Compare the2022 Mercedes G-ClassVS 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Mercedes G-Class have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Jeep Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The G-Class’ pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Mercedes G-Class has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the G-Class. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The G-Class’ standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the Grand Cherokee.

The G-Class’ driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the G-Class and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

The G-Class comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Grand Cherokee’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the engines in the G-Class have an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. With 10 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Mercedes higher than Jeep.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mercedes vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 6 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Mercedes higher than Jeep.

The G 550’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 121 more horsepower (416 vs. 295) and 190 lbs.-ft. more torque (450 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6. The G 550’s 4.0 turbo V8 produces 56 more horsepower (416 vs. 360) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (450 vs. 390) than the Grand Cherokee’s optional 5.7 V8. The AMG G 63’s standard 4.0 turbo V8 produces 217 more horsepower (577 vs. 360) and 237 lbs.-ft. more torque (627 vs. 390) than the Grand Cherokee’s optional 5.7 V8.

As tested in Motor Trend the Mercedes G-Class is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee:

Regardless of its engine, the G-Class’ engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee V6.

The G-Class has 1.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Grand Cherokee (26.4 vs. 24.6 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Mercedes G-Class, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee.

For better stopping power the AMG G 63’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Grand Cherokee:

For better traction, the G-Class has larger standard tires than the Grand Cherokee (275/55R19 vs. 265/50R20). The G-Class’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Grand Cherokee (295/40R22 vs. 265/50R20).

The G 550’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee’s standard 60 series tires. The G-Class’ optional tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Grand Cherokee’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the G 550 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Grand Cherokee. The G-Class’ optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Grand Cherokee.

The G-Class has a standard full size spare so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare costs extra on the Grand Cherokee. Without the option you must depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The G-Class offers an optional driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Grand Cherokee’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The AMG G 63 handles at .75 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The AMG G 63 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee Summit 4x4 (28.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.8 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the G-Class has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee (9.5 vs. 8.6 inches), allowing the G-Class to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the G-Class AMG has an electronically controlled liquid-filled front engine mount. A computer-controlled electric current in the liquid changes its viscosity, allowing the mount to dampen the engine completely at all RPMs. The Grand Cherokee uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The G-Class has 2 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and .9 inches more rear legroom than the Grand Cherokee.

The G-Class has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat up (38.1 vs. 36.3 cubic feet). The G-Class has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Grand Cherokee with its rear seat folded (68.6 vs. 68.3 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the G-Class easier. The G-Class’ cargo hatch lift-over height is 29.3 inches, while the Grand Cherokee’s liftover is 32.4 inches.

The G-Class’ standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee’s (7000 vs. 6200 pounds).

Unlike the driver-only memory system in the Grand Cherokee Limited/Trailhawk/Overland/Summit, the G-Class has standard driver and passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position and outside mirror angle and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The G-Class’ power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Grand Cherokee’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The G-Class’ 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’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

If the windows are left open on the G-Class the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Grand Cherokee can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The G-Class’ rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Grand Cherokee’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the G-Class has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The G-Class offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Grand Cherokee.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Mercedes G-Class has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The G-Class’ Active Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Grand Cherokee’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

The G-Class was chosen as one of Automobile Magazine’s “All Stars” in 2019. The Grand Cherokee has never been an “All Star.”