Considering purchasing a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Beer_Runner]

I once owned a 2007 JK, 2 door. I had to have it when they first came out. It was a special order, built for me with even my name on the window sticker. Less than a year later, Chrysler bought it back from me under the Michigan Lemon Law. I will NEVER own another jeep or chrysler product again. Lesson learned.

 

[GeekinZombie]

FWIW - a JGC doesn't really match up well to a 4runner, so it's hard to compare the two. A Toyota Highlander is a lot closer in form to a JGC than a 4runner - both being unibody crossovers. It's basically comparing a car with big tires (JGC) to a truck with extra seats (4Runner). So you have to accept all of the limitations of having a truck with extra seats.

Limited has Xreas suspension -
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Trail has the option of KDSS
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Xreas and KDSS are very different systems. They could be used together, but they are not offered on the same vehicle. Xreas is shocks. KDSS is sway bar hydraulic action.

The rest (trail w/o KDSS, SR5, TRD Pro) have normal sway bars and passive shocks. TRD Pro's have larger shocks that are basically bilstien 6110 without the adjustable height.

Trail editions and TRD Pro will have rear e-lockers, crawl control, and multi terrain select.

As far as highway diving - for me KDSS in a trail edition was the best of the group. I would have bought a limited if it had KDSS.

The Trail or SR5 models do NOT have auto headlights. Why? I have no idea. Drives me nuts because the navigation screen doesn't automatically adjust to night mode. I also would like the smart key from the Limited.

Finally - there will be a new model for 2018, so if you don't mind waiting a little bit you should get a good idea of what the 2018 will be by about June of this year. If I were buying right now - I'd probably wait until the 2018 model details were available to know if it had something I really wanted to wait for.

Good luck.

You make great points. Honestly, I really fell in love with features Jeep GC offered. After driving it for a few days I realized I made a huge mistake. I'm much more of a truck-suv person and not a car or crossover SUV. Most look like vans nowadays and I feel as though the only one I'm attracted to is the 4 runner.

I'm quite flipped in my jeep right now (7k) so I don't really have much choice but to wait. That, or I can lease a highlander for 3 years and when that lease is over, start over fresh. I'm wondering if that would be the best thing to do, otherwise I will drive my jeep for a few years and hope that I don't have to pay into it a lot for repairs.....

I do appreciate that you brought up waiting to see what the new 4 runners bring. I don't really have a choice at this point to wait any who I suppose

I appreciate all of your replies!

To 007Tacoma - driving all those cars was the smartest move ever. I test drove some but never did test drive Subaru. If only I could go back in time and just avoid the jgc, ha!

 

[Martyb]

I came from a 07 Jeep Commander 4.7l with superchips. I looked long and hard at the Jeep GC hemi Overland/Summit and Lexus GX (2013) in part due to towing a 4k boat and sleds. I ended up test driving the 4runner LE after being close to writing up a deal on the Lexus GX (with no warranty left). I really wanted a V8 since I was used to power and tow a fair amount. Ended up going with the 4runner LE after long test drives and being comfortable I could live with the 4.0. The LE trim is also a step up from what I expected and wanted in the GC and GX. Quality and retaining value were a big part of what kept me from buying the Jeep again. Also had some bad dealer experiences and a major rust problem on my Commander unibody which really pissed me off on a vehicle less than ten years old and 134k km's. I still miss the V8 but am very happy with the 4runner and hope to have it a long, long time.