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Jeep recently threw its hat into the ring of manufacturers offering three-row vehicles with its all-new Grand Cherokee L. For loyal fans of Grand Cherokee who need room for a few extra passengers, this is exciting news. And with the L offering a starting MSRP that’s only marginally more expensive than the classic Grand Cherokee, this new addition to this legacy lineup has certainly piqued the interest of many drivers. As one of our neighborhood’s most trusted New Jersey Jeep dealers, we’ve had many customers come in with questions about what exactly differentiates these two vehicles.
Jeep recognized that lovers of the Grand Cherokee are used to a certain suite of features and quality of materials. They also knew that the Cherokee, in all its varieties, is for the adventurer. You’ll still find that original spirit in the L. In fact, almost everything you already loved about the classic variety can be found in the L. However, there are a few differences to note before you begin your shopping process. So let’s dive in and see what’s different (and the same) about the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.
What’s the Same?
First, let’s get a brief overview of what you can find standard across both of these impressive vehicles. We know there are some features that are a must-have for a Grand Cherokee driver, and we want to assure you that those are still there.
For starters, you can rely on enjoying available massage front seats in both the Grand Cherokee and the Grand Cherokee L, so drivers needing a little lower back relief on long drives can find it in either of these options. You’ll also still find either cloth or leather upholstery options in both of these vehicles, along with beautiful wood paneling. Sitting in the front driver or passenger seat of either of these vehicles, you won’t notice much of an aesthetic difference. Moving to the outside, you’ll find the same monotone color options, too – earth tones that are perfect for this outdoorsy vehicle.
As for capability, you’ll still see available 4×2 or 4×4 drive on either car. So those wanting to take this thing off-roading can opt for a car that will send torque to all four wheels with a 4×4 option. Speaking of off-roading, both the Grand Cherokee and the Grand Cherokee L still offer the signature available Selec-Terrain Traction Management System with multiple modes from auto to sport to mud to snow to rock, making either choice great for rugged terrain.
As for technology, both vehicles offer the Uconnect 5 with a 10.1-inch touch screen that allows for up to five driver profiles and dual phone connectivity, giving multiple users the chance to customize their experience through apps, displaying data, and more. They both additionally come with TomTom navigation for useful information like up-to-date traffic and weather reports and even parking information, as well as alerts on local speed limits and speed-camera locations.
What’s Different on the Inside?
Seating and Dimensions
We know the L has three rows of seats, so that’s an obvious interior difference. It should be noted that the L can come with six seats without a console, six seats with a console, or seven seats, so there are several options here for passenger capacity. Additionally, the Grand Cherokee L has a sliding second row of seats allowing for over seven inches of adjustment, which makes it quite comfortable for tall riders. This sliding row also makes it easy for passengers to get all the way to the back row without having to climb over the second row (a common concern in three-row SUVs).
The added third row is going to naturally mean a longer vehicle overall. And it’s true: the L is over 10 feet longer than the standard Grand Cherokee, with the L stretching to 204.9 feet long and the traditional variety at just 193.5 feet. So, it’s a lot more car to manage.
Cargo
The L is going to offer much more cargo space than the traditional Grand Cherokee because of its third row. In fact, you can see a max carbo space of 84.6 cubic feet in the Grand Cherokee L with the back seats folded down, compared to just 70.8 cubic feet of max storage space in the standard Grand Cherokee. This is great news for those who don’t necessarily need to cart around six or seven passengers at all times but do need to carry large items like snowboards or other hefty gear.
What’s Different on the Outside?
The new Grand Cherokee L has a wheelbase that’s a good five feet longer than the standard Grand Cherokee. Traditionally, a longer wheelbase is going to offer more stability but slightly more difficult maneuverability. However, there’s an advantage of the overall larger size of the Grand Cherokee L: it has nearly 300 more pounds of curb weight compared to the traditional Grand Cherokee. More curb weight can mean more momentum and potentially less damage in the event of a collision. Lighter vehicles tend to weather worse damage in collisions with heavier vehicles.
Trims
The Grand Cherokee and the Grand Cherokee L come in nearly all of the same trims, with a slight variance. The Grand Cherokee comes in the Laredo, Altitude, Limited, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve. Meanwhile, though the Grand Cherokee L comes in most of those trims, it doesn’t offer a Trailhawk variety, nor does it come in a plug-in hybrid (yet). We’re still not sure whether or not Jeep will offer the L in those models. The benefit of the plug-in, of course, would be fuel economy and savings at the pump overall. Meanwhile, the Trailhawk offers an impressive 11.3 inches of ground clearance, compared to the max 10.9 inches offered on the L trims. Both models are great for off-roading; however, those needing plenty of space between the bottom of the vehicle and the ground will only get that in the standard Trailhawk.
A Different Shape
If you look closely, you’ll notice some contouring on the top of the Grand Cherokee L that isn’t found on the standard Grand Cherokee. This allows for slightly better aerodynamics and a sleeker aesthetic. But the difference is mild.
If You Need Three Rows, Get the Grand Cherokee L
All in all, important interior and exterior features remain very similar between the Grand Cherokee and the Grand Cherokee L. The biggest difference here will be the third row, which can mean seating for up to six or seven passengers. If you can’t fit everyone in the standard Grand Cherokee, you can rest assured that you’ll feel right at home in the L and notice little difference.
Of course, there is that added cargo space in the L, too, which you’ll need if all of those extra passengers are packing extra stuff. And the second sliding row offers some nice customization not found in the standard Grand Cherokee.
You will also miss out on the Trailhawk if you opt for the L. However, off-roading might not be a priority for those needing to transport seven passengers, so Jeep might have understood their customer base here when selecting trim options for the Grand Cherokee L. When you’re ready to test out these two vehicles for yourself, we at Spirit CDJR are excited to show you the ins and outs of each model.
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