Review: 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Is Luxurious, Capable And Affordable

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee combines the beauty and comfort of a high-end sedan with Jeep’s famous off-road capability and it does it all at a surprisingly affordable price.

Driving the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the equivalent of wearing a sturdy pair of hiking boots with an evening gown. It looks beautiful and will turn heads, but no one will every suspect just how tough it is underneath all the glitz and glamour.

On the outside, there were two noticeable changes to the vehicle’s styling and at the front you’re going to have a pretty strong opinion about whether they got it right or wrong. The grille is much tamer with the chrome bars now the same color as the body. Jeep purists will likely balk, but it does add an increased sense of refinement to the front end.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Rear

Swing around to the back and it’s hard for anyone not to like what they see. More pronounced LED taillights and a spoiler are now standard on every Jeep Grand Cherokee. There are also dual exhausts on most models that hint at the beast that hides beneath the sleek exterior.

Interior finishes are some of the nicest you’ll find on an SUV and are easily worthy of a luxury sedan. The Overland model has real wood trim on the dashboard, steering wheel, and doors but even the base models have the look and feel of a much more expensive vehicle. It gives the Land Rover Range Rover a run for its money in the luxury department and it does it for a lot less cash.

Even base models still have the beefy steering wheel, tasteful faux-metallic trim and a 5″ LCD touchscreen. There’s also a stitched leather dashboard and ambient lighting that gives it all a warmly understated glow. The Jeep Grand Cherokee gives you the style of a BMW X5 or a Volkswagen Touareg but yeah, you’re driving a Jeep.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Interior

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland is available as an 8-speed automatic with a 3.6-liter V6 or an optional 5.7-liter V8 as tested with 360 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. You’ll find this gearbox smoother than the old 6-speed and you’ll also get the benefit of an extra 2 MPG in highway driving. That’s not a significant increase, but with overall fuel economy ratings of 14 city and 20 highway for the 4×4, every little bit helps.

You can further enhance your MPG with the Eco mode which, surprisingly, doesn’t neuter the driving experience. You’ll still feel like you’ve got all 360 of those horses at the ready in Eco, but if you’re really looking for some power, try Sport mode and those horses will be chomping at the bit. There are also paddle shifters to really enjoy that Sport mode, but they’re a bit oddly placed right above the audio buttons on the back of the steering wheel making for less than optimum shifting.

The 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a stiffer body paired with a suspension system that makes the drive feel more like a crossover than an SUV. It’s also got an additional 5.3″ between its side wheels that make it a roomier ride especially for adults sitting in the back.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Cargo

The rear seat is eve large enough that three adults can sit there without stabbing each other with their elbows and with plenty of leg room. There’s lots of cargo space as well, 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats, but there’s no third row option. If you’re looking to carry more people than cargo then you’re going to need to look at the Dodge Durango or maybe the Honda Pilot although your off-road capability won’t be the same.

Steering response is quick and the ride is smooth thanks to the Overland’s Quadra-Lift air suspension which is capable of raising the vehicle from 6.4″ to 11.3″ depending on the kind of terrain you’re planning to tackle. And being a Jeep, it can tackle just about any terrain you want to try.

Quadra-Trac I and II and Quadra-Drive II offer increasing levels of complexity for off-road driving and allow you to pick the system that best suits your driving needs. Pair that with the Selec-Terrain system which lets you choose Mud, Rock, Sand, Snow or Auto mode and you can handle anything from a snow-covered road on your daily commute to a rock covered trail for weekend adventures.

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Off-Road

Pricing on the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee starts with the base Laredo at $28,795 going up to over $67,000 for the SRT with the Overland as tested coming in at $51,875. There’s a lot of room to play with trim levels and options, but you’re still getting a beautiful, luxurious and incredibly capable vehicle for a price that won’t break the bank.

On the TFLcar scale of:

  • Buy it!
  • Lease it!
  • Rent it!
  • … or Forget it!

I give the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee a Buy It!

Nicole Wakelin fell in love with cars as a teenager when she got to go for a ride in a Ferrari. It was red and it was fast and that was all that mattered. Game over. She considers things a bit more carefully now, but still has a weakness for fast, beautiful cars. Nicole also writes for NerdApproved and GeekMom.