Compare the2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee LVS 2023 GMC Acadia

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Jeep Grand Cherokee L 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 Acadia doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Grand Cherokee L has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Acadia doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Grand Cherokee L has standard ParkSense Rear Park Assist with Stop that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Acadia doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s 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 Acadia doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Grand Cherokee L and the Acadia 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 performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Grand Cherokee L its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 36 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Acadia last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

The Grand Cherokee L’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Cherokee L for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance (up to 3 visits). GMC only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Acadia.

There are over 43 percent more Jeep dealers than there are GMC dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee L’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Grand Cherokee L has a standard 850-amp battery (700 V8 and 900 V6 Overland/Summit). The Acadia’s 660-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

The battery on the Grand Cherokee L is under the seat, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Grand Cherokee L’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Acadia’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

Engine

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 65 more horsepower (293 vs. 228) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (260 vs. 258) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Grand Cherokee L’s optional 5.7 V8 produces 47 more horsepower (357 vs. 310) and 119 lbs.-ft. more torque (390 vs. 271) than the Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L uses regular unleaded gasoline (mid-grade octane recommended with the 5.7 V8 engine for maximum performance). The Acadia with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 31.4 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee L has 3.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 19.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Grand Cherokee L has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 21.7 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Grand Cherokee L’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Acadia:

	Grand Cherokee L	Acadia
Front Rotors	13.9 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	12.4 inches

The Grand Cherokee L stops shorter than the Acadia:

	Grand Cherokee L	Acadia
60 to 0 MPH	123 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee L has larger standard tires than the Acadia (265/60R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Acadia (275/45R21 vs. 255/65R17).

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia SLE/SLT’s standard 65 series tires. The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Acadia’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee L has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Acadia AT4. The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s optional 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels optional on the Acadia.

The Grand Cherokee L offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Acadia; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Grand Cherokee L offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee L’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Acadia doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee L’s wheelbase is 9.2 inches longer than on the Acadia (121.7 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

The Grand Cherokee L’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Acadia’s (56.5% to 43.5%). This gives the Grand Cherokee L more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee L Laredo/Limited has a 1.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (8.5 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee L to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s minimum ground clearance is 3.7 inches higher than on the Acadia (10.9 vs. 7.2 inches).

Passenger Space

The Grand Cherokee L has 15.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Acadia (159.1 vs. 143.8).

The Grand Cherokee L has .3 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 3 inches more rear hip room, .1 inches more third row headroom and .6 inches more third row legroom than the Acadia.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Grand Cherokee L	Acadia
Behind Third Seat	17.2 cubic feet	12.8 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	46.9 cubic feet	41.7 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	84.6 cubic feet	79 cubic feet

Both the Grand Cherokee L and the Acadia offer second row automatic folding seats. The Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’s third row seats also fold up or down at the press of a button. The Acadia doesn’t offer automatic folding third row seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Grand Cherokee L. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Grand Cherokee L’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (3500 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the GMC Acadia is only 4000 pounds. The Grand Cherokee L 4x4 offers up to a 7200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee L 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee L can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Acadia can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Grand Cherokee L uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Acadia doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Grand Cherokee L is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Acadia. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Acadia (except SLE), the Grand Cherokee L Limited/Overland/Summit offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee L’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Acadia does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Grand Cherokee L Overland/Summit’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 Acadia’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully. Only its driver’s window opens automatically.

On a hot day the Grand Cherokee L’s driver can lower all the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Acadia can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Grand Cherokee L’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Acadia’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Grand Cherokee L’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the Grand Cherokee L has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Acadia doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Optional air conditioned front and second row seats keep the Grand Cherokee L’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Acadia doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Grand Cherokee L Overland Lux Tech/Summit has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Acadia.

The Grand Cherokee L Summit’s Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Acadia doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the GMC Acadia by over four to one during 2022.

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