Compare the2025 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Grand Highlander 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 Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, the Toyota Grand Highlander is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

The Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander and Grand Cherokee L have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum/Nightshade 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 Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander is safer than 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 Grand Highlander’s reliability 46 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota second in reliability, above the industry average. With 43 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 9th.

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.

The Grand Highlander’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 50 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee L’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 69 more horsepower (362 vs. 293) and 140 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 260) than the Grand Cherokee L’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Grand Highlander Hybrid 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

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

Regenerative brakes improve the Grand 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.

The Grand Highlander offers an available 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 Grand Highlander stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

The Grand Highlander Platinum AWD 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 Grand Highlander Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Grand Cherokee L Overland (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is 1.5 feet tighter than the Grand Cherokee L’s (38.1 feet vs. 39.6 feet).

The Toyota Grand Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 150 to 250 pounds less than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

The Grand Highlander is 3.5 inches shorter than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Grand Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

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

The Grand Highlander has 1.7 inches more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 1 inch more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room, .8 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.2 inches more third row legroom, 2.8 inches more third row hip room and 5.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

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

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

The Grand Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Grand Cherokee L’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

The Grand Highlander has a much higher standard payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1575 vs. 1370 lbs.).

The Grand Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1710 vs. 1400 lbs.).

The Grand Highlander’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 Grand Highlander 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 Highlander’s standard Smart Key System allows you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

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

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

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2023 issue and they ranked the Toyota Grand Highlander Platinum AWD two places higher than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4.

The Grand Highlander was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2024. The Grand Cherokee L has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue.