2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Review

The standard V6 in the Grand Cherokee isn't very exciting. In our testing, 0-60 mph took 8.0 seconds, which is slow for a five-passenger midsize SUV. We'd suggest getting the optional V8. The brakes, however, are strong. In Edmunds testing, a stop from 60 mph took 124 feet — a reasonably short distance for a rig this size.

A downside is the Grand Cherokee's significant weight, which affects acceleration, handling and overall drivability. Another negative is the steering, which feels disconnected from the road. This combo makes the Grand Cherokee overly heavy and lethargic to pilot around turns. For off-roading, though, the GC does well thanks to several available off-road-ready options.

The Grand Cherokee provides an isolated feel in the cabin. The V6 is nicely muted most of the time. At full throttle, there's a bit of a rumble from under the hood that is neither annoying nor particularly satisfying. Otherwise, it's quiet to the point that it's almost serene. The seats are very supportive and the air conditioning works quickly. The heated and ventilated seats, however, aren't very effective.

Our test vehicle came equipped with the optional air suspension. We weren't impressed. It provides a somewhat floaty ride quality on the highway and struggles to soak up smaller pavement ripples, allowing significant vibration to enter the cabin. Big bumps are absorbed to a point, but hit one midcorner and the JGC loses its handling composure. The standard suspension might be a better choice.

The Grand Cherokee has plenty of interior space with generous headroom and legroom in all four major seating positions. It also has a commanding driving position, good visibility and relatively simple controls. Despite that high seating position, everything is within the driver's reach thanks to an impressive range of seat and steering-wheel adjustability.

The Uconnect infotainment interface is a bit dated, but it's still easy to use thanks to large, grippy knobs for the stereo and fan speed. So the only real shortcomings are the thick windshield pillars that partially obscure your view through turns.

While the Grand Cherokee is certainly utilitarian in nature, its 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats isn't class-leading. It trails behind smaller vehicles such as the Honda CR-V. This smaller space is mostly due to the full-size spare under the rear floor. On the flip side, hey, there's a full-size spare! That's something you'll want if you go off-road or tow — two things the Grand Cherokee does very well.

Small-item storage is limited to a small center console, can-size cupholders in both the front and rear seats, and slim door pockets. The rear car-seat anchors are well-marked and easy to find, and there's a good amount of space for most child seats. The standard V6 in our Summit model can tow up to 6,200 pounds, and the optional V8s have an increased maximum tow rating of 7,200 pounds.

The Grand Cherokee Uconnect interface features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality. There are plenty of charging options for front and rear passengers. The voice controls are pretty apt at understanding commands, from setting a nav destination to changing climate settings. Audio quality from the optional 19-speaker Harman Kardon system is good, if a bit bass-heavy.

The operation of some of the advanced driving aids is lackluster. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning are both a little too sensitive for our tastes, for example.