It was not very long ago that one could opt for the Jeep Grand Cherokee L with a 5.7-liter V-8 engine. For the third-row version of this proven SUV by Jeep, however, the upgraded engine option now includes a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four engine. The attempt by Jeep to make up for the reduced displacement includes adopting the same Hurricane naming convention used on its strong inline-six engine on this new powertrain. This inline-four engine does indeed outperform the standard 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine in terms of output numbers.
We have already driven the car with this kind of engine in its two-row form, but now we were able to try the long-wheelbase model with this kind of engine. The extra row of seats and added bodywork make the L variant some 300 pounds heavier, as reported by Jeep, and people that normally haul six or seven people might be wondering whether this 2.0-liter is powerful enough for the job.
Also Read : Volkswagen Golf R 24H Revealed – Hot Hatch Returns to Racing
Fortunately, this engine does not suffer from a lack of muscle. Indeed, the engine provides ample power to propel the Grand Cherokee L with considerable vigor whenever you accelerate hard. The engine clears itself of any obstruction when merging onto the highway or overtaking another vehicle in a two-lane road. Instead, the more significant problems with this engine lie in the transmission and its crude behavior. The eight-speed automatic transmission often performs rather jerky shifts at lower gears, and it fails to perform quick downshifts. The slow response from the gearbox makes it seem like there is a lot of turbo lag in the engine, which makes the Grand Cherokee L feel slow in acceleration. There are also some uncouth vibrations that seem to intrude in the cabin, and the engine’s sound is rather rough and buzzy in nature, which is inconsistent with the luxury appeal of the Grand Cherokee L.
This engine certainly helps in saving fuel, as its mileage is 1 to 2 mpg higher than that of the V-6 despite having more power and torque compared to the latter engine. In comparison to the older V-8 engine, there is a big difference, as the four-cylinder GCL is capable of achieving 22 to 23 mpg combined, whereas the Hemi engine achieves 17 mpg combined. In light of the facts, these figures are very impressive, taking into consideration the high level of off-roading ability that the Grand Cherokee L has compared to other vehicles.
Also Read : 2026 Bentley Continental GT S Revealed – Sharper, Sportier, More Exclusive
The Grand Cherokee L occupies an intriguing gray area where the lower-trim versions can be found between $40,000 to $50,000 among the Hondas, Toyotas, and Chevrolets, whereas the higher trims are on par with some BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes. The Summit we tested starts from $65,000 and plenty of optional extras that include a rear entertainment package and a hands-free driver-assist system raised the price of our test vehicle to $73,175. We have always appreciated the look of Grand Cherokee with its American Range Rover styling, while its interior matches its exterior with attractive leather and lots of features to justify the asking price. However, this four-cylinder engine has little to do with the BMW X5 and has everything to do with the Chevy Traverse.
- Specifications
- 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
- Vehicle Type: front-engine, rear- or all/four-wheel-drive, 6- or 7-passenger, 4-door wagon
- PRICE
- Base: Laredo 4×2, $42,915; Laredo 4×4, $44,915; Laredo X 4×2, $45,410; Laredo X 4×4, $47,410; Limited 4×2, $48,315; Laredo Altitude 4×2, $48,355; Limited 4×4, $50,315; Laredo Altitude 4×4, $50,355; 85th Anniversary Edition 4×4, $54,410; Limited Reserve 4×4, $55,910; Summit 4×4, $64,595
- ENGINES
- DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6, 293 hp, 260 lb-ft; turbocharged and intercooled DOHC 16-valve Miller-cycle 2.0-liter inline-4, 324 hp, 332 lb-ft
- TRANSMISSION
- 8-speed automatic
- DIMENSIONS
- Wheelbase: 121.7 in
- Length: 204.9 in
- Width: 77.5 in
- Height: 71.5 in
- Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 56/53/33 ft3
- Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: 85/47/17 ft3
- Curb Weight (C/D est): 4600-5100 lb
- PERFORMANCE (C/D EST)
- 60 mph: 6.6–7.1 sec
- 1/4-Mile: 14.7–15.1 sec
- Top Speed: 120 mph
- EPA FUEL ECONOMY
- Combined/City/Highway: 21–23/18–21/25–26 mpg
