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2025 Car Mileage with the Best Gas MileageWhy is the Grand Cherokee Our Favorite Winter Ride?
We take a look at Jeep’s most versatile vehicle which just so happens to be the perfect winter car this year.
Our Ten Favorite Features in the 2024 Grand Cherokee
As the weather gets colder and more treacherous it’s vital to have a car that can handle those challenges successfully. Over the year, we’ve driven a lot of cars and perhaps none is as versatile in the cold months of winter as the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Today, we’re going to take a quick look at the top ten features that make it our favorite car during the coldest time of the year.
Great On-Road Behavior for Winter Driving
With winter comes a mix of driving conditions on everyday roads. Having a car that can navigate that with ease is key and the Grand Cherokee is probably the best driver’s vehicle that Jeep has ever made. It’s very sharp compared to its predecessors and it provides excellent steering and pedal feedback regardless of the conditions outside.
Stay Cozy and Warm On a Cold Winter day
Few SUVs provide the level of on and off-road seating comfort that the Grand Cherokee does. The front seats are available with heating and cooling along with an outstanding massage feature. The steering wheel is heated as well which provides a nice extra touch on those extra chilly days.
The second row is also available with heating and the available third row in the L version is huge. All seats in the Grand Cherokee offer great support, good visibility, and long-lasting comfort. Depending on the trim level, the Grand Cherokee offers a choice of Palermo leather, Nappa Leather, or Capri Leatherette upholstery.
Serious Performance When the Snow Piles Up
Few vehicles in this class can keep going when the road runs out or there’s serious snow on the ground. Sure, there are a bevy of SUVs that offer trims that sound rugged but they’re not very capable. The Grand Cherokee is a different beast. Thanks to three different versions of four-wheel drive. First, Quadra-Trac offers full-time 4WD with a brake-lock feature that sort of simulates a limited-slip differential when the car senses wheel slip.
Next, Quadra-Trac II offers a two-speed transfer case and can send 100% of engine torque to either axle based on conditions. Finally, Quadra-Drive II does what Quadra-Trac II does but also adds limited-slip differentials that can route power to a specific wheel, not just an axle, when necessary. Grand Cherokees that have an air-ride suspension can boast up to 10.9 inches of ground clearance too. These options can help you conquer any winter challenge, on-road or off.
Plenty of Room for Epic Ski Trips
The Grand Cherokee L offers one of the very best three-row layouts on the market. It’s easy to get into the third row, the seats back there are sincerely some of the most comfortable out there, and they have full access to power ports, a trick entry point into the second-row center console, and great visibility. Plus the Grand Cherokee L has an available power-folding third row to create more space for your winter gear.
Conquer Winter with This IIHS Top Safety Pick+
Safety is a huge concern in the winter. The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L was an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ winner which is big news. That’s the highest award given by the IIHS and it says a lot about this SUV. It may or may not achieve the same award for 2024 as the IIHS is always updating its testing protocol but we’re glad to see Jeep taking safety so seriously.
7,200-lb Towing Capacity for Your Winter Toys
Those willing to pick up the Grand Cherokee L can tow up to 7,200 pounds when they also get the V8 engine. Those who end up with the six or four-cylinder aren’t totally up a creek though. The former is capable of towing up to 6,200 pounds while the latter can still reliably tow 6,000 pounds. That’s a solid figure regardless of trim level and price point. For those looking to haul around winter toys like a snowmobile or ice fishing shack, the Grand Cherokee is a perfect choice.
Powerful Engines to Take On Snowy Hills
Dashing through the snow gets easier with a good engine under the hood and the Grand Cherokee has plenty of great engine options. The 3.6-liter V6 that comes standard in most Grand Cherokee trims isn’t exactly a powerhouse but it’s above average. It makes 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It then sends that power to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Above that is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder coupled with a battery and electric motor to make 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque. It’s not available in the Grand Cherokee L but it’s worth consideration for those who go for the normal GC. It also uses an eight-speed gearbox. Finally, Grand Cherokee L buyers get access to a 5.7-liter V8 with 357 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque.
Uconnect Infotainment to Keep You Warm and Informed
We’ve mentioned it across numerous reviews from all sorts of brands that fall under the Stellantis umbrella but we’ll say it one more time here. Uconnect is a phenomenal infotainment system that enables the driver, front passenger, and potentially the second-row occupants, to get the very most out of this SUV. Integrated navigation makes getting from A to B easy and for those who prefer Android or Apple connectivity, it’s available too. The entire system is fast, it’s full of advanced features, and it’s well laid out. In addition, it enables the buyer to start and even engage climate control from a smartphone app. That’s perfect for cold mornings.
McIntosh Audio for Those Long Winter Drives
Available on upper-level trims, the McIntosh Audio system is, for our money, the very best in the segment and possibly beyond that. With 19 speakers, it provides an incredibly rich sound that’s also crystal clear and crisp. To accomplish that, it includes a 10-inch dual voice coil subwoofer, a 950-watt 17-channel amplifier, and 12 different speaker locations throughout the SUV. You’ll likely end up in some holiday traffic from time to time in the Grand Cherokee. Why not enjoy some festive tunes with the best sound in the segment during those times?
24/7 Roadside Assistance When Something Goes Wrong
The last thing anybody wants is a car that’s stranded in winter weather. So Jeep offers a great warranty and maintenance package that includes 24/7 roadside assistance, same-day vehicle rental for routine maintenance, and trip interruption coverage. That’s true regardless of which Grand Cherokee trim one buys. So if you end up with a flat tire or dead battery, Jeep has you covered.
