2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander: Which SUV Fits Alabama Families Best?

If you're looking for a spacious and capable SUV, both the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2025 Toyota Highlander are likely to make it onto your list of contenders. Both vehicles offer a capable driving experience, a comfortable interior, and a solid suite of safety features. However, some noticeable differences are likely to sway your decision. Let's compare car specs so you can make an educated choice about your next SUV purchase.

Exterior Design and Feature Differences Between The Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a bold, boxy stance with classic good looks and a rugged appeal. It offers an abundance of options across its nine trims. Wheels range from 17 inches on the base-level Laredo A to 21 inches on the Summit Reserve. 

The Grand Cherokee maintains a classy appearance with a limited selection of simple color options. The Bright White Clear-Coat is a classic that's standard for the lower trims. Higher trims are available in more colors, including Diamond Black Crystal Pearl-Coat, Silver Zynith, and Velvet Red Pearl-Coat.

The Toyota Highlander has a sleek, modern look with sweeping lines and rounded corners. On the lower trims, 18-inch wheels are standard, but 20-inch wheels are available on the higher trims. Though both the Grand Cherokee and Highlander have LED headlamps, only the Highlander comes standard with fog lamps and LED tail lamps.

Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander - Which Interior and Technology Fits Your Lifestyle?

When it comes to comfort, the Jeep Grand Cherokee shines with luxurious seating for five. In the higher trims, you'll enjoy creature comforts, such as quilted leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and dual-zone front air conditioning. This Jeep comes standard with an 8.4-inch touch-screen display but offers a 10.1-inch display in higher trims. High-end trims also include a 10.3-inch digital display for the front passenger, a digital gauge cluster, and a 10-inch head-up display.

The Toyota Highlander seats seven or eight passengers, making it an appealing option for large families. The design is clean and minimalist, but the higher trims get ventilated seats and leather upholstery. It comes standard with an 8-inch infotainment screen and a 7-inch digital information screen. You can get a 12.3-inch screen and a matching 12.3-inch digital gauge display in higher trims. 

Both the Grand Cherokee and Highlander come standard with six speakers. In the higher trims, the Grand Cherokee offers up to 10 speakers, while the Highlander has an 11-speaker system.

Performance and Engine Specifications Compared Between The Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Toyota Highlander

The Grand Cherokee boasts a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that delivers 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque. Rear-wheel drive comes standard, but you can opt for an all-wheel-drive system if you prefer. The TrailHawk model is especially adventure-worthy with a Quadra-Drive II all-wheel-drive system and front anti-roll bar disconnect. Even with the other trims, you'll find the Grand Cherokee a capable driver off the beaten path. It gets 19 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined. This makes it a solid competitor for its class.

The 2025 Highlander has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that offers 265 horsepower and delivers 310 lb-ft of torque. You can choose from front- or all-wheel drive. Though it's stable and predictable, the Highlander lacks the power and pizzazz of the Grand Cherokee. However, it gets slightly better fuel economy at 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features That Matter to Alabama Drivers

Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and the Toyota Highlander received five-star overall safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. You'll enjoy a safe experience in either vehicle, though their driver-assistance features vary.

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee has predictive brake assist, blind-spot detection warning, parking sensors, and forward collision warning plus mitigation. In higher trims, you can get intersection collision assist mitigation with left-turn assist. The Overland and Summit models also have a hands-free active driving-assist system.

The Toyota Highlander has a robust suite of safety and driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection.

User Experience and Test Drive Insights

The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Toyota Highlander are extremely competitive when pitted against each other. Edmunds praised the Grand Cherokee for its comfort, spaciousness, off-roading capabilities, and 6,200-pound towing capacity. The Highlander, in comparison, can only tow 5,000 pounds. Edmunds appreciated the smooth ride and fuel-efficient engine in the Highlander but noted that the third row isn't as roomy compared with competitors. On the Car and Driver test track, the Highlander went from 0 to 60 mph in 7.2 seconds, while the Grand Cherokee Summit model with a V-6 engine reached 60 mph in 7.4 seconds.  

Test Drive the 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee at Stivers Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

If you're interested in a powerhouse SUV that's built for off-roading adventures in Alabama, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great choice. The Grand Cherokee performs better off-road than the Highlander. It also has more impressive towing capabilities, allowing you to take your camper and other toys along for the adventure. If you're ready to experience the Jeep Grand Cherokee for yourself, visit our showroom at Stivers Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Prattville, Alabama, to see everything it can offer.

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