Little to Big, and Tons of Fun: How to Choose the Right Jeep SUV for Your Life

It should come as no surprise that Jeep SUVs are packed with a whole lot of rugged, outdoor fun, but many drivers are surprised to discover that the brand famous for its off-road adventure vehicles offers such a wide range of SUVs. Jeep SUVs range from compact to Grand, with features that vary from the very necessary to the super deluxe. You might be asking, “how do I decide which Jeep SUV is right for me?” There are many factors that impact that decision, such as how many passengers or how much cargo you need to haul on a regular basis. You may also have certain features that you can’t compromise on, such as four-wheel drive or a roof rack. Let’s take a look at Jeep’s multipurpose, multifunctional, all-around fun lineup of SUVs to determine which one best suits your needs and drive style.

The Small But Mighty Crossover: Jeep Renegade and Jeep Compass

SUVs have earned the reputation of being the ultimate family-centric automobile, but there are plenty more reasons why you might want to incorporate an SUV into your driving life. For example, they ride higher than sedans or coupes, with greater visibility of the road ahead. They offer larger cargo space, and passengers can enjoy more legroom and headroom.

The Jeep Renegade is considered a subcompact crossover SUV. These vehicles have the body size of an SUV but are generally constructed on a car platform. Offering ample seating for up to five passengers, crossover SUVs aren’t huge, but they include plenty of interior space. The Renegade offers 18.5 cubic feet of cargo room with all seats occupied, or 50.8 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Renegade comes in both front-wheel and four-wheel drive. Both versions are powered by a 1.3L turbocharged inline-4, which provides not only ample 177 horsepower and 210 lb-ft of torque on the pavement and dirt, but maintains fuel efficiency with front-wheel drive models getting 24 miles per gallon in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the highway.

The Jeep Compass is also a subcompact crossover SUV, though some may call it a compact or small SUV. Suffice to say, it’s a bit bigger than the Renegade, with 27 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, which increases to 60 cubic feet with the seats folded. Five trim levels of Jeep Compass are offered: Sport, Latitude, Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk. The Sport and Latitude trims include standard front-wheel drive, while the rest have four-wheel drive. The Compass also includes a “next level” interior, with a standard infotainment system operated from an 8.4-inch or 10.1-inch touchscreen.

A crossover SUV is a great vehicle for those who may not stray too far from the pavement, who enjoy having a roomy interior without driving a larger vehicle, and those who appreciate configurable cargo room.

Hitting the Sweet Spot with the Midsize SUV: The Jeep Cherokee

Many people find the midsize SUV to be the “Goldilocks” spot of SUVs: they aren’t too big, they aren’t too small, and they behave equally well on the roadways and the trails. Jeep’s answer to the call for a midsize SUV is the Cherokee. Often given credit as one of the vehicles that led the charge in the “SUV Boom,” the Cherokee balances a lot of different personas across the lineup. With a towing capacity of up to 4,500 pounds and cargo space of 25.8 cubic feet even with all five seats occupied, it’s hard to argue that the Cherokee is anything less than capable.

Furthermore, each trim is designed to provide drivers with a unique range of comfort and possibilities. The Latitude Lux, Limited, and Trailhawk trims include standard four-wheel drive, but only the Trailhawk has Active Drive II AWD, which features a 2-speed transfer case and available rear locker, all of which helps it dominate in off-road situations. The Altitude and Latitude Lux trims have standard front-wheel drive, but the Latitude Lux comes equipped with a choice of a turbocharged 2.0L inline-4 engine or a 3.2L V6. Options abound for the Cherokee, which can easily take on the persona of a road-trip-ready family vehicle with all the creature comforts or a well-prepared trail beast, depending on the trim, options, and accessories selected.

Room to Grow in a Full-Size SUV: The Jeep Grand Cherokee

Those new to the Jeep family might be a little confused about the names of the Cherokee and Grand Cherokee. At first glance, it might seem like the Grand Cherokee is a more luxurious version of the Cherokee. While it’s true that the Grand Cherokee offers plenty of high-end touches, it’s significantly larger than the Cherokee, as well.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L, for example, offers three rows of seating for up to 7 passengers and 17.2, 46.9, or 84.6 cubic feet of cargo space, depending on how many seats are folded or occupied. Also available are a full array of new and exciting optional features, such as dual infotainment touchscreens for both driver and front passenger, wood and leather interior, massaging front seats, night vision camera, interior LED mood lighting. All models include the necessities, such as adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, wireless smartphone integration, and of course, plenty of USB ports in each seating row.

Furthermore, the Grand Cherokee can tow up to 6,200 or 7,200 pounds, depending on the engine selected and configuration. While rear-wheel drive is standard on the Laredo, four-wheel drive can be added to any Grand Cherokee on which it isn’t already standard. The Grand Cherokee matches its capacity with capability, earning a reputation as one of the most responsive, fun-to-drive three-row SUVs. For drivers who need plenty of seats and cargo room or enjoy having room to stretch out on long road trips, the interior of the Grand Cherokee is unlike any other SUV on the market today.

Which Jeep SUV Is Right for Me?

For some drivers, selecting the perfect Jeep SUV for their life and drive style is simple. A family of seven, for example, will fit perfectly in a Grand Cherokee L’s three rows of seats, while a driver who doesn’t need extra seats so much as ample cargo room may find themselves gravitating to the Compass or Renegade. For other drivers, it may come down to trying each model out to determine which one feels like the best match. There are many options to consider, such as engine upgrades and two-wheel drive versus four-wheel drive, some of which require a test drive to appreciate completely. Drivers who spend a lot of time on the road will want a vehicle that is efficient and enjoyable to drive, and while EPA fuel efficiency records are easy to find, it’s hard to determine whether a vehicle is a good fit for your drive style until you’re behind the wheel.

When the time comes to shop for a new Jeep SUV, take a moment to explore your options. After all, what’s a Jeep without a little adventure? Then, once you’ve got a picture of what size and style will best fit your lifestyle, consider test driving a few different trims or models before making your final decision. Chances are very high that it will only take you a few drives before you officially join the Jeep family!