If you’re in the market for a Jeep, there’s a lot to consider. You have to take things into consideration, such as what models to shop for and finding a Jeep dealership that works for you. One of the very best ways to aid you in your decision is to visit your local dealership and schedule a test ride with a professional representative. As for models, though, one of my favorites within Jeep’s stellar lineup is the 2020 Grand Cherokee.
The 2020 Grand Cherokee is no slouch and is a very capable mid-size SUV. The base Laredo trim starts at an MSRP of $32,240 with front-wheel-drive, and an all-wheel-drive variant is available at an extra cost. The base Grand Cherokee contains an impressive feature set, but those looking to upgrade will be pleased to know that Jeep offers a striking thirteen trims to select from, all of which containing enhanced features and improvements.
These Engines Are Powerful
There are three different engines Jeep offers throughout Grand Cherokee’s trims, each increasingly more powerful. The base engine found in eleven of the thirteen aforementioned trims with the exclusions being the SRT and Trackhawk is the 3.6L V6 engine. This V6 can produce 295 hp with 260 lb-ft of torque and obtains an EPA rating estimate of 19 mpg and 26 highway. For those looking to do some towing with their Grand Cherokee, this V6 engine has a maximum towing capacity of 6,200 lbs, which is certainly decent.
Going with the Trailhawk, Summit, Limited, and Overland trims, you’ll be able to upgrade the V6 to a stronger 5.7L V8 for a boost to performance. This V8 has 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque, which is a notable increase over the base V6 engine. The 5.7L V8 achieves an EPA estimate of 14 MPG city and 22 MPG highway, which makes this V8 slightly less fuel-efficient than the V6 but outperforms it otherwise.
The higher-end SRT and Trackhawk trims receive their own V8 engines that each produce an incredible amount of power. The engine found inside of the SRT trim is a 6.4L V8 with the capability of producing 475 hp with 470 lb-ft of torque. As far as fuel efficiency, this V8 gets a lower EPA rating of 13 MPG city and 19 MPG highway but this is to be expected given the uptick to performance. Lastly, if you decide to go all-in, you can opt for the highest trim level available to the Grand Cherokee, the Trackhawk.
The engine found inside of the Trackhawk is a turbocharged 6.2L V8 and is simply a beast to put it lightly. This V8 has the ability to produce an incredible 707 hp with 645 lb-ft of torque, which is plenty of performance for just about any task. Even if you’re in the business of towing small houses, this engine has got you covered with a maximum towing capacity of 7,500 lbs, much like the other two previously mentioned V8 engines. The performance of the turbocharged 6.2L V8 does come at the cost of fuel efficiency compared to the other three engines as it retains an EPA estimate of 11 MPG city and 17 MPG highway. Overall this engine is a powerhouse, and with it, Jeep claims to have created the fastest and most powerful mid-size SUV on the market with the Trackhawk going from 0-60 mph in a mere 3.5 seconds.
Infotainment & Features
The Grand Cherokee provides a robust cabin made up of an infotainment center and an array of analog controls that some drivers may prefer. The software used inside of the Grand Cherokee’s infotainment system is none other than Uconnect, a software well known for its quick response times and general ease of use, making it a fan favorite for many Jeep owners. The standard infotainment system found in the base model has a 5-inch touchscreen. There is also an 8.4-inch screen available that we certainly recommend upgrading to for the sole reason of having more screen space to use the system’s various other features such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The entertainment features for the Grand Cherokee consists of various modernized tech-centric enhancements such as the inclusion of a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. This allows your passengers to bring their favorite wireless devices along for the ride and connect them seamlessly to the Wi-Fi connection. Passengers will be able to do all the things they’d typically do under Wi-Fi, such as streaming movies or videos online, playing games, or browsing the web. The music you’re listening to will surely sound great on the six-speaker audio system that comes standard on most trims, however, if you’re looking for the best possible sound, look no further than the Harman Kardon speaker system. This premium sound system fits your Grand Cherokee with 19 crystal clear speakers that will make your music sound better than ever. The Harman Kardon sound system comes standard on the Summit trim and is optional for Overland.
Safety Features
Jeep offers three safety packages for the Grand Cherokee, these being Protech I, Protech II, and Advanced Protech II. Protech I comes standard on every Grand Cherokee trim and contains safety features such as blind-spot monitoring with built-in rear-cross path detecting, which can help raise your awareness to any vehicle approaching your blind-spot. This safety package also includes a rear backup camera, and with park sense rear-park assist included, performing tasks such as backing into parking spaces will be safer and easier than ever.
Protech II is available on Altitude, Upland, and Laredo trims and adds more safety features to the Grand Cherokee. Among these added features, you’ll find LaneSense with lane departure warning and lane-keep assist designed to alert you if you accidentally drift lanes. There is also a forward collision warning with active braking that can alert you if it detects an imminent front impact, and advanced brake assist can provide additional braking force during an emergency to prevent an impact. Lastly, Protech II includes automatic high-beam headlamps that’ll dynamically turn on and off depending on any oncoming traffic.
Lastly, the Advanced Protech II safety package comes standard on High Altitude, Summit, Limited X, SRT, and Trackhawk while remaining as an available option for the Trailhawk, Limited, and Overland trims. This safety package contains the same features as those found in the regular Protech II package, with a few more features thrown in. These newly added features include rain-sensing windshield wipers, parallel and perpendicular park assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop & go which lets your vehicle retain distance from any vehicle in front of you while cruise control is activated. Advanced Protech II also includes a Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning with Active Braking. This is a feature that can stop your vehicle to avoid a collision while you’re traveling at speeds under 25 mph.
Shopping For A Jeep
Jeep is a manufacturer adored by many enthusiastic and dedicated fans who all agree no one can do it quite like Jeep. Between a wide selection of vehicles that are both reliable and powerful, people enjoy driving a Jeep because they need various tasks completed, and their Jeep makes it that much easier. Jeeps are perfect for functions such as towing and off-roading, making it a brand of choice for many off-roading enthusiasts.
When shopping for a Jeep, whether it’s a Grand Cherokee or another popular model, you should certainly visit your local Jeep dealership to inquire about more information. After speaking to a professional Jeep representative and browsing their stock of vehicles, both new and used, you may start to feel a tad more inclined. The time for aspiring vehicle shoppers to invest in a Jeep has never looked better as the 2020 refresh of vehicles such as the Grand Cherokee is as stellar as it’s ever been.
