Jeep Grand Cherokee: Which Should You Buy, 2020 or 2021?

Most significant changes: New 80th Anniversary Edition; minor changes otherwise

Price change: $220 increase on most trim levels; $20 increase for Overland; $270 increase for SRT, Trackhawk; unchanged destination fee

On sale: Now

Which should you buy, 2020 or 2021? Unless you want the 80th Anniversary Edition, go for a 2020 model.

Jeep’s Grand Cherokee, a two-row mid-size SUV, enters the 2021 model year with minimal updates. Like the rest of the Jeep lineup, there’s an 80th Anniversary Edition variant, but Jeep has otherwise made extremely minor tweaks. A mid-level trim, Limited, is now available with a Sun and Sound Package that adds a panoramic moonroof and premium nine-speaker stereo. Moving from the base Laredo trim to the next-higher trim, Laredo X, adds an 8.4-inch touchscreen with built-in navigation, heated front seats and steering wheel, a power liftgate and remote start. All Laredo models now come standard with 18-inch cast-aluminum wheels. 

Related: It’s the 2021 Model Year, but Jeep Anniversary Editions Are Celebrating the 80s

Engines and Gas Mileage

Most Grand Cherokees are powered by Jeep’s long-serving 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with 295 horsepower. It pairs with rear- or four-wheel drive (the Trailhawk, SRT and Trackhawk come standard with 4WD). All come with an eight-speed automatic transmission. EPA-estimated fuel economy for the V-6 Grand Cherokee is either 19/26/21 mpg city/highway/combined with RWD or 18/25/21 mpg with 4WD.

A 360-hp, 5.7-liter V-8 is also available; it drops fuel economy to 17 mpg combined and carries a recommendation of mid-grade, 89-octane fuel. Opt for the SRT and you get a 470-hp, 6.4-liter V-8, with fuel economy dipping to 15 mpg combined. The 2021 Grand Cherokee Trackhawk, meanwhile, has a 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 making 707 hp; the EPA has yet to publish ratings on the Trackhawk, but Jeep expects it to reprise the 2020’s 11/17/13 mpg figures. Both the SRT and Trackhawk recommend premium fuel.

Features and Safety

The base Laredo comes standard with a 7-inch touchscreen, which can be optioned up to an 8.4-inch display. All other trims come standard with the 8.4-inch touchscreen. Regardless of size, all Grand Cherokees come with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone connectivity.

Advanced safety tech is a mixed bag with the Grand Cherokee, however, with many features still optional — if available at all — on lower trims. Blind spot warning is standard, but features like adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking are unavailable on the Laredo, optional on the Limited, Trailhawk and Overland, and standard on the 80th Anniversary Edition, Summit, SRT and Trackhawk.

Pricing and Release Date

The 2021 Grand Cherokee is on sale now, and all prices below include a destination fee of $1,495. As mentioned above, prices increase by $20 to $270 depending on trim level. Upgrading from RWD to 4WD, where applicable, costs an extra $2,300.

• Laredo RWD: $33,865 (up $220)
• Limited RWD: $41,670 (up $220)
• 80th Anniversary Edition RWD: $45,830
• Trailhawk 4WD: $46,870 (up $220)
• Overland RWD: $48,210 (up $20)
• High Altitude RWD: $51,400 (up $220)
• Summit RWD: $54,210 (up $270)
• SRT 4WD: $70,660 (up $270)
• Trackhawk 4WD: $89,165 (up $270)

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