2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Highlander

Drivers in Hamilton, Madison, and Smyrna, NY, need a rugged set of wheels that still looks great as it cruises through town. That’s probably why you’re trying to decide between the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Highlander.

The team at Friendly Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram wants to help you decide which SUV is going to be the best fit for your lifestyle, so we compared the Grand Cherokee vs. Highlander. Keep reading to find out what we learned when we did!

Grand Cherokee vs Highlander: Power and Capability

When you think of a Jeep or Toyota SUV, you think of power and strength. With their standard V6 engines, that’s something you absolutely get from both the Grand Cherokee and Highlander. You can get a closer look at their engine specs and capabilities by checking out the table below:

As you can see, despite having standard engines with comparable horsepower outputs, the Grand Cherokee can tow 1,200 pounds more than the Highlander with its standard engine when properly equipped.

Not only that, but the Jeep also has three available V8 engines. These can all tow up to 7,200 pounds when properly equipped. Unfortunately, the Highlander doesn’t offer any other engines. So, if you’re the kind of person who likes to tow boats or campers, you’ll probably do best with the Grand Cherokee.

Handling the Great Outdoors

In addition to capable engine specs, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander have an available 4-wheel drive (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD) system, respectively, that’s smart enough to adapt to your terrain.

You can optimize your traction control even more in both SUVs with terrain selection features that let you customize your powertrain for your exact conditions. This feature is called Multi-Terrain Select in the Toyota and the Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System in the Jeep.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee also has the available Quadra-Drive® II 4WD system, which is available on the Trailhawk trim. This system maximizes your off-roading capabilities by transferring up to 100% of engine torque to a single rear wheel. The Jeep SUV can also ford through up to 20 inches of water.

Unfortunately, the Toyota Highlander doesn’t have a comparable system, so it might struggle a bit more than the Jeep when you encounter off-road obstacles.

Smart Safety and Driver-Assistive Features: Jeep vs Toyota

When you’ve got a destination in mind, you want to make sure that you get there safely. Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander can help you do that with their standard and available driver-assistive systems. Systems you’ll find in both vehicles include:

• Forward collision warnings
• Smart cruise control
• Lane keeping and lane departure warnings
• Automatic high beams

When it comes time to park, however, you may find that a bit easier to do on busy streets in the Jeep Grand Cherokee. This is because it offers the available Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist System. Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist automatically steers you into an available parking space while providing you with prompts to shift, accelerate, and brake.

Parallel parking on busy roadways may be more difficult in the Toyota Highlander, which doesn’t have a comparable feature.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Toyota Highlander: Take Your Pick

Now that you know how the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander compare, it’s time to take your pick. If you like the Jeep, contact the team at Friendly Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram and we’ll put you behind the wheel. Drivers near Hamilton, Madison, and Smyrna, New York, can contact us to schedule a test drive today!