Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Chevrolet Tahoe

1. Introduction

In comparison, the Grand Cherokee is "only Jeep"; no other vehicle in the company's lineup really competes with it. Nor is a Chrysler minivan in the same brand and subdivision typical of a same segment comparison with GM and Ford, so we shall leave the Caravan where it stands. The GM and Ford full-size SUVs are not considered here as General Motors owns the more minivan-like Chrysler and the Dodge Durango is a more direct competitor to the Grand Cherokee. Ready for a new interpretation on the sometimes-murky classifications of American vehicles? This is about as good of a case in point as you could ask for.

Nonetheless, the substantial differences in design and image between the two vehicles make a comparison worthwhile, if not often head-to-head cross-shopping by consumers. The Tahoe is almost always a GMC or Ford shopper's alternative to buying American, with seating for up to nine it is a rough counterpart to traditional full-size vans. Plus, it enjoys the privilege of not being a minivan, as the very thought of one would be a class-jumping instance of badge conflict.

To all intents and purposes, the Grand Cherokee and the Chevy Tahoe are diverse forms of vehicles. The Grand Cherokee is closer to a luxurious sedan, as it has less cargo room yet is more inspiring to drive and achievement-oriented. The Chevy Tahoe is fundamentally a beefed-up American family sedan, and the cargo room advantage is more than evident. It all at once feels more ponderous than a traditional SUV and surprisingly endowed with the acceleration and fuel economy of a minivan. To a certain degree, in terms of general utility, they can trade places; a Jeep in Laredo incarnation has the same tow rating as a minivan and seats are optional equipment. And a fair number of Tahoe owners don't stray far from the official definition of a minivan, as they indeed are driving one before and craving a return to truck-based construction.

2. Performance and Power

Jeep Grand Cherokee has been famous for its powerful performance. And it also has many kinds of variants which have different powerful engines. The standard type Jeep Grand Cherokee that has the highest power is the SRT. This car is powered by a 6.4-liter V8 engine that has very big power. The machine can reach the power of up to 475 horsepower with its torque of up to 470 lbf.ft. And this car can achieve 0-60 mph in only 4.8 seconds. This is very fast for an SUV car. And the top speed of this car is 160 mph. This car has the best acceleration and passing time compared to the other variants. But unfortunately, for the other kinds, it doesn't mean bad, just the limited edition variants like Trail Hawk and the Jeep Grand Cherokee edition still have good power. And the handling of the Grand Cherokee itself has good handling with its power. This is because the automatic AWD of the Grand Cherokee makes the traction of the car good and the car will not slip because the power is directly transmitted. A very great acceleration of the AWD is very helpful for drivers who want to drive fast on any kind of road. With the acceleration, it's very easy to pass many kinds of cars and also it makes people want to try the power. The catastrophe is when the car is spinning, usually the AWD car won't slip compared to the FWD or RWD. And that's also different with the AWD system with Jeep Grand Cherokee because it has the Selec-Track system that can control the traction of the car. So, it can adjust to the kind of road. With these specifications, Grand Cherokee Jeep has powerful and stable power. And the comfort of driving is also supported by its suspension. The suspension of the Jeep Grand Cherokee has good damping and has off-road specifications. With these specifications, it can make driving fun and comfortable because the stable power and the handling make drivers can control the car properly.

The value we pick as an SUV that needs to be considered by customers is the performance and the power it has related to the performance. Performance for the SUV is very important because the SUV power is different based on their segment and mostly the owner picks the one which is powerful and fun to drive. The main reason is due to the fuel that the SUV consumes because TCO is a big impact for the SUV that has big power. Actually, this kind of comparison is very interesting because both of the cars in their era are very popular and they also build a powerful performance and are comfortable to drive. To decide which car has better performance is generally based on the acceleration, the passing time, and the handling of the car. Usually, the acceleration and the passing time are related to the power-to-weight ratio of the car. And handling is one of the aspects to be considered by people who have a powerful car because without good handling the power will be useless.

3. Interior and Features

Both vehicles also have the availability of GPS systems. The Grand Cherokee system looks like a good one with a majority of excellent customer feedback. However, the Tahoe navigation system can come with OnStar services, including turn-by-turn directions. This is obviously a lot safer and can be less of a distraction while driving. Additionally, you do not have to pay extra for an expensive GPS system, only the OnStar service.

The Tahoe also features a rear seat entertainment system, which is an excellent option for parents with children. This system will keep children occupied during long car rides, a feature that the Grand Cherokee cannot match. The Tahoe's main features include tri-zone climate control, a remote vehicle starter system, a premium smooth ride suspension package, power adjustable pedals, and rear parking assist. None of these features are available with the Grand Cherokee.

With third-row seating, the Tahoe can transport up to 9 occupants, which is great for taking extra people out to the field. Both the Grand Cherokee and the Tahoe feature leather interiors, power seats, and expanded power features such as locks, windows, and mirrors. The Tahoe provides OnStar service free for the first year, and an optional system thereafter. OnStar is a very useful safety device that can assist you with directions. There is also an OnStar system for young drivers, allowing the owner to monitor the speed and location of the vehicle.

Both of these vehicles are relatively similar in size. The Grand Cherokee is slightly smaller, while the Tahoe is slightly larger. The Tahoe features third-row seats as a standard in all of its newest models, making it a possible choice for parents who need to transport groups of other people's children. The third-row seat in the Tahoe is either removable or can be folded out of the way. This is a useful feature as it is only used on occasion and can be taken out or put away for additional storage space when needed. The cargo space in the new Tahoe is also a lot larger than that of the Grand Cherokee.

4. Safety and Reliability

In conclusion, both vehicles have received good side crash ratings, but the Tahoe seems to win in the safety comparisons due to its lower risk of rollover and better front crash test results.

The only bad report for Tahoe is the possibility of leg injury for the driver in frontal offset crashes. Unfortunately, the brake pedal moved rearward and brake and dead pedal intrusion was a factor.

Vehicle rollover is a concern. With extensive testing, it is proven that taller, narrower vehicles have a higher risk of rolling over. This is good news for potential Tahoe buyers because, compared to the Grand Cherokee, it has a lower risk of rollover. With a 16% risk compared to the Grand Cherokee's 20% risk.

On the other hand, the Chevrolet is ahead in comparison. It has received a better safety rating with an "acceptable" ability to protect occupants in a frontal offset crash. It was also rated "good" in side-impact testing, but achieved a "marginal" rating to protect against injury in a rear collision.

Unfortunately, the Grand Cherokee was not given a stellar safety rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has rated the Grand Cherokee "poor" in its ability to protect occupants in a frontal offset crash. This is not a good look for potential buyers. However, on a brighter note, in side-impact crash testing, the Grand Cherokee was rated "good" - the highest possible rating.

Safety and reliability are the most significant factors when buying a vehicle. They also play a major role in customer satisfaction. With increasing lawsuits in America over rollover accidents involving SUVs, it is no surprise that they are building them stronger and safer. Independent consumer protection agencies, such as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, conduct tests to help consumers make informed decisions about vehicle safety. Their findings are invaluable.

5. Conclusion

Both vehicles also provide great capabilities for towing, so this could be another potential decision maker. But overall, it's really up to what you want and what you are going to use it for as each vehicle has its strong points. All we know is that Jeep is back and the Grand Cherokee is certainly a force to be reckoned with in terms of real off-road. So whether you decide to buy one of these vehicles as an impractical soccer mom car or a tow-rig that has enough room to fit the whole soccer team, we've provided you with enough information to hopefully help you make a decision. Written by: Alex Kefford, The Student Review.

Both vehicles can be bad on fuel, the Tahoe due to its sheer size and the Grand Cherokee due to its large 3.6L V6. On the other hand, they can both be quite good on fuel depending on which engine you decide to choose. This could make the decision a little easier. Something that may also help is the fact that both these vehicles have great resale value, so you won't be losing much if you decide to change. These vehicles certainly provide greater luxury compared to regular soft-roaders and are quite modern and stylish. Unfortunately, it seems that it gets a little better in the case of the Grand Cherokee. As seen through this research, it is slightly cheaper to run in terms of fuel efficiency and depreciation value. But this could be due to the fact that it is more expensive to purchase in the first place. An entry-level Laredo 2WD starts at around $43,000, whereas a base model Tahoe LS starts at around $39,000.

The Grand Cherokee and Tahoe are both fine vehicles. Both are quite safe due to the fact that the Grand Cherokee is highly maneuverable and the Tahoe is quite large. They can both carry a lot of gear, it just depends on how many seats you are after. The Tahoe can seat up to nine with front bench seats in the LS and LT models. The Grand Cherokee, however, can only seat five. Boot space is quite similar; however, the Tahoe takes the cake due to its seats that can be stowed away for greater storage volume.