Hey, everybody.
I'm Desola from Edmunds.
And today, we're going Jeeping.
That's right, everyone, we've got two icons
from the Jeep lineup, the compact Jeep
Cherokee and the midsize Jeep Grand Cherokee.
So what's the difference, besides one of the more grand,
of course?
Let's find out and see which is the right choice for you.
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At Edmunds, we painstakingly test and review hundreds
of cars each year, while CarMax experts appraise, buy, and sell
thousands and thousands.
So we thought, why not combine our testing knowledge
with CarMax's experience to help you make the right choice?
But before we get into all that good stuff,
please do us a favor and like and subscribe
to CarMax's YouTube channel.
Plus, I want you to go down to the comment section right now,
and I want you to tell me which Jeep
you think you like more before watching the video.
And then when the video is over, go back down
to the comment section and let me know if your opinion has
been changed.
I think it'll be very interesting to see what you all
have to say about it.
If you want to learn more about either one of these Jeeps,
click the link down below for an in-depth article.
Now, let's get into it.
Look, we both know why you're here.
You like the rugged image of Jeep,
the cool styling, and the way they look awesome
when they're dirty.
Hey, maybe you've been planning on doing
a little off-roading yourself.
But when it comes down to it, which
one is better, the smaller Cherokee, or the larger Grand
Cherokee?
Here's some things you should know.
First up is the Cherokee.
This version of the car first debuted back in 2014.
And it underwent a substantial update
in 2019, which is what we have here today.
It's known for strong engines, a smooth ride,
and excellent technology, which I personally love.
On average, CarMax sells these 2019
through 2021 Cherokees for about $27,000,
depending on the trim level, mileage, options,
and other factors.
Now, this Grand Cherokee is a little different.
Jeep started making this version way back in 2011.
And it got an update in 2016.
So we have a 2018 Grand Cherokee to show off
its classy and spacious interior and its solid construction.
CarMax sells these 2016 through 2021 Grand Cherokee
for an average of $33,000.
All right, so Jeep is known for being
tough as nails out in the wild.
But, you guys, here's a little secret.
Their interiors are A1.
I'm telling you.
I don't know what it is, but they just
feel really nice inside.
So let me show you what I'm talking about.
All right, so in this Cherokee, there's
ample headroom, a good amount of rear leg room,
and the front seats have good adjustability,
which is very important to me because I've really long legs.
And I want to make sure I have all the room that I can get.
Believe me.
It's very important.
Also, cars that don't have a good amount of headroom really
make me nervous.
So I'm glad that this one does.
This Cherokee is limited, so heated front
seats do come standard, which is always a nice touch, you know?
And they're controlled by the screen right here.
Now, there are no physical buttons.
And I know some of you out there going to say, oh, my god,
where are the buttons?
I want buttons.
They don't have them.
But the screen is actually really responsive.
So it's not that bad.
It's all right.
Rear heated seats are also optional.
But in this one, we don't have them.
The Cherokee does come standard with a small 7-inch touch
screen, which is all right.
But I recommend that you go with an 8.4-inch touchscreen,
like we have in here.
It just feels better, and I feel like it looks better also.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto do
come standard, which for me, is very important.
OK, I don't have time for anything else.
I need that phone integration.
Like all new Jeeps, this one has a Uconnect system.
And at Edmunds, we really love this,
because it's very easy to use, and it's super quick
to respond.
So overall, there's really good outward visibility.
And there's few blind spots, which
is really good, because you're not
going to have to break your neck to switch
any lanes or anything.
So we like that.
Now, let's go check out the Grand Cherokee.
All right, friends, so up front, it
feels really similar to the Cherokee.
It has the same steering wheel, some of the same knobs
and buttons.
But of course, it still is different.
You know, I feel like this Grand Cherokee actually
lives up to its name, like it feels grand in here.
It feels really nice.
The materials are near top of the line for its class.
And it's really spacious too.
So if you want a bigger, bigger SUV,
this is definitely one that you want to get.
So in here, we have this nice woodgrain, our cool sunroof.
And it has black headliner.
And I don't know about you all, but black headliner to me
just always adds a little something.
It makes the car feel elevated.
So I love that.
So in this limited, we have these nice plush leather seats,
which I really like.
Heated seats come standard in the front.
And unlike the Cherokee, they also come standard in the back
too.
This is bigger than the Cherokee.
So you got more room to stretch out in the back seat.
So you'll feel good, and your passengers will love it too.
So one thing about the Grand Cherokee
is that it has these big, large doors, which is actually
really nice, because it kind of makes it easy for you to hop in
and hop out.
But it does ride higher than the Cherokee.
So it could be a little difficult for some of you
out there.
So just keep that in mind.
Now, another thing I want to tell you
is that these pillars are kind of thick, all right?
And it can make the rear visibility kind of hard.
So when you're backing into parking spots and things
like that, you're definitely going
to need the parking sensors and the rear view camera.
It'll just make your life easier.
And speaking of technology, which is always my favorite
part, this car has an 8.4-inch touchscreen with Uconnect.
And you know how we feel about Uconnect.
So that's also nice.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto also comes standard.
So overall, they're both nice.
The Cherokee offers a nice and tidy compact package
that's comfortable and spacious with a good technology system.
So that's why it earns a solid rating in our book.
And when it comes to the Grand Cherokee,
it gets a solid score, but for different reasons.
This one gets plush materials that
can rival many luxury SUVs.
But with that higher average price,
you're definitely going to have to pay for it.
So now that we know all that, you're
probably wondering how they're different on the road.
So let's take it for a drive.
You know, my favorite part about reviewing any car
is definitely driving it, of course,
because that's where the fun is.
And this Cherokee is actually really comfortable.
It really is.
The steering is direct and responsive.
And believe it or not, it actually has a good road feel.
The standard 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine that
I'm driving right now is nothing to write home about.
But it's not terrible.
You know, it's fine.
And like I always say, fine is better than bad.
So, yeah.
There is also an optional 3.6-liter V6 engine that is
powerful.
But it's not really exciting.
Here at Edmunds, we recommend you go with the turbocharged
2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, because it has plenty of power,
and it definitely gets the best gas mileage out of the lineup.
So as I'm driving, I can tell that the 9-speed automatic
does have slow shifts.
But on the positive, these brakes are really good.
They're really responsive and predictable.
And that makes it really easy to slow down, which is obviously
a great thing.
Now, we are driving a Jeep after all.
And you know that when it comes to off-roading,
this thing is serious, all right?
And it's really good due to the approach, departure,
and the ride height.
Now, if you plan on taking this thing out there to get dirty,
we recommend you look for a four-wheel drive.
And if you're really serious about off-roading,
look for our Trailhawk trim.
It gets upgraded suspension.
And it helps you really handle the rough stuff.
All right, friends, now I'm driving in the Grand Cherokee.
And this thing comes standard with the V6 engine.
And you know, it's kind of like I said earlier.
It's nothing crazy, but it's all right.
But if you're someone who's really looking for a power,
there are a lot of V8 options to choose from.
So that's great.
This one has strong brakes, which equals a short stopping
distance, which we really like, especially considering
the weight of this vehicle.
Like I said, this is a heavy vehicle.
And it hinders acceleration and handling, especially when
you want that get up and go.
But again, that's the difference between the V6 and the V8,
you know?
There's a Trackhawk edition.
And that thing is fast.
And you won't have any problems when it comes
to accelerating in that one.
So even though there are models like the Trackhawk
and other V8s that help with power, the steering in here
really doesn't feel the best.
And it's already lethargic around corners.
So that doesn't help.
So the power will not help you when it comes to that.
But again, this is a Jeep.
So you know where it shines.
Off-roading is super strong on this thing,
obviously, especially if you go with the Trailhawk edition.
And the 4-wheel drives just bring a good smile
to your face.
I'm telling you, driving a Jeep shouldn't be this fun.
Believe me.
I had a Wrangler, and it was not on the pavement.
But this Cherokee is responsive and direct, which is great.
The downside is that the transmission does hold it back
though.
But hey, if you go off-roading, you'll be fine.
Driving a Grand Cherokee feels refined and fun
if you have a V8.
But with a V6, it's big and heavy.
And it doesn't really have the best steering.
But again, off-road is the bread and butter.
That's where it's going to shine.
So if you're packing for the trip of a lifetime,
here's how you should plan for it.
If you're going to be driving the Cherokee,
you should probably know that it actually has a small cargo
capacity for its class.
So you actually get 24.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats.
And honestly, it's not the best, OK?
It's not the best, but it's not horrible.
You still can throw some things back there.
But on the positive, it does have an adjustable load floor.
And it also has a pretty good lift over height.
So that's also great.
And you know what?
Power lift gate-- we love a power lift gate.
That's always a nice touch.
Now, with the way those gas prices are looking,
I know you want to know about that MPG.
This specific Cherokee has the 2.4-liter front wheel drive
4-cylinder engine that gets an EPA estimated 25 miles per
gallon combined, all right?
And just like the cargo space, the competition
does offer more.
But you know, it's not terrible.
So if you're somebody who really cares about gas mileage,
I recommend you go with the 2.0-liter turbo engine.
That one gets an EPA estimated 26 miles per gallon combined.
And I know you're probably looking at me like, really,
Desola, one mile?
But hey, everything helps.
If you plan on towing anything, you can tow up to 2,000 pounds
with this 2.4-liter engine.
But for the max 4,500 pound towing capacity,
you'll need to go with the V6.
Now, if you're taking the Grand Cherokee on your trip,
the same thing is happening over here, OK?
The cargo capacity is smaller than its competition.
You only get 36.3 cubic feet in the here, which
is better than the Cherokee.
But overall, it's still not that good,
because the Honda CRV gets more.
Jeep, come on now.
This V6 tows up to 6,200 pounds.
And the V8s do up to 7,200 pounds.
So that's also nice.
Now, the EPA estimated 21 miles per gallon combined
for the base V6 isn't the best.
And the V8s fare worse.
But hey, they still kill the 4Runner's numbers,
so I'm not even mad.
When it comes to daily driving, I'll be honest with you.
You can say that the Cherokee is compromise.
Storage and EPA estimates are definitely not
tops in its class.
But considering the capability, you can still have a lot of fun
with it.
It's the same thing with the Grand Cherokee.
There are more spacious and more efficient
midsize SUVs out there, no question.
But this is a great adventure SUV.
And you get a lot more space than you do in the Cherokee.
At the end of the day, there are a whole lot
of choices when it comes to SUVs.
And in my opinion, you're already
choosing between two of them that
are really fun and exciting.
So that right there is enough reason
to give yourself round of applause.
Whether you're going to use them to fuel your inner explorer
and cruise around, or if you want to hop in a 4-by-4 monster
and tear up those off-road trails, it's up to you.
Do what you got to do.
But the point is, you can do it, all right?
Those are the perks of having a Jeep.
The Cherokee is great for most shoppers,
because it can handle daily use, and it's fun to drive.
While the Grand Cherokee feels luxurious and spacious,
and I don't know.
It just feels really good inside.
So I say all that to say, you've got some decisions to make.
So let us know which Jeep you'll be pulling
into your garage and your campsites in the comments
down below.
Plus, don't forget to let us know
if the Jeep that you thought you'd
like at the beginning of the video
is the same one that you ended up liking at the end.
Thank you all for watching our videos.
Make sure to like and subscribe to CarMax's YouTube channel.
And if you want more information about either one
of these Jeeps, click the link down
below for an in-depth article.
Thank you, guys.
See you later.
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