[swallman]

So I've been researching Cherokees for at least the past 6+ months and thought I had finally settled on our next vehicle (Trailhawk)...but then in the past week I was looking at some prices on Grand Cherokee's and found out I can get a GC Altitude for not a ton more $$$ than a TH.

Now I'm wondering which direction to go...I'm probably not going to be really doing much off-roading where I would really need the TH features - it's just that if I'm getting a Jeep I want it to look rugged and I like the TH better than the other trim levels.

A few concerns I have with the TH that have been making me lean more towards a GC are the following:

Towing - we currently tow a single-axle camper that has a max GVWR of 3760# (it's 2515# dry and we don't normally drive anywhere with water in the tank so we have leeway there). We currently tow it behind our 2008 Liberty and you can definitely feel it back there. We also don't have a WDH/anti-sway system or a brake controller but would definitely be getting one with our new vehicle purchase. It's normally just my wife and I in the tow vehicle (along with our small 12# dog), so not too worried about total weight. I was thinking the GC would give us some more "buffer" in regards to towing and also having a slightly larger wheelbase would help keep sway down...or is having the anti-sway system really going to make more difference than anything?

Transmission - I know it's had issues over the years but it sounds like they have most of the issues worked out? I'm still a bit concerned about the fact that it sounds like occasionally it can still "lag" a bit when you stomp on the pedal like to try and pass someone in traffic? Most of what I've read about the GC (with the V6 and 8 speed transmission) is that its really a pretty solid performer.

We are a single-vehicle family so whatever vehicle we decide on we plan to have for awhile and want to make sure we aren't going to be disappointed with.

Open to feedback and suggestions!

 

[UN4GTBL]

I guess it depends what's more important to you.

Looks?
Features?
Size?
Towing?
etc

For me, I preferred having more features on my Cherokee, than buying a more basic Grand Cherokee for the same price.

 

[swallman]

I guess it depends what's more important to you.

Looks?
Features?
Size?
Towing?
etc

For me, I preferred having more features on my Cherokee, than buying a more basic Grand Cherokee for the same price.

All good questions...what's funny is I think the Cherokee looks a bit "cooler" than the GC (although that's probably just my opinion). Feature-wise there's not a ton of difference really.

Another plus to the GC is the additional cargo capacity but that also comes with the disadvantage of having a larger vehicle - we live in an apartment building in the central business district of Minneapolis so having something easy to park is important LOL. Both vehicles are longer than our Liberty - the GC is over a foot longer.

 

[UN4GTBL]

I also had to deal with the Canadian pricing difference too. A Grand Cherokee Trailhawk was much more than a Cherokee Trailhawk with the features I wanted.

 

[osimj]

GC NO Doubt about it.

 

[Reel Crazy]

GC NO Doubt about it.

Second that. Get the Grand Cherokee. I had a very small garage and the Grand would not fit, Purchased 2015 Cherokee Trailhawk. I was towing my boat approx. 4k lbs. It was underpowered and swayed a lot. Get the Grand. Good luck.

 

[18Jeepers]

I have one of each, a 2018 KL - V6 w/ AD2 and a 2018 WK2 - V6 w/ QT2 ~ Love them both! The Grand Cherokee is a more refined ride, 8 speed transmission is great and it is a very comfortable car.

My advice to you is that you should give each model a very thorough test drive and see which one you really prefer.

You can't go wrong with either one ~ I think my preference would be the Grand Cherokee.

Good Luck!

 

[swallman]

Well we're going to (finally) go drive a Cherokee TH tomorrow evening and see what we think about it. Currently price is important for us as well and we can get a pretty nicely optioned out TH for over $8k off MSRP. Plus I found the Olive Green color that my wife really likes lol.

 

[WonederLust101]

If I had to do it all again, GC, for both Cherokees

 

[Good1Brian]

Just me and the wife and very happy with the Cherokee TH for my needs very seldom we have anyone in the rear seat as far as pricing I have everything on my TH expected rock rail , subwoofer, and sunroof
I'm sure if you get a GC with same options it be several thousand dollars price difference. As far as the transmission I may be wrong but after 2016 I don't think they are anymore of an issue .
I been watching about issues on other brands and transmission problems.
Either way your choice for your need can't go wrong with either one

 

[18Jeepers]

Well we're going to (finally) go drive a Cherokee TH tomorrow evening and see what we think about it. Currently price is important for us as well and we can get a pretty nicely optioned out TH for over $8k off MSRP. Plus I found the Olive Green color that my wife really likes lol.

I highly recommend that you test drive a Grand Cherokee right after you test drive the Cherokee TH, that will help you make an informed and comparable decision.

I was able to get very good deals on both my Jeep purchases last year ~

First one, the Cherokee, was purchased at my home town dealer when Jeep had very good incentives offered. Six months later the Grand Cherokee was purchased online & over the phone, an easy process, from a dealer 175 miles away, they had even better deals available.

It pays to do the research once you have decided on what you want ~ that really is most important.

 

[Jeepster1]

I highly recommend that you test drive a Grand Cherokee right after you test drive the Cherokee TH, that will help you make an informed and comparable decision.

I was able to get very good deals on both my Jeep purchases last year ~

First one, the Cherokee, was purchased at my home town dealer when Jeep had very good incentives offered. Six months later the Grand Cherokee was purchased online & over the phone, an easy process, from a dealer 175 miles away, they had even better deals available.

It pays to do the research once you have decided on what you want ~ that really is most important.

On-line purchases are the way to go. As I have said the internet is the great equalizer when you are in a one dealer area or no one in your area wants to deal. I bought mine 300 miles away and its still serviced by my local dealer. Just could not deal locally which is kind of sad.

 

[3Rivers]

One final recommendation: After your test drives, prepare a detailed spec list for both vehicles of all the equipment that matters to you. Don't try to keep track of all this info in your head. There can be tendency among shoppers to focus on just the major items of equipment ("Which engines come standard with these trim levels? Are the seats cloth or leather? Is a sunroof available, and if so, how much?"). But all kinds of features, whether standard or optional, can significantly affect your driving and ownership experience over the years. It all depends on what you value.

The Grand Cherokee is an older design, and it has even more different trims than the Cherokee, so perusing equipment lists carefully is a must. For example, every 2019 Cherokee has LED headlights. The Grand Cherokee Altitude, however, has halogen headlights. (Not even HIDs -- halogens.) To get HIDs on a GC, you'd have to upgrade to the pricier Limited X trim. You can't get LED headlights on a GC at any price. This factor may not matter to you at all, which is fine. But it's also possible that you'd chafe at the idea of being stuck with halogens for five years (or however long you'd drive a Grand Cherokee) when seemingly every other upscale vehicle on the road has either HIDs or LEDs. Make sure you consider everything that might make a difference to you.

 

[barongan]

Following!this seems like a very interesting thread

 

[desertscorpion]

Go with the Olive Green TH...love it!

 

[swallman]

Go with the Olive Green TH...love it!

That it the color we're definitely leaning towards!!

 

[Trailfirst]

A GC would certainly be more versatile in terms of space - we ended up going with KL TH purely because similarly offroad capable GC would have been a lot more expensive - otherwise our preference would / will always be GC. Don't get me wrong we love our KL TH but if I was offered a swap with similarly optioned GC you wouldn't see me move for the speed I'd be in the GC's driver seat...

We were in that weird situation where we could get approval for higher finance amount on a new vehicle vs one even a couple of years older - else we'd have been happy with a secondhand GC.

The only things really in favor of KL over GC are the pricing difference for similar 4WD capability and slight compactness of the KL for city and also some offroad trails.

Other than those things IMO it's always GC FTW...

 

[swallman]

Just to update my post, we are now the proud owners of a 2019 Olive Green Trailhawk!

V6
Cold Weather Group
Comfort/Convenience Group
Sunroof
Trailer Tow Group

 

[AZJeeper]

Just to update my post, we are now the proud owners of a 2019 Olive Green Trailhawk!

V6
Cold Weather Group
Comfort/Convenience Group
Sunroof
Trailer Tow Group

Nice choice! Congratulations!

Of course, as the old saying goes... "If you don't have pictures it didn't happen" :wink:

 

[swallman]

Nice choice! Congratulations!

Of course, as the old saying goes... "If you don't have pictures it didn't happen" :wink:

LOL...only picture we have so far is my wife and I at the dealer (didn't get out until after dark last night)...will get some this weekend!

(and the LED headlights are NICE!)