2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is well known for its off-road capabilities, but this versatile SUV crossed the median into mainstream appeal long ago. The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee is no different in that regard as it continues to remain one of the most appealing cars for those who value both off-road and on-road drivability.

Variety is available across the board with this SUV in terms of engine type, trim type, and features, making this an SUV that can be customized to fit the individual customer’s needs and personal preferences. There are plenty of reasons to buy a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee as well as a couple of reasons to look elsewhere under certain circumstances.

Reasons to Buy a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee - The Pros

1) Positive on-road and off-road experiences.

Most people who buy the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee will likely be satisfied with both the on-road and off-road driving experience. This versatility is often appealing to those who need both a vehicle they can drive to work every day and a vehicle that they can drive on off-road adventures on the weekends.

2) Engine variety.

In the spirit of versatility, Jeep offers 4 different engines that customers can choose for their 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokees. The 3.6-liter V6 is the standard choice, but eco-conscious customers can purchase a 3.0-liter EcoDiesel engine for several thousand dollars more. Those who want a V8 engine can choose between the 5.7-liter V8 and the 6.4-liter V8, which is meant purely for on-road driving.

3) Trim-Level variety.

Jeep also offers 4 different trim levels that customers can choose depending on their personal preferences and intended use of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Sport is the standard trim level and includes many of the basic features of an SUV.

The Latitude adds some luxury features in terms of lights and windows; the Trailhawk adds some off-road features as well as some electronics features. The Limited keeps the electronics features of the Trailhawk but leaves off the off-road features.

4) Safety.

Generally speaking, the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets high safety rankings. It is equipped with anti-lock brakes, a plethora of airbags, and good stability and traction control, and the Trailhawk and Limited trim-level packages add additional safety features.

5) Roomy interior.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is not a cramped SUV, so people do not have to worry about being unable to comfortably fit and sit in it. The seats are soft and comfortable, making for a pleasant riding and driving experience. The interior is so roomy because the Jeep Grand Cherokee has more riding space than cargo space, so this SUV is ideal for those who do not haul around much more than themselves on a regular basis.

6) Attractive exterior.

While many people consider what is under the hood of a vehicle to be more important than the way the outside of a vehicle looks, most people still want to know that they are driving an attractive vehicle. The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee has multiple trim options that can make its exterior more attractive.

7) Technologically advanced.

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes with a 5” touchscreen, a UConnect Infotainement system, dual-zone automatic climate control, and other technological features. Trim-level upgrades can provide an 8.4” touchscreen, satellite and HD radio, a BluRay television system, and other electronic features. Also available are BlueTooth capabilities, a USB port, a 19-speaker audio system, and a rearview camera.

8) Optional 4-wheel drive.

Not all Jeep Grand Cherokee customers want to go off-road, but those who do will need 4-wheel drive in order to meet all the challenges presented by driving off-road. Jeep’s Quadra-Drive II 4WD system will please everything from minimal off-roaders to hard-core off-roaders.

9) Optional Quadra-lift air suspension.

Those who have vehicle height preferences will like this feature, which allows them to choose from 5 possible height settings. This could be good for those who are short or who are going to need the SUV to ride higher or lower due to activities.

10) Improved horsepower and fuel economy.

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee boasts slight improvements in terms of horsepower and fuel economy offered by the 2014 models. While the improvements are not vast, they are still progress in the right direction.

Reasons to Not Buy a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee - The Cons

1) On-road roughness.

Some people find the on-road driving experience to be a bit rougher than they would like in an SUV. Many satisfied customers are willing to overlook this slight roughness because they value the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s off-road capabilities, but those who desire an SUV for purely on-road driving may want to look elsewhere.

2) The Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk needs 131 feet to come to a complete stop, which is not good for those who may need to stop suddenly.

3) The roominess of the cab comes at the expense of storage space, so people who need an SUV with a large area in the back for storage may need to explore other options.

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee versus the Competition

One major area in which the 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee outperforms the competition is in the off-road category, especially in terms of the Trailhawk model. It also ranks highly in terms of horsepower, which is good news for the Jeep Grand Cherokee under the hood. This SUV ranks in the middle in terms of MSRP and overall consumer ratings.

The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee is an ideal car for people who want to go both off-road and on-road and who do not mind a bit of on-road choppiness in exchange for superb off-road performance. The variety of available engine and trim-level options and packages make this a highly customizable SUV that can be made to suit individual personal preferences and travel needs. People who want an SUV exclusively for on-road travel, who anticipate needing to come to frequent quick stops, and who need more storage space than passenger space may want to look into another type of SUV.