Compare the2025 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2025 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The Jeep Grand Cherokee has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Grand Cherokee Overland 4WD/Summit 4WD’s standard Hill-descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill-descent Control.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Overland/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee (except Laredo)’s optional360-degree camera can be optionally equipped with washers for its front and rear cameras, ensuring crystal-clear visibility in any weather condition. Conversely, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid only offers a rear camera washer, which may not provide the same level of all-weather performance.

Both the Grand Cherokee and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Grand Cherokee	Highlander Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	129	292
Neck Injury Risk	21%	38.2%
Neck Stress	152 lbs.	347 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	137	328
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	28%	28.4%
Neck Stress	125 lbs.	179 lbs.
Neck Compression	41 lbs.	90 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	400/347 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Grand Cherokee	Highlander Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	235 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
Hip Force	528 lbs.	664 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

There are almost 2 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

Engine

The Grand Cherokee’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 50 more horsepower (293 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid produces 132 more horsepower (375 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Jeep Grand Cherokee is faster than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Grand Cherokee V6	Grand Cherokee 4xe	Highlander Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	6.5 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	15 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	89.8 MPH	91.3 MPH	85.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Cherokee running on electricity gets better mileage than the Highlander Hybrid:

			MPGe
Grand Cherokee
	AWD	4xe Electric Motor	57 city/56 hwy
Highlander Hybrid
			MPG
	AWD	LE 2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/35 hwy
		2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/34 hwy

The Grand Cherokee 4xe can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Highlander Hybrid can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Both the Grand Cherokee and Highlander Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Grand Cherokee V6 has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe’s standard fuel tank has 1.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (19 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Grand Cherokee’s standard fuel tank has 5.9 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (23 vs. 17.1 gallons).

The Grand Cherokee has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Grand Cherokee’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander Hybrid:

	Grand Cherokee	Highlander Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.9 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	13.8 inches	13.3 inches

The Grand Cherokee stops shorter than the Highlander Hybrid:

	Grand Cherokee	Highlander Hybrid
60 to 0 MPH	138 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	145 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee has larger standard tires than the Highlander Hybrid (245/70R17 vs. 235/65R18). The Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander Hybrid (275/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee Summit Reserve has standard 21-inch wheels. The Highlander Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Grand Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Highlander Hybrid; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The Grand Cherokee offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Highlander Hybrid’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Grand Cherokee has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the Highlander Hybrid (116.7 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

The Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Highlander Hybrid Platinum (27.7 seconds @ .6 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander Hybrid (8.4 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Air Suspension’s minimum ground clearance is 2.9 inches higher than on the Highlander Hybrid (10.9 vs. 8 inches).

Chassis

The Jeep Grand Cherokee may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 300 pounds less than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid.

The Grand Cherokee offers available computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Grand Cherokee has .3 inches more front headroom, .2 inches more front hip room and .2 inches more front shoulder room than the Highlander Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume than the Highlander Hybrid with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 16 cubic feet).

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is limited to 3500 pounds. The Grand Cherokee offers up to a 6200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee 4WD with optional equipment can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Highlander Hybrid can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Servicing Ease

The Grand Cherokee uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Highlander Hybrid uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The engine in the Grand Cherokee is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Highlander Hybrid. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory seat and mirrors in the Highlander Hybrid Limited/Platinum, the Grand Cherokee Overland Luxury Tech/Summit has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The Grand Cherokee 4xe/Limited/Overland/Summit’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Grand Cherokee’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Highlander Hybrid does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Grand Cherokee’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Highlander Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Grand Cherokee’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander Hybrid has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Optional air conditioned front and rear seats keep the Grand Cherokee’s passengers comfortable and take the sting out of hot leather in summer. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

The Grand Cherokee Overland Luxury Tech/Summit has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Highlander Hybrid.

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s Parallel and Perpendicular Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Grand Cherokee is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Recommendations

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Toyota Highlander by over two to one during 2024.

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