Compare the2024 Subaru AscentVS 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Subaru Ascent 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 EyeSight, the Subaru Ascent is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

	Ascent	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Crossing Child - DAY
12 MPH	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH	AVOIDED	-11 MPH
	Crossing Adult - NIGHT
12 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
12 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
	Parallel Adult - NIGHT
25 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
Warning Issued-Brights	3.3 sec	2 sec

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

Both the Ascent 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 blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Ascent is much safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Ascent	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	ACCEPTABLE	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	ACCEPTABLE

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 Subaru Ascent is safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Ascent	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	82	163
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	312 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.83 in	1.06 in
Torso Max Deflection	.98 in	1.3 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	7 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	1.26 in	1.38 in
Torso Max Deflection	1.18 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	201 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned an “Acceptable” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Grand Cherokee L is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

Reliability

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Ascent 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 Ascent has a 190-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 Ascent’s reliability 26 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Subaru vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Subaru above average in initial quality. With 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated lower.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru 20 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 257) than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

	Ascent	Grand Cherokee L
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90.5 MPH	86 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Ascent lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	20 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
Grand Cherokee L
	RWD	3.6 DOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.6 DOHC V6	18 city/25 hwy
		5.7 OHV V8	14 city/22 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Subaru Ascent 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.

Transmission

The Ascent 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.

Brakes and Stopping

The Ascent stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Ascent	Grand Cherokee L
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	194 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	139 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	150 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Overland pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Grand Cherokee L Laredo/Limited (8.7 vs. 8.5 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Ascent is 8.1 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4:

	Ascent	Grand Cherokee L
Full-Throttle	70 dB	79 dB
70 MPH Cruising	64 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

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

The Ascent has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, 1.9 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear hip room, 2.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.4 inches more third row legroom, 3 inches more third row hip room and 5.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Ascent’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 Ascent is 2.5 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L (17.7” vs. 20.2”). The Ascent’s rear step up height is 2.1 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L’s (18.1” vs. 20.2”).

Cargo Capacity

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

	Ascent	Grand Cherokee L
Behind Third Seat	17.8 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet

Ergonomics

The Ascent’s 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 of the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard power windows’ front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s available exterior PIN entry system (not available on Ascent Base). 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.

The Grand Cherokee L’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Ascent’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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Ascent owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Ascent will cost $560 to $3105 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 Subaru Ascent will be $7195 to $18375 less than for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

Recommendations

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