Compare the2023 Toyota HighlanderVS 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander 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 L doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

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, 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 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 Highlander its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 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 45 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 27 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

The Highlander’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC 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.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Grand Cherokee L’s (37.4 feet vs. 38.4 feet).

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 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, .7 inches more rear hip room and 2.7 inches more third row hip 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 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.

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.

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