Compare the2024 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2023 GMC Acadia

The Jeep Grand 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Grand Cherokee 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 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 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 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.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Acadia is not a “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

The Grand Cherokee’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 for 2 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 2 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’s warranty.

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

The Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 65 more horsepower (293 vs. 228) than the Acadia’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder. The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 65 more horsepower (375 vs. 310) and 199 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 271) than the Acadia’s optional 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running on electricity gets better mileage than the Acadia:

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee 4Xe running its gasoline engine gets better fuel mileage than the Acadia 3.6 DOHC V6 AWD (23 city/24 hwy vs. 19 city/26 hwy).

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Acadia can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

The Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank (23 vs. 21.7 gallons).

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Jeep Grand Cherokee higher (7 out of 10) than the GMC Acadia (6 to 7). This means the Grand Cherokee produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Acadia every 15,000 miles.

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

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee has larger standard tires than the Acadia (245/70R17 vs. 235/65R18). The Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Acadia (275/45R21 vs. 255/65R17).

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

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve has standard 21-inch wheels. The Acadia’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Grand Cherokee 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.

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Acadia doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Grand Cherokee 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’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’s wheelbase is 4.2 inches longer than on the Acadia (116.7 inches vs. 112.5 inches).

The Grand Cherokee’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Acadia’s (56.5% to 43.5%). This gives the Grand Cherokee more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Grand Cherokee’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Acadia’s (38 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee has a 1.2 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia (8.4 vs. 7.2 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 3.7 inches higher than on the Acadia (10.9 vs. 7.2 inches).

The Grand Cherokee has .3 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room and 3 inches more rear hip room than the Acadia.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume than the Acadia with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 12.8 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Grand Cherokee. The Acadia doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Grand Cherokee’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 offers up to a 6200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee 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 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 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.

The engine in the Grand Cherokee 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.

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Acadia (except SLE), the Grand Cherokee Overland Luxury Tech/Summit has a 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’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’s standard front power windows open or close 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 front passenger window doesn’t close automatically. The Grand Cherokee Overland/Summit’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches.

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

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Grand Cherokee’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 Overland Luxury 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 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Grand Cherokee owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Grand Cherokee will cost $135 less than the Acadia over a five-year period.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the GMC Acadia by almost four to one during 2023.