Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is Better? Find Out

Quick Answer: The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a better choice for drivers who prioritize performance, towing, off-road capability, and available 4x4 systems. The Toyota Highlander is better suited to families who prioritize three-row seating, passenger space, cargo capacity, and fuel economy.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander Specs & Features

Choosing between the Jeep Grand and the Toyota Highlander is tough because both SUVs offer offer semi-similar features. However, if you take a close look, you'll quickly notice that the Jeep Grand Cherokee learn more towards it's bold rugged capability, and the Toyota Highlander focuses on space. Browse below to see more.

Categories	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Toyota Highlander
Gas Powered Engine (Base)	3.6-liter Pentastar® V6 Engine	2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged
Horsepower (Gas Engine)	293 horsepower (Winner)	265 horsepower
Torque (Gas Engine)	260 lb.-ft. of torque	310 lb.-ft. of torque (Winner)
Max Towing Capacity	6,200 lbs. ( Winner)	5,000 lbs. (Winner)
EPA Estimated Fuel Economy - City	19 mpg	21 mpg (Winner)
EPA Estimated Fuel Economy - Highway	26 mpg	28 mpg (Winner)
Four-Wheel-Drive	Optional	Not Available
Maximum Seating Capacity	5	7 (Winner)
First Row Legroom	41.30 inches	42.0 inches (Winner)
Second Row Legroom	38.20 inches	38.7 inches ( Winner)
Third Row Legroom	Not Available	28.0 inches (Winner)
Cargo Volume Behind First Row	70.80 cubic-feet	84.3 cubic-feet (Winner)
Cargo Volume Behind Second Row	37.70 cubic-feet	48.4 cubic-feet ( Winner)
Cargo Volume Behind Third Row	Not Available	16.0 cubic-feet (Winner)
Passenger Volume	145 cubic-feet	139.5 cubic-feet
Length	193.50 inches	197.40 inches
Width	77.50 inches ( Winner )	76.0 inches
Height	70.80 inches ( Winner )	68.1 inches
Wheelbase	116.70 inches ( Winner )	112.2-inches
Ground Clearance	8.4-inches ( Winner )	8-inches
Standard Touchscreen size	8.4-inches ( Winner )	8.0-inches
Standard Speaker	6 Speakers	6 Speakers
Drowsy Driver Detection	Available ( Winner )	Not Available
Trim Levels	7 ( Winner )	4

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander: Which SUV Has More Power?

In terms of performance, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has an advantage over the Toyota Highlander. Specifically, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers two engine options: a 293-horsepower 3.6L Pentastar® V6 engine with 260 lb.-ft. of torque and a 324-horsepower 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo engine with 332 lb.-ft. of torque. Meanwhile, the Toyota Highlander offers a gas-powered 265-horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces up to 310 lb.-ft. of torque, as well as a 2.5-liter L4HV hybrid engine that produces a combined 243 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque.

Conclusion: Ultimately, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers greater maximum horsepower and torque than the Toyota Highlander when equipped with its available Hurricane 4 Turbo engine. This additional power can be beneficial for drivers who prioritize quick acceleration, highway merging, towing, and performance when climbing steep hills.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander: Max Towing Capacity

If you're planning on towing small trailers, boats, and U-hauls, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the best option in this comparison. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a max towing capacity of 6,200 lbs. with the 3.6-liter V6 Engine and the 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo engine, while the Toyota Highlander has a max towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. As a result, the Jeep Grand Cherokee makes it easier to transport additional cargo in less trips. And if that's not enough, the new Jeep Grand Cherokee also comes available with a Trailer tow package that includes:

Trailer-Hitch Zoom
Rear Load Leveling Suspension
Class IV Receiver Hitch

Conclusion: In short, the Jeep Grand Cherokee outperforms the Toyota Highlander whenever it comes down towing. As a result the Jeep Grand Cherokee makes it easier to haul extra cargo on and off-road.

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Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Highlander: Which SUV is More Reliable?

When it comes to reliability, the Toyota Highlander has a narrow advantage over the Jeep Grand Cherokee. J.D. Power rates the Highlander at 82/100 for reliability, just one point ahead of the Grand Cherokee at 81/100. As a result both SUVs closely matched in this category.

Which SUV Cost More : Jeep Grand Cherokee or Toyota Highlander?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee typically cost less than the Toyota Highlander. At the base level, the Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo base model starts under $40,000, while the Toyota Highlander XLE base model starts over $40,000.

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Which SUV Has More Cargo Space : Jeep Grand Cherokee or Toyota Highlander?

In terms of cargo space, the Toyota Highlander has more cargo space than the standard Jeep Grand Cherokee. Toyota Highlander offers a max cargo space of 84.3 cubic-feet behind the first row and the standard 2-row Jeep Grand Cherokee has a max cargo space 70.80 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the first row. With this in mind, the Toyota Highlander is better equipped for grocery shopping, transporting small pets, and hauling larger items.

Which SUV Is Better For Off-Road Driving : Jeep Grand Cherokee or Toyota Highlander

If off-road performance is your top priority, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the stronger choice. The Grand Cherokee offers available Quadra-Trac® four-wheel-drive systems, while the Toyota Highlander offers Dynamic Torque Vectoring All-Wheel Drive. The Grand Cherokee's available Quadra-Trac I® and Quadra-Trac II® 4WD systems are engineered to provide traction and capability in a variety of on- and off-road conditions such as in the snow, mud, and the rocks.

Verdict: If you frequently drive in severe winter weather, challenging off-road terrain, or difficult road conditions, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the better choice for its available 4WD systems and off-road capability.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander: Which SUV Has The Best Fuel Economy

In terms of fuel-efficiency, the Toyota Highlander stands out as an excellent choice. The gas-powered Toyota Highlander XLE achieves up to 21 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. Opt in for the Toyota Highlander Hybrid for a better fuel economy. Meanwhile, the Jeep Grand Cherokee offers up to 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. Clearly, both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Highlander are designed for long-distance travel.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander: Technology

For drivers who can appreciate the finer things in life, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Highlander both offer a wonderful interior. The jeep Grand Cherokee, on the one hand comes standard with an 8.4-inch touchscreen display (12.3-inch available) and the Toyota Highlander comes standard with a 8.0-inch Toyota Audio Multi media (12.3-inch available).

As far as speakers goes, both vehicles come available with a six speaker audios system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Hands-Free Bluetooth Technology.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander: Safety and Reliability

Safety is a top priority in the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Highlander. To prove it, both vehicles have received a top safety pick rating from the IIHS. And for many reasons. Take a glance below to see which safety features come standard with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Highlander:

	Jeep Grand Cherokee	Toyota Highlander
Pre-Collision System with pedestrian Detection	Standard	Standard
Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist	Standard	Standard
Lane Tracing Assist	Standard	Standard
Cruise Control	Standard	Standard
Active Lane Management	Standard	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Standard	Standard
Blind-Spot and Cross-Path Detection	Standard	Standard
Hill-Start Assist	Standard	Standard
Rear Back Up Camera	Standard	Standard