Compare the2026 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload and Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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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:

	Grand Highlander	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
25 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	AVOIDED
37 MPH Brights	AVOIDED	-33 MPH
37 MPH Low beams	AVOIDED	-28 MPH
Warning Issued-Low beams	1.8 sec	1.6 sec

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Toyota Grand Highlander achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L has not been tested.

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.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Toyota Grand Highlander’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system costs extra on the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.

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.

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 Grand Highlander is much safer than the Grand Cherokee L:

	Grand Highlander	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	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	GOOD	POOR
Chest Rating	GOOD	POOR
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Grand Highlander is safer than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L:

	Grand Highlander	Grand Cherokee L
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	42	89
Chest Movement	.3 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	64 lbs.	147 lbs.
Hip Force	199 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	63	92
Hip Force	55 lbs.	375 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	344	376

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

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:

	Grand Highlander	Grand Cherokee L
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	38	163
Neck Tension	134 lbs.	312 lbs.
Neck Compression	45 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.35 in	1.06 in
Shoulder Force	156 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.3 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	7 MPH
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Compression	89 lbs.	134 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Deflection	.67 in	1.38 in
Shoulder Force	245 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	1.1 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	6 MPH	11 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	915 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Grand Highlander is 1.1% to 1.6% less likely to roll over than the Grand Cherokee L.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Jeep doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Grand Cherokee L.

Reliability

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 20 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 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 fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 113 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 33rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota third in overall reliability. Jeep is ranked 19th.

Engine

The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 38 more horsepower (362 vs. 324) and 68 lbs.-ft. more torque (400 vs. 332) than the Grand Cherokee L’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

Fuel Economy and Range

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.

Regardless of its engine, the Grand Highlander’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip (not available Hybrid). Jeep only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the Grand Cherokee L V6.

Transmission

The Grand 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.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Grand Highlander is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Grand Cherokee L.

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).

Chassis

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.

Passenger Space

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.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Grand Highlander	Grand Cherokee L
Behind Third Seat	20.6 cubic feet	17.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	57.9 cubic feet	46.9 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	97.5 cubic feet	84.6 cubic feet

Payload and Towing

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 (1750 vs. 1370 lbs.).

The Grand Highlander has a much higher maximum payload capacity than the Grand Cherokee L (1755 vs. 1400 lbs.).

Ergonomics

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 all of them 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.

Compared to traditional radio, the Toyota Grand Highlander’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

Economic Advantages

According to iSeeCars.com the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander retains 64.27% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 53.18% resale value of the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee L after five years, which can save the Toyota’s owner up to $3675 in depreciation.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Grand Highlander, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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.

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