The Toyota 4Runner and Jeep Grand Cherokee are monsters of off-roading. They are powerful enough to take on just about anything, but which is right for you? This comparison is designed to help make your decision as easy as possible. They’re both great SUVs, so this could be a tough breakdown.
Price
Many people consider the cost of a vehicle to be a big deciding factor, but there are plenty of other factors a person should consider before they buy the Toyota 4Runner or Jeep Grand Cherokee. As far as the starting price, the Grand Cherokee begins at $39,535 for the Laredo trim. The Toyota 4Runner’s lowest trim level is the SR5 and has a starting MSRP of $40,455.
With its higher trim levels, the Grand Cherokee can be even more expensive. Its top-level trim, the Summit Reserve, starts at $69,840. On the other hand, the 4Runner’s top trim, the TRD Pro, only starts at $54,920.
Cargo Room
Anyone who’s getting a Grand Cherokee or a 4Runner wants plenty of cargo space. Whether hiking or shopping, you need ample space to store all your gear. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a maximum cargo capacity of 70.8 cubic feet, with all the seats folded. With these seats raised, it has 37.7 cubic feet.
The Toyota 4Runner is the clear winner when it comes to cargo space. With the seats down, you get an ample 89.7 cubic feet of room. That’s nearly 20 more cubic feet than the Grand Cherokee. Even with the seats up, you get 47.2 cubic feet of space.
Gas Mileage
Fuel economy is still a big concern. In this case, the two vehicles are in the same ballpark, but there’s a clear winner. The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes out ahead with 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway, while the Toyota 4Runner gets 16 mpg in the city and 19 mpg on the highway.
Not only does the 4Runner have lower gas mileage, but it also has a smaller fuel tank. That means that the Grand Cherokee can travel around 500 miles per fill-up, whereas the 4Runner will only make it around 400 miles.
Towing Capacity
Are you buying your SUV so that you can go camping or boating? You’ll need to know if your vehicle can be towed. The Jeep Grand Cherokee can tow 3,500 lbs. standard and 7,200 lbs. maximum. The Toyota 4Runner has a significantly lower towing capacity of 5,000 lbs. This makes the Grand Cherokee the winner.
Technology
Who doesn’t love going on a road trip in their SUV? If you will be in it for a while, your vehicle needs technology features to keep you safe and entertained. The base trim of the Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with a standard 8.4-inch touch-screen display, six total speakers, USB ports, a 10.25-inch digital gauge cluster, and Bluetooth. In terms of safety, it comes with forward collision warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-path detection, lane departure warning, rear park assist, and rear backup camera, among other things.
The 4Runner gives the Cherokee a run for its money with an 8-inch touch-screen display, eight total speakers, an auxiliary audio jack, USB ports, advanced voice recognition, hands-free phone capability, and Bluetooth connectivity. Toyota’s base safety package is Toyota Safety Sense P, combining a pre-collision system, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams.
