Compare the2024 Toyota Highlander HybridVS 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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.

With its standard Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Highlander Hybrid 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 Hybrid and Grand Cherokee L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum has Parking Support Brake (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Grand Cherokee L’s Rear Cross Path Detection doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Highlander Hybrid 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Highlander Hybrid 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 Hybrid’s reliability 52 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

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.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 26th.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander Hybrid gets better mileage than the Grand Cherokee L:

Regenerative brakes improve the Highlander Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid 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.

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

The Highlander Hybrid has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Highlander Hybrid stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

The Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD handles at .78 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Overland pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

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

The Highlander Hybrid is 10 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Highlander Hybrid easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander Hybrid offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Grand Cherokee L can only carry up to 7.

The Highlander Hybrid has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room, .7 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.7 inches more third row hip room and 3.1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander Hybrid’s middle and third row seats recline. The Grand Cherokee L’s third row seats don’t recline.

The front step up height for the Highlander Hybrid is 1.2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L (19” vs. 20.2”). The Highlander Hybrid’s rear step up height is 1 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L’s (19.2” vs. 20.2”).

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

The Highlander Hybrid has a higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1495 vs. 1370 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid has a higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1535 vs. 1400 lbs.).

The Highlander Hybrid’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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid 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.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander Hybrid owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander Hybrid will cost $295 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 Toyota Highlander Hybrid will be $6733 to $18613 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Consumer Reports® chose the Toyota Highlander Hybrid as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L isn't recommended.