2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Standard 3.6L Pentastar V6 on Laredo/Limited (volume trims) is rated 293 hp @ 6,400 rpm.

Standard 3.6L V6 peak torque is 260 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm.

Instrumented test of the V6 4x4, the volume configuration; V8 models are meaningfully quicker (mid-6s) and the supercharged Trackhawk runs low 3s, but those are not the representative trim.

The Pentastar V6 paired with the ZF 8-speed is smooth around town and on the highway, but reviewers consistently note it feels coarse and needs to be worked hard for passing power, with the V8 offering markedly more effortless delivery.

The ZF-sourced 8-speed automatic (850RE) shifts smoothly and decisively across the lineup with well-chosen ratios; it was widely praised as one of the segment's better automatics in 2019, with only occasional hunting on hills.

Maximum conventional towing across the 2019 lineup is 7,200 lbs with the 5.7L HEMI V8 (and SRT/Trackhawk V8s) and the Trailer Tow Group; the standard V6 is rated to 6,200 lbs.

4x4 is available across nearly the entire trim range with three distinct systems of increasing sophistication — Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II with low range, and Quadra-Drive II with an electronic limited-slip rear differential — plus Selec-Terrain traction management on upper trims.

The Trailhawk trim raises ground clearance to 10.8 in (with the standard air suspension in its highest setting), adds skid plates, tow hooks, all-terrain tires and Quadra-Drive II with a rear electronic locker plus Selec-Terrain — genuine off-road credibility for a unibody mid-size SUV, though short of Wrangler-level extremity.

Five distinct engines were offered in 2019 — 3.6L V6, 3.0L EcoDiesel V6 (turbo), 5.7L HEMI V8, 6.4L HEMI V8 (SRT) and supercharged 6.2L HEMI V8 (Trackhawk) — an unusually broad gas/diesel spread for the segment, but no hybrid, PHEV or EV variant existed for this model year.

EPA combined rating for the volume 4x4 3.6L V6 configuration is 21 MPG.

EPA city rating for the volume 4x4 V6 configuration.

EPA highway rating for the volume 4x4 V6 configuration.

EPA does not publish a range figure for gas vehicles; derived from the manufacturer-specified 24.6-gallon fuel tank and the EPA combined MPG for the volume V6 4x4 configuration.

EPA annual fuel cost estimate at 15,000 mi/yr and standard assumptions for the volume V6 4x4 configuration.

The volume 3.6L V6 runs on regular unleaded with no premium recommendation; only the 5.7L V8 (midgrade recommended) and the SRT/Trackhawk (premium required) step up in fuel cost, and those are not the representative trim.

NHTSA's overall rating for the 2019 Grand Cherokee (WK2, both 2WD/4WD) lands at 4 stars, held down by a 3-star rollover rating typical of tall unibody SUVs of this era; frontal and side scores are strong.

No Top Safety Pick award for the 2019 model year. Moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraints all rate Good, but small overlap front is Marginal (driver) and Poor (passenger side) — a real weak point IIHS itself flags — and headlights range from Acceptable (HID projector trims) down to Poor (halogen-equipped volume trims).

On the 2019 Grand Cherokee's volume trims (Laredo/Limited), forward collision warning with auto-braking, adaptive cruise, lane departure warning/prevention and blind-spot monitoring are all bundled into the optional Advanced Safety Group / Advanced Technology Group package rather than standard equipment — none of the core ADAS suite comes standard on the volume trim.

When equipped with the optional Full-Speed Forward Collision Warning Plus system, IIHS rated vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention Superior (avoided the collision in both the 12 mph and 25 mph tests). However IIHS lists no pedestrian AEB rating for this vehicle, and the system is optional rather than standard, so it doesn't reach the top band.

Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path Detection are available and use radar sensors, but are alert-only (no active braking intervention) and bundled into the optional Advanced Safety Group rather than standard on the volume trim.

The 2019 Grand Cherokee offers LaneSense Lane Departure Warning Plus — warning plus corrective steering nudge when drifting out of a lane — but no true lane-centering assist; that capability didn't arrive on the Grand Cherokee until the Active Driving Assist system introduced in 2021+. It is also optional, not standard.

Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop is available (full-speed range including stop-and-go), but it is optional-only on the volume trim and there is no combined highway-assist/centering feature to pair with it in 2019.

No hands-free highway driving system was available on the Grand Cherokee in 2019 — Jeep's Active Driving Assist hands-free system did not launch until the Grand Cherokee L (2021) and later Grand Cherokee (2022+) generation.

IIHS rated the HID projector headlights (higher trims) Acceptable and the halogen projector headlights fitted to volume trims Poor — the volume-trim figure is what governs this score.

Reviewers and owners note thick A-pillars creating blind spots to the front corners; J.D. Power owner-survey data lists visibility among Grand Cherokee owners' least-favorite attributes, tied with safety. No 360-degree camera is standard on the volume trim to compensate.

IIHS rated LATCH ease of use Marginal — lower anchors sit too deep in the seat bight to grip easily, and the upper tether anchors can be confused with other hardware. Only 2 rear seating positions have complete LATCH hardware.

The WK2-generation Grand Cherokee is a strict two-row, 5-passenger SUV across all 2019 trims; Jeep never offered a third-row option on this generation.

Standard front headroom figure for 2019 Grand Cherokee Laredo/Limited without sunroof; sunroof-equipped trims reduce this slightly.

Front legroom sits at the low end of the mid-size SUV normalization band; the WK2's cabin prioritizes width and headroom over front legroom.

Generous second-row headroom for the segment; panoramic sunroof (optional on upper trims) trims this by roughly an inch.

Above-average second-row legroom for a mid-size two-row SUV, a consistent strength of the WK2 platform noted by reviewers.

No third row is offered on any 2019 Grand Cherokee trim (WK2 is a strict two-row SUV); scored low per the framework rule that a missing third row always scores in the 0-49 band.

Below-average cargo volume behind the second row for the mid-size SUV segment; Cars.com's 2019 review explicitly flagged 'below-average cargo capacity' as a weakness versus rivals.

Maximum cargo volume with the 60/40 second row folded is on the lower end for the segment, consistent with the vehicle's below-average cargo reputation.

Conventional console, door pockets and underfloor cargo tray; no standout storage innovations reported for the 2019 model versus competitive-but-unremarkable segment norms.

The Grand Cherokee's front and rear seats are consistently praised for long-haul comfort and cushioning across trims, a recurring strength cited in period reviews (Cars.com, Edmunds).

Ride compliance is one of the WK2's strongest attributes for the segment, rarely upset by bumps; the optional Quadra-Lift four-corner air suspension (Overland/Summit/Trailhawk) further improves compliance and ride-height adaptability.

Reasonably quiet for the class on higher trims with added sound insulation, but no acoustic glass or active noise cancellation reported as standard on the volume Laredo/Limited trims; some road/wind noise noted at highway speed in period reviews.

Heated front seats and heated steering wheel are available from Limited trim up, with ventilated front seats and heated rear seats offered on Overland/Summit; not standard on the base Laredo.

Entry Laredo trim is the lowest-priced 2019 configuration; shown for reference only.

Limited is historically the Grand Cherokee's best-selling trim; shown for reference only.

RepairPal pegs average annual repair cost at $666 (average for the class); CarEdge's 10-year maintenance total of $11,143 implies a comparable 5-year midpoint once front-loaded scheduled service is included.

Depreciation estimates cluster around 50-54% loss over 5 years, slightly worse than the midsize SUV class average of ~46% loss.

Standard FCA/Jeep basic limited warranty for the 2019 model year, unchanged from prior years.

Standard FCA/Jeep powertrain limited warranty covering engine, transmission and drivetrain for the 2019 model year.

2019 predates the Jeep Wave loyalty program (launched with 2021 models), so the Grand Cherokee shipped with no complimentary scheduled maintenance — only the standard roadside assistance bundled with the powertrain warranty.

$40,440 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (47% retained, or about $19,007) leaves about $21,433 in depreciation. Add the projected $5,500 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $26,933 in total.

Predictions were mixed rather than strong: RepairPal gave the Grand Cherokee 3.5/5, ranking it 15th of 26 midsize SUVs (below the segment median), while Consumer Reports' owner-survey-based prediction for the WK2 generation has hovered around average, not top-tier.

Jeep's multi-year dependability standing has been persistently weak in this era — Consumer Reports' brand rankings placed Jeep near the bottom of the roughly 25 brands it tracks, ahead of only a handful of chronic laggards, with stablemate Wrangler landing on CR's least-reliable list.

Seven NHTSA recalls have been issued against 2019 Grand Cherokee production over its service life, including two with real safety weight — an EGR cooler cracking recall carrying a fire risk, and an engine-stall/fuel-starvation pair — alongside a park-without-brake rollaway recall and a rearview-camera display issue. That's more than a clean record but short of a systemic powertrain or fire crisis given most affected-vehicle counts and the years-later remediation.

By 2019 the 3.6L Pentastar V6 was a mature, decade-old engine family used across Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/Ram with a largely proven track record; the early-production (2011-2013) left-cylinder-head failures that drew an extended warranty were resolved well before this model year. The ZF 8-speed automatic has a generally strong reliability reputation once its early shifter-software recall was addressed.

Reviewers described the cabin as upscale for the price on well-equipped trims, with soft leather and pleasing stitching higher in the lineup, but mid-trim cars mixed hard, brittle plastics on the dash and doors alongside the nicer soft-touch surfaces — competitive rather than class-leading.

No systemic assembly complaints (widespread rattles, panel misalignment) surfaced for the 2019 model year in owner or press coverage, consistent with a mature, well-sorted WK2 production line, but initial-quality data specific to this model year was not directly available, so this leans on the generation's overall solid-but-unremarkable reputation.

Jeep rides on the large, dense FCA/Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram dealer network that reaches nearly every US market, giving strong physical coverage, though Jeep's dealer service-satisfaction scores have historically sat mid-pack rather than at the top of J.D. Power's customer service studies.

RepairPal puts average annual repair cost at $666 with average repair severity and less-than-average frequency of major issues — normal for the class rather than notably cheap or notably expensive — and parts are broadly available through the large Jeep dealer/parts network and a healthy independent aftermarket.

The 2019 Grand Cherokee's base touchscreen is the 7-inch Uconnect 4; the 8.4-inch Uconnect 4C with navigation is optional on Laredo and standard on Limited, Overland, High Altitude, Trailhawk and Summit.

Uconnect 4/4C was widely regarded by contemporary reviewers as one of the fastest, most intuitive infotainment systems on the market in 2019, with clear menus and physical redundant controls for climate/volume.

2019 Uconnect 4/4C supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto but only via a wired USB connection; no factory wireless projection existed on this generation, confirmed by the existence of an aftermarket retrofit market specifically selling 'wireless CarPlay upgrade modules' for 2014-2020 Grand Cherokee Uconnect 8.4 systems.

Uconnect 4C's native navigation (available on 8.4-in trims) and voice command system were functional but generally regarded as secondary to phone-projection navigation by most owners; base 7-in Uconnect 4 lacks native nav entirely.

Base audio is adequate; the optional/standard-on-Summit 19-speaker Harman Kardon premium system with 10-inch subwoofer is a genuine strength, widely praised by reviewers.

A 7-inch full-color reconfigurable Driver Information Digital Cluster is available on upper trims (Overland, High Altitude, Summit, Trailhawk, SRT); the base Laredo/Limited uses a mostly analog gauge cluster with a small trip-computer display.

2019-era Uconnect had no true whole-vehicle over-the-air update capability; software updates typically required a dealer visit or USB update, with only limited map/connectivity refreshes possible over the optional embedded data connection.

The Uconnect Access app (available on trims with the embedded modem) offered remote start, lock/unlock, vehicle locate and vehicle health reports, but required an active cellular data subscription after an initial trial period, gating remote functions behind ongoing cost.

2019 Grand Cherokee ports are USB-A only (no USB-C anywhere in the lineup this model year); a household-style 115V outlet and available wireless charging pad exist on some upper trims, but overall device power provisioning is dated by current standards.

Proximity keyless entry with push-button start and remote start are available from Limited trim up (optional/standard by package), giving solid keyless convenience across the volume trims though not standard on base Laredo.

A rearview camera is standard across the 2019 lineup, with ParkSense front/rear parking sensors available; a surround-view/ParkView camera system is available on upper trims (Overland/Summit), but this is not a 360-degree system on volume trims.

No factory head-up display was offered on any 2019 Grand Cherokee trim; searches for HUD on this generation only surface aftermarket universal HUD units and unrelated OEM infotainment-screen listings, with no manufacturer documentation of a windshield-projected HUD option for WK2.

Wide rear door openings, above-average rear legroom (38.6 in) and a low load-in height make car-seat installation and daily loading reasonably easy; the two-row-only layout limits configuration flexibility versus 3-row rivals.

Forward collision warning with active braking and adaptive cruise control are bundled in an optional Technology Group on Limited and only standard from High Altitude/Summit up, gating key ADAS behind cost on the family-friendly Laredo/Limited volume trims; the related 2018 Grand Cherokee (same structure, tested by IIHS as representative of 2013-21 models) scored 'Poor' in the passenger-side small-overlap crash test.

Comfortable, well-cushioned seats and a compliant ride suit multi-hour trips for four occupants; lack of a third row and only average total cargo volume (68.3 cu ft max) cap it below segment leaders for hauling a full family's gear.

Relaxed low-speed manners and a comfortable driving position make it an easy daily driver, though reviewers noted numb, disconnected steering and some body roll that keep it from feeling effortless in spirited traffic maneuvers.

EPA-rated 21 MPG combined (19/26 city/highway 4x2; 18/25 4x4) on regular unleaded is about average for a V6 mid-size SUV of this era — reasonable but unremarkable running costs.

A 37.1 ft curb-to-curb turning diameter is competitive for the mid-size SUV segment, and a standard rearview camera plus available ParkSense sensors ease tight parking, though it lacks a 360-degree camera on volume trims.

The 3.6L V6 tows up to 6,200 lbs with the factory Trailer Tow Group package — useful for light trailers, boats and campers but well short of truck-based or V8-equipped SUV capability.

The WK2 platform and 3.6L Pentastar/ZF 8-speed combination were well-proven by 2019, in production since 2011 with a solid mechanical reputation, though the Grand Cherokee is marketed more as a premium family SUV than a fleet workhorse.

No cargo bed, minimal factory tie-down/upfit ecosystem, and carpeted rather than washable cargo surfaces on volume trims make it a poor fit for jobsite duty relative to trucks or work-focused SUVs.

Comfortable, well-cushioned seating and a compliant highway ride support long stints; with a 24.6-gal tank and 21 MPG combined, real-world highway range approaches 450-500 miles, though driver-assist features (adaptive cruise) are optional rather than standard on volume trims.

Genuine off-road credentials for the segment: available Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II 4x4 systems with a locking rear differential, and an optional Quadra-Lift air suspension (Overland/Summit/Trailhawk) adding up to 4.1 in of lift and improved approach/departure angles — a long-standing strength of this generation.

60/40 split-folding rear seats, available roof rails and a factory hitch/tow package provide reasonable gear-hauling flexibility, but max cargo volume (68.3 cu ft) trails many mid-size SUV rivals.

Handling is secure and stable in reviewer testing but unremarkable, with noticeable body roll in spirited driving — reviewers placed the 2019 Grand Cherokee in the middle of the mid-size SUV class dynamically.

Steering was a consistently criticized weak point, described by reviewers as numb and disconnected from the road, making the vehicle feel heavy through corners.

No major braking complaints surfaced in period reviews; pedal feel and stopping performance are considered adequate for the class without being a standout strength.

The 3.6L Pentastar V6 paired with the ZF 8-speed automatic is well-regarded for smooth, well-calibrated shifts and adequate low-end response, a consistent strength noted across model years of this powertrain combination.

The V6 is generally inoffensive and quiet under normal driving, with some audible engine noise under hard acceleration but no notable coarseness or vibration through the controls.

Curb-to-curb turning diameter of 37.1 ft is mid-pack for a mid-size SUV; SRT/Trackhawk variants (not the scored volume trim) are slightly wider at 38.0 ft.

A commanding, comfortable seating position with good outward visibility and straightforward control layout is a consistent strength of the Grand Cherokee, aided by easy ingress/egress at a moderate ride height.

The V6 Grand Cherokee is a pleasant but unremarkable drive rather than an enthusiast's choice — comfortable and capable off-road, but the numb steering and body roll keep it from being genuinely engaging on-road (the SRT/Trackhawk variants, not scored here, are the enthusiast picks in this lineup).

Base 2019 Laredo includes a 7-inch Uconnect touchscreen, backup camera, keyless entry and power accessories — competitive for the price but cloth seats and smaller wheels leave it short of 'loaded' relative to segment leaders like the Telluride/Highlander.

Strong V6/V8/diesel engine choice, class-leading off-road hardware (Quadra-Drive, air suspension on upper trims) and a comfortable, well-finished cabin give solid content-for-money, offset by below-average reliability standing and higher-than-typical maintenance costs.

2019 lineup spans Laredo, Upland, Altitude, Limited, Limited X, Trailhawk, Overland, Summit, SRT and Trackhawk — an unusually wide spread from budget commuter to off-road specialist to 707-hp performance flagship.

2019 was a record sales year for the nameplate, putting it among the best-selling midsize SUVs in the US alongside the Explorer and Highlander.

Jeep carries strong off-road heritage and brand loyalty (helped by the Wrangler halo), but the brand's reliability/quality reputation was a drag on desirability relative to Toyota/Honda rivals in this era.

FCA/Jeep ran regular cash-allowance and low-APR financing offers on the Grand Cherokee through 2019, plus military/loyalty bonus cash — meaningful, buyer-friendly incentives without signaling desperation pricing.

The WK2 generation launched for 2011 and received facelifts in 2014 and 2017; by 2019 the platform is 8 model years old with no major redesign since, ahead of the all-new WL generation arriving for 2022.

Reviewers rated the 2019 Grand Cherokee well for ride comfort, interior quality and off-road ability (U.S. News 8.1/10; positive Consumer Reports road test), but it wasn't a comparison-test winner or Car and Driver 10Best recipient that year.