2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L First Drive: A Worthy Successor

Jeep marketing regularly touts that the current Grand Cherokee is the "most awarded SUV ever," and despite being five years since its last midcycle refresh and riding on a platform that dates back to 2011, the Grand Cherokee remains a competitive choice in its category. It still sports an incredibly high level of capability, an upscale interior, and many technology and safety features, but the competition has all been redesigned with a coveted third row—something only offered on the Grand Cherokee's close cousin and platform mate, the Durango, but never offered on the WK or WK2 Grands.

For the latest "WL" model, Jeep is leading with the three-row "Grand Cherokee L" model. A two-row direct replacement to today's Grand Cherokee will be announced later this year. The Grand Cherokee L features a 121.7-inch wheelbase, which is almost 7 inches longer than today's WK2 Grand. But for those worried about capability, Jeep says the L was designed to have improved off-road capability over the WK2 and, true to the Jeep brand mission, engineered it to be the most capable SUV in its class.

Pulling from the proportions of the original Wagoneer, the 2022 Grand Cherokee L has been updated with a more athletic and premium stance, thanks to a wider track, but it has the same overall width. The forward-facing grille is said to project confidence, while the detailing and optional black roof exude premium style. Exterior LED lighting is contemporary, and the flashy wheel and tire packages still give way to functional versions when the off-road package is selected. Overall, we are fans of the new Grand Cherokee L and think it looks like a sophisticated SUV that carries on the Grand Cherokee legacy in a modern but respectful way.

The Grand Cherokee L is based on an entirely new platform that has improved stiffness, thanks to strategically placed advanced high-strength steel and approximately 6,500 welds. The new Grand L is available with both steel-spring and adjustable air suspension with adaptive damping. The all-independent suspension features multilink designs front and rear with a front virtual ball joint for improved lateral control.

Three four-wheel drive systems are offered (4x2 is standard in lower trims): the single speed Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II with low range, and Quadra-Drive II with an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD). All three systems include an active transfer case system that can improve traction by moving torque to the wheel with the most traction. Low range on Quadra Drive II and Quadra Trac II is Jeep's standard 2.72:1. The crawl ratio is 44:1.

Quadra-Lift air suspension with adaptive dampers is optional and has five ride height settings, including a normal ride height of 8.3 inches of ground clearance. The two lifted settings include Off-road 1, which lifts the vehicle an additional 1.6 inches for 9.9 inches of ground clearance, and Off-road 2, which lifts the vehicle 2.4 inches over normal ride height to deliver the best-in-class 10.9 inches of ground clearance. The two lowered settings include Aero mode, which lowers the vehicle 0.8 inch and is controlled by speed or placing the vehicle in Sport mode, and Park mode, which sits 1.8 inches below normal ride height for easy access.

Overall, the closed-loop system offers 4.17 inches of total ride height change and works faster than the previous generation, thanks to dual tanks. When equipped with the available Quadra-Lift air suspension, the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L sports a 30.1-degree approach angle, a 23.6-degree departure angle, and 22.6-degree breakover angle.

Other off-road-centric technologies include the Selec-Terrain traction management system and hill descent control. Selec-Terrain offers five modes (Auto, Sport, Rock, Snow, Mud/Sand) and manages the powertrain, 4x4 torque split, braking and handling, steering and suspension systems, throttle control, transmission shift, transfer case and traction control, stability control, and anti-lock braking system to optimize the Grand Cherokee L for any terrain or driving situation. Hill descent control allows drivers to set a speed for technical downhill sections and is operated with the steering wheel-mounted paddles.

For those who need the most capability, selecting the Off-Road Group gives the Grand Cherokee L a Trail Rated designation and includes the Quadra-Drive II system and adds high-strength steel skidplates, 18-inch aluminum wheels, and more aggressive tires. Tow hooks are rated at 1.5 times gross vehicle weight and can sustain an off-center pull without damaging the chassis.

At launch, the Grand Cherokee L will feature two powertrains, the familiar and standard 3.6L Pentastar V-6 with 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque and the optional and venerable 5.7L Hemi V-8 with 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. Both engines are mated to the eight-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. Grand Cherokee L models sporting the V-6 will come with a 6,200-pound tow rating, while V-8 models will see a best-in-class rating of 7,200 pounds.

Jeep's goal was to create an interior that was technologically advanced, but not aesthetically cold. The design team wanted to use the best materials and focus on craftsmanship, and it shows with interesting details, exceptional fit and finish, and quality wherever you look. The Grand has one of the most incredible interiors in the entire automotive industry and definitely hits above its weight, especially in the lower trims. The upscale trims do an incredible job of utilizing a mix of rich leather, real wood, and real metal while integrating a 10.5-inch center stack display that doesn't look like an afterthought. It's warm and welcoming without feeling that technology has taken over.

Passengers in the second row get best-in-class legroom from either a bench or captain's chairs with a center console. Passengers in the third row, meanwhile, won't feel like they were an afterthought, thanks to their own lighting, cupholders, armrests, HVAC vents, and USB ports; in total the 2022 Grand Cherokee L includes 12 USB-A and -C ports sprinkled throughout the cabin.

Packed with state-of-the-art technology, the Grand Cherokee L clearly leads the pack. There are now up to three 10-inch displays available, the 10.1-inch center screen (8.4 inches is standard), an optional 10-inch HUD, and a frameless 10.25-inch configurable digital cluster. Of course, that doesn't even include the available rear entertainment system.

Uconnect 5 makes its debut on the Grand Cherokee L with a new mobile app, and it is now much faster than before and features a fully customizable home screen and one-touch operation. In addition to standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the system can now handle simultaneous connectivity for two Bluetooth phones. Even Amazon's Alexa "Home to Car" functionality is included, as well as SiriusXM 360L and Personalized Stations Powered by Pandora. There is also over-the-air (OTA) update capability.

Other tech includes a night vision camera, a digital rearview mirror, a rear-seat-monitoring camera, seat massagers, a wireless charging pad, and our personal favorite, the impressive 950-watt, 19-speaker McIntosh audio sound system. This optional audio system isn't a licensing exercise but rather a collaboration between Jeep and McIntosh. Audio is delivered through 19 speakers, including a 10-inch sub, 17 channels, and 950-watt amplifier that delivers beautifully accurate and full sound.

We could write another story just on the Grand Cherokee L's 110-plus advanced safety and security features, but we will leave that to our friends at MotorTrend. However, we will hit the highlights, which includes park sensors, a backup camera with dynamic grid lines, rear cross-path detection, blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, pedestrian and cycle detection, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, 360-degree camera, and even a drowsy driver detection system. The most notable of all is the L2 hands-on automated driving system and the upgrade to a hands-free L2 system that will be available later this year.

We had a chance to drive the 2022 Grand Cherokee L over the course of several hours on a variety of roads that included city driving, highways, and twisty backcountry roads, in an Overland model equipped with the 5.7L V-8. Our first impression was how amazing the interior and the overall seat comfort are. Also, despite all of the tech, the controls remain pretty intuitive from the get go.

Jeep has done a good job of isolating the big V-8 and it is perfectly matched to the eight-speed automatic, with none of the shift softness we've experienced in the Ram 1500. The V-8 is quiet and unobtrusive, but comes alive, both in sound and feel when the accelerator is held to the floorboard.

On the highway the Grand L is calm, relaxed, and comfortable, while on back roads, especially in Sport mode, the strong brakes and direct steering make it enjoyable to hustle through the turns. Although it's no Trackhawk in this regard, it handles well enough, and the new suspension setup keeps the big SUV planted.

The things we immediately noticed was just how stiff the chassis is (and we already considered the WK2 rock sold), the lack of popping noises transferring from the expansion joints and tar strips of the road into the cabin, and the lower center of gravity. In the WL, you now feel like you sit in the driver's seat instead of on top of it. One of the biggest handling changes is that the chassis no longer gets upset if you happen to top out the suspension in the middle of a turn that would sometimes cause uncomfortable understeer in the previous Grand Cherokee WK2.

A Jeep isn't a Jeep if it can't take you down the road less traveled, and the longer Grand Cherokee L doesn't give up anything to the previous Grand Cherokee in this regard. The Selec-Terrain traction management system works exceedingly well, and having a real low range with increased ride height from the air suspension got us up and over a surprisingly difficult rock course at the Chelsea Proving Ground, which tested traction and skidplates alike.

We even had a chance to sample the Grand Cherokee L over the challenging "Camel Humps," which use offset concrete mounds that rock a vehicle to the front or back, alternating between two or three wheels in contact with the ground at any given time. This demanding obstacle will test a vehicle's overall structural rigidity and traction control, and it's pretty cool to watch. During this test, you could feel how fast the Grand Cherokee L could adapt to changing traction, and again, not one creak emanated from the body.

All the tech packed into the WL works to get this SUV farther down the trail than almost anything else in its class, and we are looking forward to doing some additional off-road testing in the near future.

The 2022 Grand Cherokee L will come in five trims (Laredo, Limited, Overland, Summit, and Summit Reserve), each with increasing levels of grandeur. An entry-level 4x4 Laredo starts at $38,995, before the destination charge. At the top of the range is the Summit Reserve with a price of $65,290.

The 2021 Grand Cherokee L is better in every way, especially in the areas of luxury, craftsmanship, technology, safety, and capability. After our short time with it, we walked away incredibly impressed with what the team at Jeep was able to pull off. In our opinion, the Grand Cherokee L delivers on the promise of a Grand that is thoroughly modern and more luxurious in every way, without losing the core of what makes a Jeep, a Jeep.