Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs Kia Telluride

Many American families are opting for large SUVs. These allow one to bring all of their kids, and everyone’s stuff, along for the ride. Whether you’re going across the country to see family or upstate for a weekend away, a large SUV can be the way to go. Many companies make vehicles in this category. Two of the stand-out options are the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and the Kia Telluride. This post is going to compare and contrast the two vehicles, so that you can make the choice that’s best for you and your loved ones.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

Grand Cherokee L vs Telluride: Specs

The Jeep Grand Cherokee comes standard with a V6 engine that outputs 290 horsepower. This can, however, be traded out for a V8 engine that puts out 357 horsepower. The vehicle comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but those drivers who prefer the added security of all-wheel drive can opt for three different packages that are tuned for different types of use.

The Kia Telluride only has one engine option, which is a V6 like the standard Grand Cherokee L engine. It outputs 291 horsepower – just one more than the Grand Cherokee L – and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. This means that the Telluride can tow up to 5,000 pounds. This does not compare favorably with the Grand Cherokee L: it can tow 6,200 pounds with the V6 engine, and 7,200 with the V8.

When it comes to fuel economy, the vehicles are similar. The standard rear-wheel drive Grand Cherokee with the V6 engine gets 19 miles per gallon in the city, and 26 on the highway. The Telluride narrowly edges out the Cherokee in this category, with 20 mpg in the city and 26 on the highway. Switching either vehicle to all-wheel drive knocks about 1 mpg off of these numbers.

Grand Cherokee L vs Telluride: Features and Safety

The Grand Cherokee L is a modern vehicle, complete with all of the creature comforts that drivers expect. These include a 10.1-inch touchscreen and connectivity features, including Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Jeep has also put together an impressive list of optional luxury features that drivers can opt for. These include a remote start system, powered lift gate, leather seats, and heated second-row seats.

The entry level Telluride has an 8.0-inch touchscreen, and other trims enjoy a 10.3-inch one. It has all of the modern connectivity features that drivers expect. More intense luxury features, like heated seats and driver’s seat memory settings, are available on higher trims.

Both of these vehicles enjoy a suite of modern safety features. The Cherokee comes standard with automated emergency braking, pedestrian and bicycle detection, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and a lane-keeping assistance system. The Telluride has a similar suite of safety features.

Grand Cherokee L vs Telluride: Conclusion

While the Telluride offers space aplenty for the family, it does not offer the same utility as the Jeep Grand Cherokee L. The latter has a much higher towing capacity, which means that camper and boat owners will certainly prefer this beast, even if they do not opt for the V8 engine. Seeing as the vehicles are quite similar in other categories – features, safety, and the like – it makes more sense to opt for the more powerful SUV.

Luckily, the excellent staff down at Deery of Ames is happy to help you find a new Jeep Grand Cherokee L! Stop on by and see us soon. You can rest assured that your visit will be a pleasant one – our long tradition of service wouldn’t have it any other way.

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