Considering purchasing a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

[Jetboy]

I'm not sure the GC is really comparable to the 4runner. It's not exactly a direct comparison, but a GC more similar to a highlander than a 4runner. Unibody crossover awd vehicles with better highway manners vs BOF truck based SUV with offroad/utility design goals. GC, highlander, Pilot, Exlorer, are all more comparable to each other. If you don't need the utility functions of the 4runner, a crossover is often a better choice for daily life.

The highlander will have most of the creature comforts you want. If not, the RX350 is the next step up and has a lot more. That's what we have as our other vehicle. It's great for everything but off road. Basically everything you might use a GC for. It's a nice bump up from the GC in the luxury department, and reliable, has great resale value, etc.

 

[bluecollarjock]

[MENTION=71973]bluecollarjock[/MENTION]
I like the WK2 grand cherokee, but if you spend enough time on the jeep forums look at how many common problems and complaints there are. Even the people who said "yeah, definitely get the WK2 over the 5th gen" were posting threads like "Back in the shop... again" for all kinds of issues. The WK2 has an awesome interior, and all-independent suspension makes the road handling nice, but the reliability issue is a giant hurdle to overcome.

You mention fuel efficiency and power, but the only grand cherokees that arguably have both are the diese*l options which are more expensive. For the gas engines your options are either slightly better fuel efficiency, or worse fuel efficiency and more power, but not both. (*and don't forget that you can't compare mpg to mpg for diesel because the fuel price is different, you need to convert to $/mile)

You say that it will come down to what kind of deal you can get, but you need to consider your resale as well. You will be able to find better deals on WK2's, but that's only because 4Runners hold their value so well and don't have the same amount of depreciation. The WK2 may be less expensive now, but when you go to sell your vehicle you will also get a lot less than you would if you were selling a 4Runner so you need to look at the total lifetime cost of ownership (and when you include maintenance costs in that, the WK2 can get pretty pricey).

I was in your shoes last year, I really wanted the Grand Cherokee (it looks awesome and the interior is awesome) but the 4runner was just the no-brainer, easy decision, much more reliable vehicle. If you want to spend $20k-$30k on a nice but unreliable vehicle you should also consider used Range Rovers.

Take a look at these:
Transmission problems: 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Transmission problems - Please help! - JeepForum.com
Quadra Lift Problems: Quadra Lift Problems =( - JeepForum.com
Vehicle dead won't start : 2014 gc dead won't start - JeepForum.com
Wiper motors failing: Rear Wiper Motor Failed...anyone know how to replace? - JeepForum.com
dimming mirrors not working: Drivers side auto-dim mirror not working - JeepForum.com
people having headlight problems not covered under warranty: HID Headlmp Assembly NOT covered by Maxcare!! - JeepForum.com
water pumps failing early: Well this sucks - JeepForum.com
blend door gears strip: No heat on passenger side - blend door gears - JeepForum.com
more vehicles dying on the side of the road: My 2014 Jeep GC Diesel Summit broke down today (bad) - JeepForum.com
steering wheel buttons stopped working: Srevice Airbag/steering wheel controls don't work - JeepForum.com
more quadra lift problems: Srevice Airbag/steering wheel controls don't work - JeepForum.com
and on and on and on.....

If I spend $30k and have to put up with all of that, I would rather just buy one of these for the same amount of money:

Thanks for this! The kind of post I am looking for, someone well informed who is not just going on brand loyalty. I have no desire for a Range Rover. Everyone has them out here in the LA beach towns, also Grand Cherokees are very popular. But these people have the means to fix them if they do go south or dump them in a year or two for the next fancy thing, plus most people in my neighborhood have 4 cars (women gets the Range Rover and JK, husband has the European sedan and a sports car).

I see this has been merged so will read up on the thread....just saying folks with the Jeeps say 30mpg on highway trips and super cozy interior with more horsepower. But I certainly do not want to deal with gremlins.

 

[bluecollarjock]

If you plan on leasing then a Grand Cherokee is much better. I really like the look of the Overland and Summit models.

I've never leased. I like to keep things for a long time and often will run up high miles on vehicles doing road trips. If it were not for some unfortunate financial circumstances I would still have my 3rd Gen 4runner and not need to buy anything new. Plus my plan would be to use it until I racked up some miles and/or the warranty expired, and then start wheeling it eventually when its time to get another new vehicle. Right now parking is a hassle, so unless I want to drive around town looking for parking every night for the Jeep, I need to dump it. The 4runner would be my only vehicle for the next 3-5 years until I possibly move to Colorado and have parking for more than one vehicle.

 

[e60ral]

regarding fuel efficiency, compare for yourself:
Jeep Grand Cherokee Mileage | Fuelly
Toyota 4Runner Mileage | Fuelly

it's better on average because of the v6, the v8 wk2 has worse mileage than the 4runner (and the v6 isn't going to be any faster than the 4runner).

The only people seeing anywhere close to 30mpg are diesel owners. Where I am gas and diesel are currently pretty closely priced ($0.07-$0.10 difference) but it is more commonly about $0.15 difference, so that 30mpg of diesel is about the same cost as 26mpg of gas.

If you are set on diesel and want a new full size SUV then I guess a WK2 is better than the other options

I'm not sure the GC is really comparable to the 4runner. It's not exactly a direct comparison, but a GC more similar to a highlander than a 4runner. Unibody crossover awd vehicles with better highway manners vs BOF truck based SUV with offroad/utility design goals. GC, highlander, Pilot, Exlorer, are all more comparable to each other. If you don't need the utility functions of the 4runner, a crossover is often a better choice for daily life.

i think my last post establishes my position as not a grand cherokee fanboy, but the highlander and other crossovers you list are not in the same category as the WK2. The WK2 is not as capable as the 4Runner, but it is loads more capable than the crossovers you listed. The highlander does not have low range, it is in a different class.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Land Rovers SUCK.

My buddy bought a new one several years back and that POS was in the shop more than it was on the road. Radio, Transmission, A/C and electrical glitches the dealer never could figure out.

He dumped it after a year at loss just to get away from it. Many, many other people have similar experiences (google "land rover sucks").

You couldn't pay me to buy one of those turds.

People that buy them think they are a status symbol in some twisted way, but to me you might as well tattoo "L" on your forehead.

Okay, I feel better now.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Interior comfort might be nice to have, but I've been driving lifted pickups and Jeeps most of my life, so a 5th Gen to me brand new would feel like a Caddy most likely. Driving a lifted TJ Rubicon as my DD anything in comparison will feel amazing hah.

Reliability is big factor at this point. Like I said I've owned 2 TJs, WJ, and an XJ. The XJ was bulletproof, the WJ and TJs get finicky around 90-100k miles and nickle and dime me to death. If I still had my 3rd Gen Yota and a parking spot, I would be good to go for a very long time. Would be nice to keep the Rubicon for playing but at this point I just need reliable transportation, and for the few times I might have an opportunity to hit the trails in the next few years a 4runner will be plenty. I like the locker from the factory and what seems like a plethora of lift options without being too much hassle.

Just these few posts today will probably sway me away from the JGC. The Trailhawk coming out this summer had me thinking like a 25 year old again, but the earlier Trailhawk editions apparently had tons of suspension issues and it does not have a rear locker.

Crossing my fingers, someone said they potentially have a connection for me to get employee pricing on a Toyota. If that is the case the decision really is a no brainer if I decide to buy something this summer.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

regarding fuel efficiency, compare for yourself:
Jeep Grand Cherokee Mileage | Fuelly
Toyota 4Runner Mileage | Fuelly

it's better on average because of the v6, the v8 wk2 has worse mileage than the 4runner (and the v6 isn't going to be any faster than the 4runner).

The only people seeing anywhere close to 30mpg are diesel owners. Where I am gas and diesel are currently pretty closely priced ($0.07-$0.10 difference) but it is more commonly about $0.15 difference, so that 30mpg of diesel is about the same cost as 26mpg of gas.

If you are set on diesel and want a new full size SUV then I guess a WK2 is better than the other options


i think my last post establishes my position as not a grand cherokee fanboy, but the highlander and other crossovers you list are not in the same category as the WK2. The WK2 is not as capable as the 4Runner, but it is loads more capable than the crossovers you listed. The highlander does not have low range, it is in a different class.

Don't forget that the diesel adds $4500 to the cost of the vehicle and you have to start with a Limited model. With no options except 4X4, the one I just priced out was over $43k. I love diesel, but dang is it expensive. You would have to own that jeep forever to see that $4500 back. Lord knows what the repair cost of a relatively rare diesel engine will be 5 or 10 years form now.

 

[e60ral]

Is a new JGC Trailhawk the same price range as a TRD Pro 4Runner? Because that would keep your inner 25 year old happy.

 

[Jetboy]

i think my last post establishes my position as not a grand cherokee fanboy, but the highlander and other crossovers you list are not in the same category as the WK2. The WK2 is not as capable as the 4Runner, but it is loads more capable than the crossovers you listed. The highlander does not have low range, it is in a different class.

Of course they all live on a spectrum from sedan to unimog. However the GC IS a unibody crossover. By design it is much more similar to the highlander than it is to a 4runner. The GC might be marginally better than a highlander off road, but the lack of low range isn't all that meaningful. It has 4.30 diff gears and a 4.6:1 first gear in its auto. Neither vehicle are ever going rock crawling, nor will a GC or a highlander ever be used as a utility vehicle, so I'm not sure what the purpose of a low range would really be here. They are both cars with big tires, short travel ifs/irs, low body clearance, and focused on highway driving.

The GC has better traction control. And you can see that any crossover with traction control will act pretty similar. A subaru outback goes up hell's revenge just as easily as a GC. The Subaru is most likely the best of class off road due to the higher ground clearance and lower weight.

Ultimately though, what the GC and the Highlander do not have is a frame. What that means is that it is unlike a 4runner in utility. Items like rock sliders, winches, real skid plates, snow plows, utility racks, etc. are difficult to install if they are even available. A frame certainly is not necessary for these items, but the stamped light gauge metal used underneath a GC makes it difficult to attach items like these.

In general if a truck with extra seats is what you need, a GC isn't going to cut it. If a car with big tires is what you need, most of the cars with big tires will work pretty well and a 4runner isn't a great choice.

 

[bluecollarjock]

Is a new JGC Trailhawk the same price range as a TRD Pro 4Runner? Because that would keep your inner 25 year old happy.

Ha! This is quite true....I do like the TRD Pro look, saw a dark grey one the other day it looked awesome. I know guys can get the Trail Premium and put a better lift on cheaper than the price difference, but I do not do my own work, and would not want any warranty hassles if I paid someone to put a lift on it and then something happened and the dealer wanted to make it an issue. That would be the benefit of a TRD Pro, small lift and cool looks with no warranty worries. I also have read that the rims will end up being a hassle down the road when getting new rubber.

I would like a sunroof though....too bad there is not some dealer close to me that installs lifts and keeps them guaranteed not to be a warranty issue. Then a Trail Premium with a sunroof would be the way to go.

 

[Aquabear]

I just gave in my 2014 JGC Summit. Walk no RUN away from any deal on the Jeep.

I'm sure most Jeeps are fine but my JGC Summit was the WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED, EVER. At 45, I've had many vehicles, this probably is 2 or 3 combined bad vehicles in one. I was in service so much, they all new me on sight by name. Dam sad esp knowing I traded in my awesome 08 SR5 for this heap.

I miss nothing from that Jeep. Good luck whatever you do.

 

[e60ral]

Of course they all live on a spectrum from sedan to unimog. However the GC IS a unibody crossover. By design it is much more similar to the highlander than it is to a 4runner. The GC might be marginally better than a highlander off road, but the lack of low range isn't all that meaningful. It has 4.30 diff gears and a 4.6:1 first gear in its auto. Neither vehicle are ever going rock crawling, nor will a GC or a highlander ever be used as a utility vehicle, so I'm not sure what the purpose of a low range would really be here. They are both cars with big tires, short travel ifs/irs, low body clearance, and focused on highway driving.

The GC has better traction control. And you can see that any crossover with traction control will act pretty similar. A subaru outback goes up hell's revenge just as easily as a GC. The Subaru is most likely the best of class off road due to the higher ground clearance and lower weight.

Ultimately though, what the GC and the Highlander do not have is a frame. What that means is that it is unlike a 4runner in utility. Items like rock sliders, winches, real skid plates, snow plows, utility racks, etc. are difficult to install if they are even available. A frame certainly is not necessary for these items, but the stamped light gauge metal used underneath a GC makes it difficult to attach items like these.

In general if a truck with extra seats is what you need, a GC isn't going to cut it. If a car with big tires is what you need, most of the cars with big tires will work pretty well and a 4runner isn't a great choice.

are you trolling?

wk2's get off roaded all the time, its moronic to compare a 4WD WK2 with an AWD subaru or highlander
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#tbm=vid&q=wk2+off+roading

i mean, what's next, will you claim that XJ's never get offroaded because they don't have a frame?

this is just silly nonsense

 

[bluecollarjock]

I just gave in my 2014 JGC Summit. Walk no RUN away from any deal on the Jeep.

I'm sure most Jeeps are fine but my JGC Summit was the WORST VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED, EVER. At 45, I've had many vehicles, this probably is 2 or 3 combined bad vehicles in one. I was in service so much, they all new me on sight by name. Dam sad esp knowing I traded in my awesome 08 SR5 for this heap.

I miss nothing from that Jeep. Good luck whatever you do.

Thanks for this...well I was considering a JGC for about less than a week....just posting up on here and getting the responses has already swung me right back to getting a 4runner

 

[MinecraftGriefer]

If Grand Cherokees are so bad then why are there so many on the roads? They are very expensive and you see them all over the streets and in the driveways/garages of posh neighborhoods.

 

[1engineer]

If Grand Cherokees are so bad then why are there so many on the roads? They are very expensive and you see them all over the streets and in the driveways/garages of posh neighborhoods.

That's easy. Massive discounts approaching $10K, attractive leases and the whole "It's a Jeep thing" lures the buyers. That plus all the bells and whistles that are offered.

 

[Cymon]

If Grand Cherokees are so bad then why are there so many on the roads? They are very expensive and you see them all over the streets and in the driveways/garages of posh neighborhoods.

Its because if you test drive one, or get one as a rental they drive extremely well. The interiors are very nicely done (well above the price point), it is a good/upscale looking SUV and it is off road capable.

I got one as a rental (free upgrade) and drove it from Baltimore to upstate Vermont and back. By then end of the trip I swore to my wife that I was going to get that car, it was awesome. Then I did the research and after seeing all of the info I found there was no way I was purchasing a vehicle that was such a risk in terms of reliability.

My driveway now looks like a boring, young, no frills but active family live in the house with a 4runner and Outback in the driveway...just the way I like it.

 

[Jetboy]

If Grand Cherokees are so bad then why are there so many on the roads? They are very expensive and you see them all over the streets and in the driveways/garages of posh neighborhoods.

Wallmart sells lots of huffy bikes...

 

[Jetboy]

are you trolling?

wk2's get off roaded all the time, its moronic to compare a 4WD WK2 with an AWD subaru or highlander
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#tbm=vid&q=wk2+off+roading

i mean, what's next, will you claim that XJ's never get offroaded because they don't have a frame?

this is just silly nonsense

I have never seen a wk2 anywhere an outback won't go. Namely because they won't go anywhere an outback won't. But also because the owners don't go there either. Eventually they get really cheap. Like an xj to the point you can buy one for $500 stiffen the sub frame and accept that you may never open the rear door on the trail and it's still an okay deal.

 

[e60ral]

i've never seen a hippo in real life, so hippos are not real

you absolutely can not get an AWD highlander or subaru anywhere that a WK2 can get in low range, that is an idiotic claim.

 

[mjako1]

I have both!

I own a 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with 51,000 miles and its been excellent; not a single problem. I also own a 2016 4Runner SR5 with 17,000 miles and it has been excellent. The Jeep is definitely more comfortable than the 4Runner. The 4Runner is much more spacious. I may be the exception, but, for what its worth, I love both vehicles and am very happy to have both.