Looking into picking up a GX..v8 questions

[Aurora85]

Hey guys,

I have yet to have time to go test drive one of the 2016 GX's at our local dealer. Price is good and seems to have the features my wife is looking for. How is the power compared my 5th gen t4r? Will I notice much difference with the v8? Better low end torque etc? We are cross shopping the Jeep GC, but I know already that the lexus will win out due to reliability. That is a major selling point for us. Anyhow, I'd love some opinions from those that have driven both about the power delivery difference if any? Thanks!

 

[Virgilus11]

Hey guys,

I have yet to have time to go test drive one of the 2016 GX's at our local dealer. Price is good and seems to have the features my wife is looking for. How is the power compared my 5th gen t4r? Will I notice much difference with the v8? Better low end torque etc? We are cross shopping the Jeep GC, but I know already that the lexus will win out due to reliability. That is a major selling point for us. Anyhow, I'd love some opinions from those that have driven both about the power delivery difference if any? Thanks!

I recently convinced my brother (long time Ford guy) to buy a 17 SR5 4 Runner and I got to drive both back to back last week.
Even if the GX carry few 100 extra lbs in gadgets and insulation, the v6 is not a match for the v8. Smooth is the key word. The V8 is the same as on the pre 17 LS but without direct injection.
Both , the v6 and the v8 start making some real power after 2000 rpm. Bellow that they are a little bit anemic. I found them willingly to rev but the mileage suffer the moment the VVTI does its magic. Both trucks need a turbo to really make some useful power.
I am looking at the 4Runner as , the best compromise and a DO IT ALL no fuss.
The GX is one of the best long hauler there is out there.
Reliability is, as you said, is the key word here.
Good luck.

 

[wcjeep]

It looks like the new Grand Cherokee's are more reliable than the older units. That's not saying much. Probably best buy anything else.



Car Complaints Jeep Data

 

[Oldmanb777]

My sister has a year old Grand Cherokee. their old one was so good they bought another one. Its nice, they didn't buy the big engine, but its adequately powered. The GX is much more robust, its more powerful, slightly worse gas mileage. Much more of a truck, in nice clothes. I think more refined, and luxurious than the Cherokee. I think the G.Cherokee is more performance car in its handling, the gX is more truck like, After all it based on the Tacoma. Similar on icey roads, the gX wins out easily towing. The "snow" mode on the Cherokee is nice. I have to deactivate the traction control to get up their driveway in the snow, they don't. As for reliability, we have had 5 Grand Cherokees run through the family since 1993. The worst one was a late build 1998. Last of production run, before major change. It has cost $4700 in maint since 1998 and has about 110,000 miles on the clock. the high mileage one is getting close to 500,000 miles, its currently a sorority car. That's bad? Maybe not perfect, but I have a hard time saying we didn't get our monies worth.

 

[RRrider]

I recently convinced my brother (long time Ford guy) to buy a 17 SR5 4 Runner and I got to drive both back to back last week.
Even if the GX carry few 100 extra lbs in gadgets and insulation, the v6 is not a match for the v8. Smooth is the key word. The V8 is the same as on the pre 17 LS but without direct injection.
Both , the v6 and the v8 start making some real power after 2000 rpm. Bellow that they are a little bit anemic. I found them willingly to rev but the mileage suffer the moment the VVTI does its magic. Both trucks need a turbo to really make some useful power.
I am looking at the 4Runner as , the best compromise and a DO IT ALL no fuss.
The GX is one of the best long hauler there is out there.
Reliability is, as you said, is the key word here.
Good luck.

+1
I decided to go for the GX instead of the 4Runner TRD due to how much better I liked the feel of the V8, and the GX is more wife friendly than the 4R, while still being a serious 4x4 (if you do some mods to the bumpers to restore the approach and departure angles). Had TRD still offered the dealer-option super charger, I might have gone 4R instead, but they discontinued that option, so the GX won.

 

[JSparky]

We just picked up a 2017 GX pre-owned with a few thousand miles. I took it to San Francisco last week and I agree with others, it is sooo smooth. 6-speed shifts beautifully and overall the vehicle is very well insulated. It drives nothing like a WK2 Grand Cherokee, in my opinion it's a much more refined driving experience. This particular GX does have the air suspension though, and you can easily toggle through the settings while driving.

The GX loses more off the lot than a 4Runner does, we got over 10K off msrp of a similarly equipped new one so keep that in consideration and make sure you shop around and/or negotiate.

Hope that helps.

Lastly, my brother's steering rack just went out on his WK2, it's a 2014 with 40k miles. He has the v8 so they have to remove the motor to replace the rack, it's a 9+ hour job he's fighting to have covered under warranty. Best of luck!

Edit: forgot to add, behind the wheel GX has more muscle versus my 4Runner, but is also heavier. It moves a little quicker, but more importantly it moves more effortlessly. I do have a Sprintbooster on my 4Runner which has helped a lot in terms of throttle response issues with all newer auto-trans vehicles.

 

[Arkmann]

Let's see photos of the new vehicle!

+1
I decided to go for the GX instead of the 4Runner TRD due to how much better I liked the feel of the V8, and the GX is more wife friendly than the 4R, while still being a serious 4x4 (if you do some mods to the bumpers to restore the approach and departure angles). Had TRD still offered the dealer-option super charger, I might have gone 4R instead, but they discontinued that option, so the GX won.

 

[tone77]

I’m assuming you don’t care much about the MPG difference but if I were you I’d factor that in in terms of value for sale. GX is a nice vehicle though, very tempting.

 

[Oldmanb777]

Yes the gas mileage is secondary. If I was overly concerned about the gas (yes its part of the deal) I would buy a prius. But it doesn't do what a truck in a tuxedo will do. It's pretty efficient compared to the same vehicle in 1970.
We just did a trip in ours. 22mpg over about 2500 miles. Some interstate, some mountain, winter snowy roads, a bit of short trip driving etc. I think for a big heavy car, that pretty efficient.

 

[Vcustoms]

Hey guys,

I have yet to have time to go test drive one of the 2016 GX's at our local dealer. Price is good and seems to have the features my wife is looking for. How is the power compared my 5th gen t4r? Will I notice much difference with the v8? Better low end torque etc? We are cross shopping the Jeep GC, but I know already that the lexus will win out due to reliability. That is a major selling point for us. Anyhow, I'd love some opinions from those that have driven both about the power delivery difference if any? Thanks!

I shopped for a 4runner and GC and ended up with a GC due to the t4r lacked power (felt very sluggish taking off or having to quickly accelerate to switch lanes), electronics (small nav if equiped) and just was too firm on price for what I wanted. The GC has been a great vehicle for us but my 2012 has had its fair share of repairs. Mostly just recalls but also a wheel bearing and other small things like a very small leak on the rear glass. I was rear ended by a 80s caddy and my GC barely had any damage compared to the smashed in front of the caddy.

If I compare my 2012 GC to my 2013 GX I would hands down always choose to drive the GX. The Gxs seats haven’t lost its firmness. I’m not a big guy so when I drive the GC I feel like I slide from side to side on the seat and there’s little to no support around the kidnees and shoulders. There is a noticeable mileage difference between the v6 and v8. For cargo room the GC is one of the largest for not having a third row but the a GX I feel is very close to the same size even with the fold down seats. Highway driving, the GC drives a little more smoothly but I’m pretty sure that’s bc my GX has a wobble which i haven’t addressed yet. (A buddy is a Lexus tech and says a lot of GXs have a transfer case issue that wobbles the truck once you hit 60-65 mph). The GC shows the tire pressure psi which my GX does not (it will say if it is low) and I’m not sure if they updated that in the newer models. The newer GCs don’t allow the rear glass to open and that’s prob the only thing nicer on the t4rs (glass retracts instead of swinging open). The Gx with the rear swing door I love but it is annoying it wasn’t designed to swing out for Americans.

Hope this helps!