Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L maintained the classic, rugged appeal that has been synonymous with the Grand Cherokee since its debut in 1992. The Hydro Blue model with the High Altitude package added a bold touch with its blacked-out grille, logos, and door handles, complemented by dark gray 21-inch wheels and a sophisticated interior featuring black leather with gold stitching and matte-finish light walnut accents. Despite its extended length, the Grand Cherokee L retained its iconic U-shaped fenders and square greenhouse, while modern elements like slim LED lighting and a mildly curved black roofline ensured it looked both timeless and contemporary. Inside, the upper trims offered a luxurious experience with polished black dashes, metal gear selectors, and diamond-patterned stitching, although some materials fell short of Mercedes-grade quality. Nevertheless, the overall interior ambiance was upscale, especially when compared to competitors like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, on the other hand, took a more conservative approach to styling, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. The result was a larger, more spacious SUV that offered seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior of the Platinum trim was functional yet luxurious, with a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery in a Portobello brown colour. While the glossy hard plastics and unlined storage surfaces detracted slightly from the premium feel, the overall material quality was decent. The climate system was user-friendly, with large knobs for temperature adjustments, but the infotainment interface left room for improvement with its small volume knob and lack of a tuning knob. Despite these minor drawbacks, the Grand Highlander Hybrid provided a comfortable and practical interior space.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's performance was somewhat hindered by its standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine, which produced 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. While the engine was quiet, it lacked the low-end torque needed for a vehicle of this size. The optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engine, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, was a better choice, especially for towing, offering a maximum capacity of 3,265 kilograms. The V8 also delivered a more satisfying sound. Fuel economy for the V6 was rated at 13.0 L/100 km city, 9.4 highway, and 11.3 combined, while the V8's ratings were significantly worse. The Grand Cherokee L's chassis, however, provided a solid and confident handling experience, with air suspension allowing for smooth cornering and a comfortable ride. The 4WD systems offered by Jeep were robust, with the ability to cycle through five height settings for ground clearance, making the Grand Cherokee L a tough and capable off-road vehicle.

In contrast, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max focused on performance with its turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, producing 362 net horsepower. This setup allowed the Grand Highlander to accelerate quickly, with the traditional six-speed automatic transmission avoiding the droning common in CVTs. The Hybrid Max's fuel economy was rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. During testing, the Hybrid Max averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The powertrain's acceleration was smooth and confident, with electric motors eliminating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations in the road could cause some vertical and lateral movement. Handling was secure at moderate speeds, but the tires tended to scrub and squeal early when pushed hard. Visibility was excellent, aided by available camera systems, though the front camera's frequent takeover of the infotainment screen was a minor annoyance.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L offered a spacious interior, with an extended wheelbase providing more legroom for second-row passengers. Standard second-row captain's chairs and an optional 60/40 bench seat provided flexibility, while the third row was best suited for children. The power liftgate and dual-pane panoramic sunroof added convenience and luxury. Cargo space was generous, with 481 litres behind the third row, 1,330 litres behind the second row, and a maximum of 2,407 litres with both rows folded, making it one of the largest in its class.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid excelled in interior space, offering comfortable seating in all three rows and a maximum cargo capacity of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured upscale materials, with heated and ventilated front and second-row seats. The second-row captain's chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row, which was comfortable for adults and tall teens. Cargo space behind the third row was 586 litres, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and 2,761 litres with the second row down, providing ample room for family road trips.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L featured a range of tech options, with the Laredo and Altitude trims offering an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims came with a 10.1-inch touchscreen and navigation. The Uconnect 5 system was generally user-friendly, though some legibility issues were noted. The McIntosh sound system was available on upper trims, providing good audio quality. The Grand Cherokee L also offered advanced features like night vision, Active Driving Assist, and a passenger screen that allowed for independent media control and navigation assistance.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system across all trims, with higher trims featuring a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. The system included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and access to various Toyota Connected Services. While the infotainment system was easy to use, some frustrations included the inability to view multiple main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font. The Platinum trim offered additional features like a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system, which delivered impressive sound quality.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS for models built after May 2023 and received five stars in most NHTSA tests. Standard safety features included front knee airbags, forward emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included front cross-traffic braking and 360-degree cameras.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features. While the Grand Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, it fell short of a Top Safety Pick from the IIHS due to headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection. The Proactive Driving Assist system was found to be more irritating than helpful in some situations.