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Jeep has revealed the fifth-generation Grand Cherokee SUV, a three-row model called the Grand Cherokee L that shows design inspiration from the Wagoneer.
The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L has seating for six or seven passengers and will offer two engines, three different drive systems, an available air suspension, and loads of new technology on board.
It’ll go on sale this spring likely starting at just under $40,000, and a two-row version and a new plug-in-hybrid model will go into production by the end of the year.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV is about to start its fifth generation, and it’s being introduced with a three-row model called the Grand Cherokee L that seats up to seven. In case the choice of a three-row design raises a question about the off-road cred of this new Jeep, the division’s leader, Jim Morrison, responds, “Don’t let the third row fool you, this Jeep is still capable.”

How to Watch the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Reveal

The popular SUV will continue to offer a two-row model, which is set to enter production by the end of the year along with a plug-in-hybrid 4xe. Hands-free driving capability is coming in the second model year, too, Jeep says. Meanwhile, the 2021 Grand Cherokee L shown here will go on sale this spring, likely starting just under $40,000.

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Jeep

By the end of the year, Jeep will have three new three-row SUVs in its lineup: the unibody Grand Cherokee L, available in Laredo, Limited, Overland, and Summit trims, and the body-on-frame Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer full-size utes. The Wagoneer will start in the $60,000 range while Jeep says that fully loaded Grand Wagoneers can reach over $100,000. The Grand Cherokee L and Wagoneers will compete with the likes of Ford’s Explorer and Expedition, Chevy’s Traverse and Tahoe, and Toyota’s Highlander and Sequoia.
Jeep says that the Grand Cherokee L’s proportions were inspired by the original Wagoneer, and you’ll see a bit of the new Grand Wagoneer concept’s flair blended in as well. The largest dose is in the seven-slot grille, which is slanted slightly forward, with slim LED headlights attached on either side. Below, the new model’s front fascia features active openings and has grown, hiding driver-assistance tech, compared with the previous generation. A gloss-black roof is available on the Overland model and standard on the Summit, and the roofline flows into thin LED taillights. An available Summit Reserve package includes a set of 21-inch wheels (pictured above) while the top two models get standard 20-inch wheels. The Limited and base Laredo models sit on 18-inch wheels.

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Jeep

The Grand Cherokee L’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than the current model’s, and the new model is equipped with an independent front and multi-link rear suspension. (The current two-row version will carry over into the 2021 model year and the new two-row model is coming later, likely as a 2022 model.) The L’s second row seats fold and slide forward to allow easier access to the third row, which has available power-folding seats and 30.3 inches of legroom—1.9 inches less than the Ford Explorer. There are 47 cubic feet of storage behind the second row, 11 cubes more than the two-row Grand Cherokee, and when all the seats are folded to a flat load floor, the L boasts 85 cubic feet of storage, three less than the Explorer.

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Jeep

Same Engines, Plug-In Hybrid Coming
Jeep kept the Grand Cherokee’s powertrains the same for its new generation, though it’ll announce a plug-in hybrid 4xe model, a moniker first introduced on the Wrangler, later this year. We also won’t rule out the mega-powerful Hellcat supercharged V-8, either, because Fiat Chrysler stuffs the beast into just about anything with four wheels, including the three-row Dodge Durango. The 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 with start-stop is standard, whether with rear-, all-, or four-wheel drive, producing 290 horsepower and 257 pound-feet of torque. A more powerful 5.7-liter V-8 with four-wheel drive and cylinder deactivation is available on the Overland and Summit models, which makes 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission.

2021 Grand Cherokee L’s Four Trim Levels Explained

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The L’s two powertrains make slightly less power than the two-row model simply because of the different configuration in this new generation, Jeep told Car and Driver. The Grand Cherokee L can tow up to 6200 pounds with the V-6 and 7200 pounds with the V-8, the same as the 2021 Grand Cherokee two-row.
Same Jeep Capabilities
Three drive systems are available: Quadra-Trac I and II, single- and two-speed transfer cases, as well as Quadra-Drive II, which includes the two-speed transfer case and a rear electronic limited-slip differential. The latter is optional on the Overland model and standard on the Summit. Those two models are also equipped with adaptive dampers and a standard air suspension that has five height settings ranging from 6.5 to 10.9 inches of ground clearance. The Grand Cherokee L has five terrain modes, including auto, sport, rock, snow, and mud/sand, and hill-descent control, standard on the Overland and Summit, is governed with the paddle shifters.

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Jeep

An off-road package is available on the Overland model, which gives it Jeep’s “Trail Rated” badge, and it includes skid plates, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, and 18-inch aluminum wheels wrapped in Michelin Primacy all-season tires. The Grand Cherokee L is also equipped with a front axle disconnect that automatically puts the SUV in two-wheel drive if it senses that four-wheel drive is not required.
Luxurious Interior with Larger Screens
The new Grand Cherokee’s biggest improvement is in the cabin, and well-equipped versions might even compete with luxury SUVs such as the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE-class. An 8.4-inch touchscreen is standard with FCA’s new Uconnect 5 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability while a 10.1-inch screen is available on the Limited and Overland and standard on the Summit. A 10.3-inch digital gauge cluster is standard. The center console is finished in gloss black and features a backlit rotary shift knob similar to the one seen in the Grand Wagoneer concept.

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Jeep

Overland and Summit models get 16-way power front seats with an optional massaging functions. All Grand Cherokee Ls have customizable interior LED lighting and 12 USB Type A and Type C outlets. The available Summit Reserve package includes cooled front- and second-row seats with nicer leather, massaging front seats, special trim, and a McIntosh audio system.
Jeep says that the Grand Cherokee L will have Level 2 self-driving capability, which should be available by the end of the year. For now, FCA’s lane-centering and adaptive cruise control technology is available on the Overland model and standard on the Summit. Those two models also receive a night vision camera and head-up display. Limited models and above have the option for a 9.2-inch digital rearview mirror. All 2021 Grand Cherokee Ls come standard with collision warning with active braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist with lane departure warning, brake assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L will go on sale in the spring. Pricing is expected to start at just under $40,000 for the Laredo, around $45,000 for the Limited, $50,000 for the Overland, and $55,000 for the Summit.
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The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is launching into an already full class of three-row crossovers.
Some of its stiffest competition comes from the Ford Explorer, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Highlander.
The four vehicles are closely matched in many performance and convenience metrics, so the right choice may come down to personal taste.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L brings another three-row to the Jeep lineup (the forthcoming Grand Wagoneer will also have three rows). Catering to the seven-passenger market is a change for Jeep, but the automaker is not exactly early to this trend; the Grand Cherokee L has plenty of established competition to contend with. The Ford Explorer, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Highlander have all been successful in this market. Read on to see how Jeep’s new entrant will fit in with the rest of its class.

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FCA

Powertrains and Towing
The Grand Cherokee L will use a rear-wheel-drive-based platform, like the Ford Explorer. The Telluride and Highlander are both on front-drive platforms, but each of these crossovers is available with all-wheel drive. The Grand Cherokee will have a 290-hp 3.5-liter V-6 engine as standard, and a 357-hp 5.7-liter V-8 is available. Both engines use an eight-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, the V-6 will tow up to 6200 pounds and the V-8 will manage up to 7200 pounds.

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The Kia Telluride is the simplest of this bunch, with only one engine, a 291-hp 3.8-liter V-6. The Telluride can tow up to 5000 pounds, just like the other front-drive member of this group, the Toyota Highlander. The Highlander offers one extra engine choice, though. In addition to the standard 295-hp 3.5-liter V-6, Highlander buyers can opt for a 243-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. The Ford Explorer also offers a hybrid variant, but a V-6 hybrid with a considerable 318 hp. The Explorer comes standard with a 310-hp four-cylinder engine and, in addition to the hybrid, is available with two turbocharged V-6 engines making 365 and 400 horsepower. The Explorer can tow up to 5600 pounds.

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FCA

Third Row
There are few, if any, truly comfortable third-row seats on the market. Three of these four crossovers have between 30.3 and 32.2 inches of third-row legroom. The Grand Cherokee L is on the low side, the Explorer on the high side. The Highlander has the least accommodating third row, with a measly 27.7 inches of legroom.
Cargo
The Highlander also has the smallest cargo space behind the third row, with 16 cubic feet of space. The others aren’t far ahead, though. The Grand Cherokee L will have 17 cubic feet of space, the Explorer has 18 cubic feet, and the Telluride leads the pack with 21 cubic feet of storage behind the third row.

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FCA

Active-Safety Technology
All four of these vehicles have a bevy of standard active-safety equipment, including automated emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. The Grand Cherokee L will have standard blind-spot monitoring, as do the Explorer and Telluride. That tech is optional in the Highlander. A driver drowsiness monitor will be optional in the L. A similar driver-attention monitor is standard in the Telluride.
The real question, for those of us who love driving, is how the experience of driving the Grand Cherokee L will compare to that of driving the other three vehicles. That question won’t be answered until the second quarter of 2021, when the L goes on sale. Jeep hasn’t confirmed pricing for the new model yet, but we expect it’ll range from $38,000 to $55,000, depending on the trim. That would put the L on the high side for these vehicles, but not egregiously so.
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Luxury materials, new displays, and passenger-watching cameras show up in the new Grand Cherokee. More

The 2021 model year includes the new three-row L and the old two-row carryover model, while other variants are still to come. More

The new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L will be revealed tonight at midnight, eastern time, and tomorrow at noon on Jeep’s YouTube page.
We expect it to be a three-row version of the popular SUV, thanks to spy photos in recent weeks and the confirmation of the L name.
The 2021 Grand Cherokee should arrive on dealer lots later this year.
More than a year since we first spied the updated 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the fifth-generation of the popular SUV will be revealed tonight, January 6, at midnight Eastern time and then tomorrow, January 7 at noon on Jeep’s YouTube page. The Grand Cherokee hasn’t seen a redesign since 2010 and we expect it to undergo a number of changes, some of which might be inspired by the Grand Wagoneer concept revealed earlier this fall.

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Jeep has confirmed that this model will be called the Grand Cherokee L. We’ve seen spy photos of this three-row model that show a stretched version of the SUV. The new Grand Cherokee should get a larger infotainment screen, and it could have a rotary shift knob and digital gauge cluster as well.
We expect the new SUV to be powered by the standard 3.6-liter V-6 seen currently in the Grand Cherokee, plus an optional V-8. Later on, it should also see a plug-in-hybrid version, as well as higher-performance options such as an SRT version and possibly featuring a 700-plus-hp supercharged V-8 that recently found its way into the Durango.
The 2021 Grand Cherokee should arrive at dealers by the end of the year, and we’ll be bringing you full details at the launch tonight at midnight.
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The redesigned 2021 Escalade starts at $77,490 for the base Luxury trim, but GM reports that 43 percent of buyers paid more than $100,000 for theirs. More

Ready to dive into the most exciting racing series on the planet?
For the next episode of their Inside Track virtual Q&A series, our friends at Road & Track are excited to announce the guest will be IndyCar racer Alexander Rossi. It’s all happening on Thursday, January 14, at 5:00 p.m. ET, and they’d love for you to join them.
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In this episode of Inside Track, Road & Track editor-in-chief Mike Guy will be speaking with Rossi about his impressive career and what he’s looking forward to most in the 2021 season. If you want to see it all go down, head over to the dedicated sign-up page.
Inside Track is one of the many offerings of the newly revamped magazine. Road & Track is hosting live events, virtual experiences, and adventures around the globe. They’ll also be hosting driving rallies at racetracks and on the most epic roads, holding discussions and debates on cool topics with some of the most influential people in the car world, and giving participants the white-glove treatment at concours and auto show events.
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Actor, recording artist, and America’s Got Talent judge David Hasselhoff has put his personal K.I.T.T., the car from the 1980s TV show Knight Rider, up for auction.
In the series, the car could drive itself, talked, and was outfitted with weapons and a special turbo-boost feature that made it jump.
The auction ends on January 23, and if the final price is at least 25 percent above the reserve, Hasselhoff will personally deliver the vehicle.
Weird high-concept shows peppered the big three networks of the 1980s. The weirdness of Manimal and Automan couldn’t find a steady audience, but shows such as Airwolf and Alf stuck around long enough to solidify a place in the zeitgeist. But none of them could top Knight Rider and its automotive star K.I.T.T. (Knight Industries Two Thousand), a talking car that drove itself, had an arsenal of weapons, and for some unknown reason could jump when the turbo boost was enabled. David Hasselhoff played Michael Knight, the crime-fighting human protagonist of the series.

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Turns out Hasselhoff has had his own personal K.I.T.T. vehicle stashed away for the past few decades, and now the actor is auctioning off this piece of television history. According to the auction description, the 1982 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am conversion is a fully functioning K.I.T.T. car, although don’t expect any weaponry or the vehicle actually helping you solve crimes while it doles out droll observations. Instead, from the posted photos we see that the dash lights up like a crime-fighting Christmas tree, and we’re betting the Cylon-esque series of red lights on the hood are functioning.

LiveAuctioneers

The influence of the show and especially of K.I.T.T. is still being felt today. Self-driving cars that talk to you are still works in progress. Maybe they won’t solve crimes or leap into the air, but we do have swanky smartwatches like Michael Knight’s that can control some features of current vehicles on the road.

LiveAuctioneers

A bonus of this auction is that if the final vehicle price exceeds the reserve by 25 percent, David Hasselhoff will personally deliver the car to the new owner. The chances of that occurring are extremely good; the current bid is $975,000, and the original estimate for the vehicle was between $175,000 and $300,000. The auction is set to end on January 23. There is one rub, though: the car is currently in the U.K. But if you’re willing to bid a million dollars on a TV car, you’re likely the type of person with the means to transport it to your home, along with the star of Baywatch and America’s Got Talent.

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