Midsize three-row SUVs are extremely popular right now. Two that could be at the top of your shopping list are the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and Chevrolet Traverse.
These two impressive SUVs offer different takes on driving your family wherever you need to go. As two of the top American options in this class, you can easily see the differences. The Traverse has always been a three-row SUV with a large cabin and ample cargo room, while the Grand Cherokee L is a three-row take on a rugged off-road-ready two-row favorite from Jeep.
Should you drive the Jeep Grand Cherokee L or the Chevrolet Traverse? Let’s discuss.
Surprising differences in power
When you see the powertrains used for each of these midsize SUVs, you’d swear the Jeep is the more powerful vehicle, but that’s not the case. Let’s explore.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L starts out with the venerable 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine. Although this engine has been a great option for many years, it might be time for an upgrade with some turbocharging. This V6 engine mates to an 8-speed automatic transmission to give you 293 horsepower and 257 lb-ft of torque.
The Grand Cherokee L has a 5.7-liter V8 engine that gives it more power for driving.
Turning to the Chevrolet Traverse, you’ll find a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine under the hood. This engine mates to an 8-speed automatic transmission and produces 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. This makes the Travers more powerful than the Grand Cherokee L, making the Chevy the more impressive performer.
Both of these midsize three-row SUVs have an AWD setup to send power to all four wheels.
When you need more seats and space, one model stands tall
When you’re comparing midsize three-row SUVs such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and Chevrolet Traverse, you’ll want to know which model has more room and seating space for your family. The Grand Cherokee L has two more seats than its two-row counterpart, making it easy to fit seven people inside, but that’s still one shy of what the Traverse brings to the table. The Chevy seats eight, making it the more useful option.
When we turn to the cargo volume of each of these SUVs, the Chevy stands tall once again. The Traverse boasts cargo measurements of 22.9 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, 56.6 cubic feet behind the second-row, and 97.6 cubic feet overall. On the other hand, the Grand Cherokee L has 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.9 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84.6 cubic feet of overall cargo room.
What makes the Jeep Grand Cherokee L a good option?
This longer version of the Grand Cherokee has everything we love about the regular model but in a longer build. This impressive model has the Jeep capability we want to enjoy, with an impressive AWD system that’s ideal for taking the whole family out on the trails together.
Like many of its counterparts, the Grand Cherokee L has some luxurious upper trim levels such as, the Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve trims. These trims take you to luxury territory with rich leather seating and more items to make the drive comfortable.
What makes the Chevrolet Traverse a good option?
When you don’t want a minivan but you need to carry your large family in a comfortable, useful, and practical SUV, the Traverse is an excellent option. This three-row SUV is among the roomiest in the Chevy lineup, with the Suburban being the only Chevy SUV with a larger interior cabin. You’ll be glad to have the massive interior with class-leading cargo room for your drive. The Traverse has more third-row legroom and cargo space than the Grand Cherokee L by a large margin, making the Chevy an easy choice.
If you want an SUV with the benefits of a hand-free driving system, the GM Super Cruise system is available in the Travers at the LT trim and higher. This gives you over 400,000 miles of mapped highways to drive with your hands off the wheel.
Although not as off-road-ready as the Jeep, the Travers has the Z71 trim, which gives this three-row midsize SUV an off-road suspension, a Terrain drive mode, and a rugged appearance package.
Which midsize SUV should you drive?
The contest isn’t close at all. Unless you absolutely must use your three-row SUV for off-roading, you’ll want to drive the Chevrolet Traverse and not the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The Chevy is roomier, has better technology, is more comfortable on the road, and has a lower starting price.
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