Compare the2023 GMC TerrainVS 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Both the Terrain and the Grand Cherokee have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 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 Terrain the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2017, a rating granted to only 233 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Grand Cherokee has not been tested, yet.

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

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

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 Terrain’s reliability 19 points higher than the Grand Cherokee.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Terrain third among compact suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that GMC vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks GMC above average in initial quality. With 37 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 GMC vehicles are more reliable than Jeep With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks GMC higher than Jeep.

On the EPA test cycle the Terrain gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee running its gasoline engine:

Both the Terrain and the Grand Cherokee V6/4xe have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Terrains have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the Grand Cherokee V6.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the GMC Terrain uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee 4xe requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the GMC Terrain higher (7 out of 10) than the Jeep Grand Cherokee (5 to 7). This means the Terrain produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Grand Cherokee every 15,000 miles.

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

The Terrain SLE/AT4’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 65 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Grand Cherokee Laredo’s standard 70 series tires.

The Terrain Denali AWD handles at .79 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 pulls only .60 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Terrain Denali AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee Limited 4x4 (27.5 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Terrain w/17” wheels’ turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Grand Cherokee’s (37.4 feet vs. 38 feet).

The GMC Terrain may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1850 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

The Terrain is 11.2 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee, making the Terrain easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Terrain is 5.1 inches narrower than the Grand Cherokee, making the Terrain easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

The Terrain has .1 inches more front headroom and 1.5 inches more rear legroom than the Grand Cherokee.

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the Terrain’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Grand Cherokee doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Terrain’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Grand Cherokee’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

On a hot day the Terrain’s driver can lower all 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Terrain owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Terrain will cost $145 less than the Grand Cherokee over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the GMC Terrain will be $4378 to $5952 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.