| Pros | Cons | What's New |
|---|---|---|
Unmatched off-road prowess | Unrefined diesel engine | Active noise cancellation was added on the Summit and SRT trim. |
Fuel-efficient engine lineup | Pricier than the rivals | California Edition Package added to the Summit's package list. |
High on luxury and tech | Ride quality isn't great | |
Premium and comfortable cabin | V8 is a gas guzzler |
$31,995
price290 hp @ 6400 rpm
horsepower260 lb.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
torque8-Speed Automatic w/od
transmission3.6L 6cyl 4WD 8A
engine-
basic warrantyThe 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee is mostly a carryover model this year with few feature additions to the top-end Summit trim and the performance-oriented SRT trim. The prices of the 2015 Grand Cherokee range from thirty grand to upwards of fifty grand. For this review, we will focus on the standard Grand Cherokee that comes in four trim choices and three engine options. The standard one is a V6 and the optional ones include a V8 and a diesel-powered V6.
The Grand Cherokee is well stacked with features right from the base trim yet we suggest putting a couple of more grands and going for the next-in-line Limited trim. This trim adds a few crucial creature comfort and convenience features which make daily life easy and thus justifies the premium.
Moving inside, the cabin of the Grand Cherokee is, without doubt, the best in the business but the only two-row seating on offer puts it at a disadvantage when similarly priced rivals offer three-row of seats. Speaking of rivals, the Jeep Grand Cherokee rivals the likes of Toyota Highlander and Nissan Pathfinder.
The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in four major trims and one high-performance Grand Cherokee SRT trim. The latter is covered by us separately. The four major trims of the Grand Cherokee include Laredo, Limited, Overland, and Summit. The base Laredo trim can be had from $29,995 while the most luxurious Grand Cherokee Summit trim tops at $52,795. All four trims offer a choice of RWD or 4WD and three engine options.
|
Trims |
Laredo |
Limited |
Overland |
Summit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP (2WD) |
$29,995 |
$37,565 |
$44,395 |
$49,795 |
|
MSRP (4WD) |
$32,295 |
$39,565 |
$47,395 |
$52,795 |
|
Key Features |
290-hp, 3.6-liter V6 engine |
Adds or upgrade to ‘Laredo’ |
Adds or upgrade to ‘Limited’ |
Adds or upgrade to ‘Overland’ |
|
17-inch alloy wheels |
Leather-trimmed seats |
20-inch alloy wheels |
20-inch polished alloy wheels |
|
|
Dual-zone automatic climate control |
Power liftgate |
Power-folding outside mirrors |
Open-pore wood trim |
|
|
Cruise control |
Auto-dimming rearview mirror |
Premium leather upholstery |
Active noise cancellation |
|
|
5-inch touchscreen w/ six-speaker sound system |
8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat |
8.4-inch touchscreen w/ nine-speaker sound system |
19-speaker premium audio system |
|
|
Leather-wrapped steering wheel |
Heated front and rear seats |
Ventilated front seats |
Illuminated door sills |
|
|
Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio connectivity |
18-inch alloy wheels |
Navigation w/ voice control |
||
|
Automatic headlights |
We Recommend
The Grand Cherokee is well stacked with features right from the base trim yet we suggest putting a couple of more grands and going for the next-in-line Limited trim. This trim adds a few crucial creature comfort and convenience features which make daily life easy and thus justifies the premium.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee offers three engine choices to suit everyone’s requirements. The standard one is a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine that puts out 290 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque and is rated at 6,200 pounds of towing capacity. The next-in-line is an optional 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8 that churns out 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque and is rated at 7,400 pounds of towing capacity.
The third engine option is a 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 diesel engine that puts out 240 hp and a beefy 420 lb-ft of torque. The diesel engine has a slightly higher 6,800 pounds of towing capacity compared to the gas-powered V6. The diesel engine can be had for a steep premium of $4,500 over the base MSRP. All three engine options are married to an eight-speed automatic gearbox with RWD as standard and an optional 4WD.
|
Models |
2015 Jeep Cherokee |
2015 Toyota Highlander |
2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MSRP |
$29,995 |
$32,015 |
$29,830 |
|
Engine |
3.6-liter V6 |
3.5-liter V6 |
3.5-liter V6 |
|
Drivetrain |
RWD |
FWD |
FWD |
|
Transmission |
8-speed automatic |
6-speed automatic |
CVT |
|
Power (hp @ rpm) |
290 hp @ 6400 rpm |
270 hp @ 6200 rpm |
260 hp @ 6400 rpm |
|
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm) |
260 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm |
248 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm |
240 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm |
|
0-60 mph (sec) |
7.1 sec |
7.1 sec |
7.4 sec |
|
Quarter Mile (sec) |
15.4 sec |
15.2 sec |
15.6 sec |
|
Top Speed (mph) |
130 MPH |
112 MPH |
125 MPH |
All the three SUVs come with a V6 powered engine but it’s the Grand Cherokee that puts out the best power and torque figures even in its standard guise. The Grand Cherokee is also the fastest of the lot, clocking 7.1 seconds 0-60 mph time and 15.4 seconds for a quarter-mile. As for the rivals, the Toyota Highlander clocks a similar 0-60 mph timing but is two-tenths of a second quicker than the Grand Cherokee in the quarter-mile run.
Depending on the engine and the drivetrain you chose the fuel economy of the Grand Cherokee goes from good to worse. The standard V6 engine RWD Grand Cherokee has an EPA estimated fuel economy of 17/25/20 mpg in the city/highway/combined respectively. Adding a 4WD sees a 1 mpg dip in the highway gas mileage. The diesel-powered Grand Cherokee returns 22 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway and the V8-powered Grand Cherokee returns 14 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The Grand Cherokee offers a 24.6-gallon fuel tank as standard.
|
Models |
2015 Jeep Cherokee |
2015 Toyota Highlander |
2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|---|
|
MPG (City) |
17 |
19 |
20 |
|
MPG (Highway) |
25 |
25 |
27 |
|
MPG (Combined) |
20 |
21 |
23 |
|
Fuel Capacity (Gallons) |
24.6 |
19.2 |
19.5 |
|
Range (City/Highway/Combined, in Miles) |
418/ 615/ 492 |
365/ 480/ 403 |
390/ 527/ 448 |
The rivals even with a similar V6 engine manage to eke out better fuel economy numbers. The Nissan Pathfinder, thanks to its CVT gearbox, returns a stellar 20/27/23 mpg in city/highway/combined respectively. Compared to that the Grand Cherokee returns 3 mpg less in the city and 2 mpg less on the highway. Even the Highlander manages a 2 mpg higher fuel economy in the city compared to the Grand Cherokee.
Similar to the gas mileage the interior of the Grand Cherokee goes from good to luxurious as you climb the trim ladder. The cabin appears to be well-built and ergonomically laid out. The T-shaped center console on the dash houses the infotainment screen at the top and control for HVAC and infotainment below it. Flaking from the side are the vertical air-con vents.
The overall material used is of good quality and higher trims offer wood finishes or the open-pore wood trims on the dash and inside the cabin. The seating surface is draped in fine-quality leather while the Summit trim gets leather on the dash too. The seats are nice and wide and being a five-seater there is plenty of space around with a massive 36.3 cubic feet of boot space.
|
Models |
2015 Jeep Cherokee |
2015 Toyota Highlander |
2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Seating Capacity |
5 |
8 |
7 |
|
First Row (Head Room/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches) |
39.9/ 58.7/ 40.3 |
40.7/ 59.3/ 44.2 |
41.1/ 60.7/ 42.3 |
|
Second Row (Head Room/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches) |
39.2/ 58.0/ 38.6 |
39.9/ 59.6/ 38.4 |
39.4/ 60.4/ 41.7 |
|
Third Row (Head Room/Shoulder Room/Leg Room, in inches) |
N/A |
35.9/ 55.0/ 27.7 |
37.8/ 57.1/ 30.7 |
|
Trunk Capacity (cubic feet) |
36.3 |
13.8 |
16.0 |
Both the rival SUVs offer seating for 8 or 7 people on-board while the Jeep Grand Cherokee is only available as a 5-seater. Even then if we compare their cabin space on paper it is evident that the Nissan Pathfinder is the most spacious SUV in all three rows. As far as cargo space is concerned with all the three rows up the Nissan Pathfinder offers 16 cubic feet of space while the Toyota Highlander sees only 13.8 cubic feet of space. Key interior features include:
The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee offers two touchscreen sizes with a 5-inch unit on the base trim and a bigger 8.4-inch unit on trims above it both running on the latest UConnect system. The base trim gets a six-speaker unit while the available ones include a 9-speaker Alpine premium audio system and a 19-speaker Harman & Kardon sound system with a 10-inch subwoofer and 825-watt total output. Key infotainment features include:
The looks of the Jeep Grand Cherokee are nothing new for the audience, the same seven slat grille at the front, big square wheel arches at the sides, and rounded rear. The overall design of the Jeep Grand Cherokee has been carried over since it was last updated in 2011 and over time it has only received minor tweaks and changes to keep it looking fresh.
The only thing new about the exterior for this year is the introduction of the California Edition Package Appearance Package on the top-end Summit trim. This package adds exterior highlights, chrome accents, and body-color lower cladding. Thus making the Summit trim look suaver than the rugged-looking lower trims.
|
Models |
2015 Jeep Cherokee |
2015 Toyota Highlander |
2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Curb Weight (lbs) |
4,545 |
4,244 |
4,260 |
|
Length (inches) |
189.8 |
191.1 |
197.2 |
|
Width (inches) |
76.5 |
75.8 |
77.2 |
|
Height (inches) |
69.3 |
68.1 |
70.2 |
|
Ground Clearance (inches) |
8.6 |
8.0 |
7.0 |
|
Wheelbase (inches) |
114.8 |
109.8 |
114.2 |
Dimension wise the Nissan Pathfinder remains the longest, widest, and tallest SUV. But surprisingly the Pathfinder has a 0.6-inch shorter wheelbase compared to a much smaller Jeep Grand Cherokee. To put that into perspective the Grand Cherokee is approximately 7-inches smaller in length than the Pathfinder. That said, the Grand Cherokee is the heaviest SUV weighing 4,545 pounds, and has the highest ground clearance of 8.6-inches in this comparison. Key exterior features include:
The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee received some stellar ratings from the NHTSA in the individual crash tests but it was only able to manage a score of 4 out of 5-star in the overall ratings. The IIHS has a little bit of divided opinion here as it rated the Grand Cherokee with a rating of ‘Good’ in only four of its parameters while in the rest two parameters the Grand Cherokee got a second-lowest rating of ‘Marginal’ and the lowest rating of ‘Poor’. Ratings aside, the Grand Cherokee packs in a host of safety and driver-assist features but these are mostly available on the top trims or are part of optional packages and that's one of the reasons for the low safety ratings. Key safety features include:
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has always been a niche 5-seater SUV. It is priced way close to the price point where the competitors offer three-row seats and a lot more cabin space and practicality. But the fact that hardly any of its rivals boast of being a competent off-roader as the Grand Cherokee, the premium pricing seems gullible to some extent. To have this rare combo you either go for the Jeep or pay almost double and get a Land Rover, the choice is yours.
Car Name | 0-60 MPH | Quarter Mile | Top Speed | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #7 | 7.6 sec | 15.7 sec | 139 mph | |||
2015 Porsche Cayenne Ranked #1 | 4.8 sec | 13.4 sec | 144 mph | |||
2015 Acura MDX Ranked #2 | 6.5 sec | 15 sec | 113 mph | |||
2015 Acura RDX Ranked #3 | 6.7 sec | 13.2 sec | 122 mph | |||
2015 Mazda CX-9 Ranked #4 | 7.2 sec | 15.6 sec | - | |||
2015 Toyota 4Runner Ranked #4 | 7.2 sec | 15.8 sec | 115 mph |
Car Name | MPG City | MPG Highway | MPG Combined | Fuel Tank Capacity | Range (C/H) | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #7 | 17 mpg | 25 mpg | 20 mpg | 24.6 gal. | 418.2/615 mi. | Jeep USA | ||
2015 Subaru Outback Ranked #1 | 25 mpg | 33 mpg | 28 mpg | 18.5 gal. | 455/600.6 mi. | |||
2015 Honda Crosstour Ranked #2 | 22 mpg | 31 mpg | 25 mpg | 18.5 gal. | 407/573.5 mi. | |||
2015 Nissan Murano Ranked #3 | 21 mpg | 28 mpg | 24 mpg | 19 gal. | 399/532 mi. | |||
2015 Ford Edge Ranked #3 | 18 mpg | 30 mpg | 24 mpg | 18 gal. | 360/540 mi. | |||
2015 Kia Sorento Ranked #4 | 20 mpg | 27 mpg | 23 mpg | 17.4 gal. | 348/469.8 mi. |
Car Name | Length | Width | Height | Ground Clearance | Wheelbase | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #13 | 189.8 in. | 76.5 in. | 69.3 in. | 8.6 in. | 114.8 in. | Jeep USA | ||
2015 Dodge Durango Ranked #1 | 201.2 in. | 75.8 in. | 70.9 in. | 8.2 in. | 119.8 in. | |||
2015 GMC Acadia Ranked #2 | 200.8 in. | 78.9 in. | 70.4 in. | 7.6 in. | 118.9 in. | |||
2015 Mazda CX-9 Ranked #3 | 200.6 in. | 76.2 in. | 68 in. | 8 in. | 113.2 in. | |||
2015 Audi Q7 Ranked #4 | 200.3 in. | 78.1 in. | 68.4 in. | 8.1 in. | 118.2 in. | |||
2015 Nissan Pathfinder Ranked #5 | 197.2 in. | 77.2 in. | 69.6 in. | 7 in. | 114.2 in. |
Car Name | Trunk Capacity | Passenger Volume | Max Trunk Volume | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #6 | 36.3 cu.ft. | 105.4 cu.ft. | 68.3 cu.ft. | Jeep USA | ||
2015 Toyota 4Runner Ranked #1 | 47.2 cu.ft. | - | 89.7 cu.ft. | |||
2015 Toyota Highlander Ranked #2 | 13.8 cu.ft. | 145 cu.ft. | 83.7 cu.ft. | |||
2015 Ford Explorer Ranked #3 | 21 cu.ft. | 151.7 cu.ft. | 80.7 cu.ft. | |||
2015 Ford Edge Ranked #3 | 39.2 cu.ft. | 113.9 cu.ft. | 31.6 cu.ft. | |||
2015 Nissan Pathfinder Ranked #4 | 16 cu.ft. | 157.8 cu.ft. | 79.8 cu.ft. |
Car Name | Cargo Volume | Cargo Volume w/ Seat Area | Max Cargo Volume | Bed Length | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #1 | 68.3 cu.ft. | 36.3 cu.ft. | 68.3 cu.ft. | - | Jeep USA | ||
2015 Dodge Durango Ranked #2 | 67.4 cu.ft. | 17.2 cu.ft. | 84.5 cu.ft. | - | |||
2015 Honda Crosstour Ranked #3 | 63 cu.ft. | 25.7 cu.ft. | 51.3 cu.ft. | - | |||
2015 Nissan Murano Ranked #4 | 10.6 cu.ft. | 32.1 cu.ft. | 67 cu.ft. | - | |||
2015 Ford Explorer Ranked #5 | 83.1 cu.ft. | 21 cu.ft. | 80.7 cu.ft. | - | |||
2015 Dodge Journey Ranked #6 | 9.9 cu.ft. | 39.6 cu.ft. | 67.7 cu.ft. | - |
Car Name | Towing Capacity | Payload Capacity | Weight | Source | Compare | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ranked #3 | 6200 lbs. | 2030 lbs. | 4545 lbs. | Jeep USA | ||
2015 Porsche Cayenne Ranked #1 | 7716 lbs. | 1709 lbs. | 4597 lbs. | |||
2015 Audi Q7 Ranked #2 | 6600 lbs. | 1598 lbs. | 5192 lbs. | |||
2015 Dodge Durango Ranked #3 | 6200 lbs. | 1330 lbs. | 4756 lbs. | |||
2015 GMC Acadia Ranked #4 | 5200 lbs. | 1755 lbs. | 4656 lbs. | |||
2015 Ford Explorer Ranked #5 | 5000 lbs. | 1728 lbs. | 4432 lbs. |
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User Overall Rating
Posted On: August 12, 2024
This is my third Grand Cherokee and I love it! The one I have is called the Summit edition. It has features on top of features! It has every button known to man! I also feel confident when I drive it. I previously had an Explorer sport and I do miss the acceleration of the turbo. However, looking back, that is probably what made the engine fail early. My Explorer also had black rims which I loved...
