

Grand Cherokee 4xe

Splitting the Summit and the more expensive version of that trim, the Summit Reserve, is the cheapest plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee version, the 4xe (pronounced four-by-e). While the old V8 bested the performance of the V6 engine in all the trims we’ve talked about so far, this plug-in hybrid version of the Grand Cherokee provides another way of making swifter progress than the V6, now that the HEMI V8 has bitten the dust. The powertrain of the 4xe is made up of a 2.0-liter turbo inline four and two electric motors, making a combined power output of 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. The higher performance is complemented by better fuel efficiency, as the 4xe is capable of 26 miles of electric-only range.

Given that this is the first version of the Grand Cherokee to breach the $60k threshold, starting at $60,490, you would expect even this, the base 4xe, to be loaded with features. It does, in fact, have a lot of the same premium features that are in the Summit, like a powered liftgate, a premium Alpine nine-speaker audio system and a dual-pane sunroof. However, it does miss out on some of those more advanced safety features and the bigger wheels, but the PHEV powertrain alone makes the base 4xe worth a look.

Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve

The Summit Reserve, excluding the 4xe PHEV versions, is the most expensive Grand Cherokee trim for those who want maximum luxury in their midsize SUV, with a starting MSRP of $63,040. This makes it the only ICE-powered Grand Cherokee in the $60k plus category. Features this car has over the Summit include ventilation for the rear seats, a dedicated infotainment screen for the front seat passenger and an extra-premium McIntosh 19-speaker audio system. It is also necessary to go for the Summit Reserve to get the biggest possible wheels, with 21-inch polished aluminum rims filling out the arches.

Grand Cherokee 4xe Anniversary Edition

This version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee seems to have overstayed its welcome, given that the Grand Cherokee’s 30th anniversary was two years ago now. Jeep has, however, decided to keep it as part of the lineup for a little longer, because it provides a few extras over the base 4xe without offering all the extra off-roading paraphernalia and uber-luxury of the versions coming later on this list. These include a blacked-out front grille and door mirrors, and also some blue elements, highlighting the car’s green credentials. Features over the base 4xe include a 360-degree camera, wireless charging and a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel. It is placed directly between the base 4xe and the Trailhawk at $63,485.

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Grand Cherokee 4xe Trailhawk

Despite being a plug-in hybrid, this is quite possibly the best Jeep Grand Cherokee for off-roading enthusiasts. This is because it comes with many upgrades over all the other, more family-oriented trims to make it that bit more capable on the trail. As well as the Quadra-lift II AWD system and air suspension available on other high-end trims on this list, the Trailhawk has an electronic rear locker, adaptive dampers, a front antiroll bar disconnect, and smaller 18-inch wheels to make room for all-terrain tires. It also has some creature comforts that aren’t available on some other versions too, like the premium Alpine Audio System. Considering everything you get, the $66,185 sticker price seems reasonable.

The $70,000-$80,000 Trims

Grand Cherokee 4xe Overland

Despite having an “off-roadey” name like the previous car on this list, this version is more focused on opulence on the road. The Overland does miss out on some of the premium features that are included with the 4xe Summit and 4xe Summit Reserve, which we’ll come to, but they do involve a fairly significant price hike over the Overland’s MSRP, which comes to $73,480. For this price, the size of the fully polished aluminum wheels are now 20 inches in diameter once again, as there are no off-road tires here, and the Overland gets the super-high-end McIntosh sound system and customizable ambient lighting on the inside as well.

Grand Cherokee 4xe Summit

The Grand Cherokee 4xe Summit justifies the $1,190 extra you pay over the 4xe Overland with similar styling differences over lower-down models that are found on the non-PHEV Summit, with a two-tone paint job featuring a black roof, as well as Nappa leather seats inside. All the safety features that are in the gas-powered Summit feature here as well; the 4xe Summit has parking assist, intersection collision assist, traffic sign recognition and a 360-degree camera. The front seats are also 16-way power adjustable with a memory function like the normal Summit and both rows have heated seats.

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Grand Cherokee 4xe Summit Reserve

If you have decided to buy a Jeep Grand Cherokee and simply want whatever the most expensive and specced-out version is, this is what you’ll end up with. The 4xe Summit Reserve manages to cost just under $80k at $79,150 before options and upgrading to it will get you Palermo leather upholstery, the biggest 21-inch wheels, a deluxe headliner, and open-pore wood trim, helping this version to properly compete with Volvos, Mercs and all the other Luxury SUVs of this world. A lot of the changes in this version are similar to what there was with the pure gas Summit Reserve, only this time the plug-in hybrid powertrain gives better fuel efficiency with the Grand Cherokee 4xe rated at 56 mpge.

Now that you have all the Jeep Grand Cherokee models explained with the differences between them all laid out, choosing the perfect trim at the perfect price point should be easier. Whatever trim you go for, you are getting one of the most versatile and enduring SUVs ever made.

Source: Jeep