Why You Should Buy A Grand Cherokee Even If You Never Go Off-Roading

How do we love thee, Jeep Grand Cherokee? Let us count the ways. You are beautiful, stylish, full of luxurious features, easy on the wallet, an infrequent visitor to the gas pump, and so reliable we almost forget to get the oil changed. When it comes to discussing the best used SUVs you can find in Costa Mesa, CA, we emphatically believe there is no better choice than a Grand Cherokee. Let us tell you all the reasons why the popular mid-size SUV stands alone as the biggest no brainer in history.

Before we do, let’s do a quick tutorial on Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles. CPO vehicles are factory-certified used cars that are available at authorized dealerships only. Jeep allows its dealers to resell used Jeeps with a CPO badge only if the vehicle has undergone a 125-point inspection. The vehicle must have no more than 75,000 miles and be five model years or newer. It must have a clean title and absolutely no damage to the frame. What does all this mean? If you spot a used Jeep on your local Jeep dealer’s lot and it is listed as Certified Pre-Owned, you can be confident that vehicle is the highest quality used Jeep available.

Now that we’ve brought you up-to-speed on Jeep’s used vehicle certification process let’s look a little closer at the dynamic Grand Cherokee and why it just might be the only used SUV you should consider, and we can easily multiply that opinion by a factor of infinity if your used vehicle ends up being a CPO Jeep!

Remember, CPO Jeeps cannot be more than five model years old, so with that in mind, we’ll focus on the 2015 – 2020 Grand Cherokee models and just give you a little history on where the Grand Cherokee got its start.

The Multigenerational Grand Cherokee Story

The first Grand Cherokee debuted in 1992 as a 1993 model and was widely considered one of the main catalysts for the then Chrysler-owned Jeep brand’s resurgence in popularity. The combination of utility and upscale interior finishes competed well against the Ford Explorer from the outset and continues to dominate today against this very worthy competitor.

The original Jeep Grand Cherokee was available in three trim: the base SE, the Laredo, and the Limited, with the base coming standard with a 5-speed manual transmission. Out of the gate, Jeep sold over 250,000 Grand Cherokees, ultimately selling over 1.6 million of the first generation version. Ultimately Jeep dropped its low-end base SE model and focused on the mid-level and upper-level vehicles after recognizing the high demand for a luxurious mid-size SUV.

The second generation Grand Cherokee hit the market as a 1999 model and was essentially a ground-up redesign. This new gen model saw better fuel economy due to more efficient engine options and a new automatic four-wheel drive option called Quadra-Drive. In 2004, the Grand Cherokee’s front-end was given a minor tweak with the addition of round fog lights, giving it more of that classic Jeep appearance.

The third generation GC came out as a 2005 model and saw an upgraded version of Quadra-Drive (Quadra-Drive II), an optional DVD player in the rear, and––most notably––changed the suspension to an independent double-wishbone suspension, classifying it as a truck and possibly giving it the distinction of the first ‘crossover’ vehicle available.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is currently in its fourth generation and is slated for its next major redesign (generation five) in the 2022 model year. The fact that Jeep has stuck with the existing Grand Cherokee for so long is a testament to its popularity and the timeless nature of its design aesthetic. The fact is, consumers love the Grand Cherokee just as it is, and the 2019 model year’s sales reflect it, with roughly 240,000 sold.

Jeep knows it has a loyal customer following, and while what’s coming is only rumor at this point, we hear it will be longer and therefore a bit roomier. Perhaps some new powertrain options, like a hybrid, will be offered, but otherwise, it’s likely Jeep will stay pretty true to its Grand Cherokee design roots. After all, if it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Fourth Generation

If we take a closer look at the 2015 – 2019 Grand Cherokee model years, we’ll see why this classic SUV is a favorite of automotive journalists. In fact, US News & World Report exclaimed that the 2015 Grand Cherokee “offers some of the best on- and off-road performance among mid-size SUVs, as well as one of the best interiors in the class,” which encapsulates what’s special about the Grand Cherokee in one sentence. It’s a capable off-roading truck with a spacious, luxurious, and comfortable interior. Truly the best of both worlds.

2017 saw the addition of the Trailhawk model, sporting off-roading equipment like bright red tow hooks and interior touches specific to the trims. The 2017 Grand Cherokee also received an overall five-star rating from the NHTSA, including five-stars for front and side crashes. A 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine that put out 240 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque was available as an option, providing a massive amount of torque to give the SUV extra power at lower speeds.

The 2020 Grand Cherokee

We’d be remiss if we didn’t at least mention the newest Grand Cherokee. You’re unlikely to find a lot of 2020 models available yet, but if you do, we highly recommend that you run, don’t walk, to your dealer and take it for a test drive because it won’t last.

Driver assist safety features take the spotlight with the 2020 model, as all Jeep Grand Cherokees––including the base Laredo E––came standard with the ProTech I Package. This package includes the latest technology in safety features, including blind spot monitoring, rear park assist, and a rear back-up camera.

The ProTech II Package is available on the 2020 Grand Cherokee Laredo E, Altitude, and Upland models. It builds on the basic package with the addition of forward collision warning with active braking, which will apply the brakes for you if it senses a collision is imminent, a lane departure warning system that alerts you if you drift into another lane, and automatic high-beam headlights.

The Advanced ProTech II Package is only available on the Limited, Limited X, Trailhawk, and Overland. Take the ProTech II package and add a full-speed forward collision warning system with active braking. This system has the capability to bring your vehicle to a full stop if a collision is detected while you’re driving 25 MPH or slower. Adaptive cruise control is included, as is parallel and perpendicular park assist, which comes in handy with such a large vehicle. Rain-sensing automatic windshield wipers round out the features in this advanced safety package.

If we look at the high end of the 2020 Grand Cherokee model lineup, we’ll find the High Altitude and the top-of-the-line Summit. These over-the-top luxurious Grand Cherokees wowed buyers with a long list of luxury interior refinements and finishes that rivaled the imports.

As you can see, the entire Grand Cherokee story is sewn together by a common theme: customer loyalty. These beloved SUVs are the go-to for buyers looking for a stylish and comfortable SUV that brings the brawn for off-roading or challenging driving conditions. The trust Jeep has built with its family of happy customers is evident, maybe most of all, with that subset of Grand Cherokee owners who return to the popular SUV time-after-time. In fact, IHS Markit recognizes the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee for having the highest model loyalty in the SUV segment. We understand why.