Compare the2022 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Highlander Hybrid and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander Hybrid its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee L has not been tested, yet.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Highlander Hybrid has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander Hybrid third among upper midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee L isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 24th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Jeep is ranked 19th.

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee L:

Regenerative brakes improve the Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee L with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost 5 to 40 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Highlander Hybrid higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L (3 to 7). This means the Highlander Hybrid produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Grand Cherokee L every 15,000 miles.

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander Hybrid’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the Grand Cherokee L’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.3 feet).

The Toyota Highlander Hybrid may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 750 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

The Highlander Hybrid is 10 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Highlander Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander Hybrid has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee L can only carry up to 7.

The Highlander Hybrid has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room, .7 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.7 inches more third row hip room and 3.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander Hybrid’s middle and third row seats recline. The Grand Cherokee L’s third row seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Highlander Hybrid is 1.2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L (19” vs. 20.2”). The Highlander Hybrid’s rear step up height is 1 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L’s (19.2” vs. 20.2”).

The Highlander Hybrid’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee L.

The Highlander Hybrid has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1495 vs. 1380 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1535 vs. 1410 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window closes automatically.

If the windows are left open on the Highlander Hybrid the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Grand Cherokee L can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Grand Cherokee L’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Highlander Hybrid Platinum’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Toyota Highlander outsold the Jeep Grand Cherokee by 13% during the 2021 model year.