Compare the2022 Toyota HighlanderVS 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Highlander 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 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

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 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 76 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 has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Highlander’s reliability 51 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander 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.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Highlander is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander 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.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Toyota Highlander as an “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV). The Jeep Grand Cherokee L is only certified to “Low Emissions Vehicle” (LEV) standards.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .82 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 (27.4 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

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

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 850 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

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

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

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

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

The Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee L’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Highlander’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. The Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s .

If the windows are left open on the Highlander 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 Grand Cherokee L’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Highlander 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.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $5984 to $17991 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L isn't recommended.

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