Compare the2023 Jeep CherokeeVS 2023 GMC Acadia

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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The Jeep Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee has standard Parksense with Rear 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.

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

Both the Cherokee 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Cherokee is safer than the GMC Acadia:

	Cherokee	Acadia
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	166	319
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	37%	43%
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	99 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Cherokee is safer than the GMC Acadia:

	Cherokee	Acadia
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	64	125
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	133 lbs.	156 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	264	276
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	14 inches
HIC	203	381
Hip Force	490 lbs.	760 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, its “Good” rating in the new passenger-side small overlap crash test, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Cherokee the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2019, a rating granted to only 195 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Acadia was last qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2017.

Warranty

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cherokee for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). 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 Cherokee’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Cherokee has a standard 700-amp battery. The Acadia’s 660-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Cherokee Trailhawk’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 24 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 271) than the Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Cherokee gets better mileage than the Acadia:

			MPG
Cherokee
	AWD	2.4 DOHC 4-cyl.	21 city/29 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy
Acadia
	FWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
		2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Cherokee	Acadia
Front Rotors	13 inches	12.6 inches

The Cherokee stops shorter than the Acadia:

	Cherokee	Acadia
60 to 0 MPH	121 feet	126 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

The Cherokee Trailhawk has a standard 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 Cherokee’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Acadia doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Cherokee’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Acadia’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Cherokee Trailhawk’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Acadia’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (7.9 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cherokee Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 1.5 inches higher than on the Acadia (8.7 vs. 7.2 inches).

Chassis

The Jeep Cherokee may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 to 300 pounds less than the GMC Acadia.

The Cherokee is 10.5 inches shorter than the Acadia, making the Cherokee easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Cherokee has .1 inches more front legroom and .6 inches more rear legroom than the Acadia.

Cargo Capacity

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume than the Acadia with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 12.8 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Cherokee easier. The Cherokee’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.9 inches, while the Acadia’s liftover is 32 inches.

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

Towing

The Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Acadia’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Cherokee 4x4 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 Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Acadia can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Cherokee 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.

Ergonomics

The Cherokee’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 closes automatically.

The Cherokee’s 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 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 Cherokee’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Acadia’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

The Cherokee has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Acadia.

The Cherokee’s ParkSense Parallel/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.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Cherokee is less expensive to operate than the Acadia because it costs $782 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Cherokee than the Acadia, including $49 less for a water pump, $59 less for front brake pads, $123 less for fuel injection, $198 less for a timing belt/chain and $775 less for a power steering pump.