Compare the2023 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Traverse has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Traverse and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and its standard front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Traverse the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 233 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee L has not been tested, yet.

The Traverse’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Grand Cherokee L’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 21 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Jeep dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Traverse has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Traverse has a 170-amp alternator. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard 160-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Traverse’s reliability 21 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 Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 52 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 23rd, below the industry 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 Chevrolet vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet above average in long-term dependability. With 21 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Jeep is rated below average.

The Traverse’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 17 more horsepower (310 vs. 293) and 6 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Traverse is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Grand Cherokee L 5.7 OHV V8 (17 city/25 hwy vs. 14 city/22 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Chevrolet Traverse uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee L with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 51.4 cents more per gallon.

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

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

The Chevrolet Traverse’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Traverse is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The Traverse RS AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Traverse RS AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland 4x4 (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

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

The Traverse has 3 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear hip room, 4.2 inches more rear shoulder room, .9 inches more third row headroom, 3.2 inches more third row legroom, 5.6 inches more third row hip room and 5.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Traverse easier. The Traverse’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.6 inches, while the Grand Cherokee L’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

All models of the Traverse can be flat towed on all four wheels, allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Traverse can be unhitched and driven around locally. Only the Grand Cherokee L 4WD can be dinghy towed and it requires equipment that is not standard.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Traverse’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Consumer Reports rated the Traverse’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Grand Cherokee L’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $165 to $4655 less than the Grand Cherokee L over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Traverse will be $2798 to $8483 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

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