2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit test drive review

Three-row SUVs are a dime a dozen these days, so anyone new to the party will need to make a statement. Enter the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. Essentially a stretched version of the ever-popular, two-row Grand Cherokee, this new model retains all the luxury and off-road chops you expect from the nameplate while offering room for two adults in the third row. If you need something to haul the family, want off-road capability but don’t want to go into a full-size SUV, the Grand Cherokee L is one of the few SUVs on the market to fit that bill.  

Curious about the 2023 Grand Cherokee L? Check it out on KSL Cars. 

Price and value

Like other Jeep models, the Grand Cherokee L comes with a potentially steep price tag, depending on trims and options. The MSRP range for the 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L in four-wheel drive configuration is $44,130-$71,535. Our tester, a Summit model, priced out at $73,515. It is available in eight trim levels, with a suite of standard features including LED exterior lighting, an eight-speed automatic transmission and a myriad of safety systems. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below.

Laredo: $44,130 See listings

• Quadra-Trac I Active 4x4 System

• 10.25-inch digital driver information cluster display

• Adaptive cruise control

Laredo X: $44,630 See listings

Same as the Laredo trim, and adds a moonroof.  

Altitude: $48,430 See listings

• 20-inch gloss black wheels

• Gloss black exterior trim

• Heated leather steering wheel

• Remote vehicle start

Altitude X: $49,235 See listings

Same as Altitude trim, adds moonroof.

Limited: $52,825 See listings

• Capri leather-trimmed interior

• Heated front and second-row seats

• Heated steering wheel

• 10.1-inch infotainment screen

• Power Liftgate

• A six-speaker stereo with active noise cancellation

Overland: $62,790 See listings

• Quadra-Trac II Active 4x4 System

• Jeep Selec-Terrain Traction Management System

• Quadra-Lift Suspension System

• Nappa leather interior seating and trim

• Heated and ventilated front seats; heated second-row seats

• Dual-pane panoramic sunroof

• 20-inch polished aluminum wheels

• Ambient lighting with color personalization

Summit: $67,055 See listings

• Active driving assist

• Advanced safety and security features

• 16-way power-adjustable front seats with memory and massage

• Black painted roof

• Quad-zone automatic climate control

Summit Reserve: $71,535 See listings

• Palermo leather seats

• 19-speaker premium McIntosh stereo

• 21-inch polished aluminum wheels

The Grand Cherokee gets expensive — fast. Even in the top trims, luxury features like a head-up display are additional options. The Grand Cherokee’s value lies in its off-road credibility and optional V8 engine. If those things are a must for you, the Grand Cherokee should be on your shortlist. 

Jeep’s warranty coverage is about on par with the rest of the industry. Coverage includes a 3-year/36,000-mile limited warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mil powertrain warranty and three years of complimentary scheduled maintenance.

Performance 

The Grand Cherokee L does an admirable job at pulling triple duty as a family hauler, off-roader and luxury roller. Our Summit trim was very well equipped but was fitted with the Pentastar V6 rather than the more powerful V8 — an option we would have eagerly checked the box for.

Engine 

The Grand Cherokee L is one of a few mid-size SUVs still available with a V8. We’ve had good experiences with the V6 in other models, but in this heavy SUV, the V6 felt pokey and unrefined in its power delivery. The V6 produces 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, which doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in some driving scenarios. 

Fuel efficiency 

The V6-equipped Jeep is rated at 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg combined. We experienced just under 18 mpg in our week of testing.  

Drivetrain 

The Grand Cherokee is equipped with a myriad of off-road goodies. These include an eight-speed automatic transmission, Jeep’s Quadra-Trac II four-wheel drive system, a height-adjustable air suspension, selectable drive modes and more. Despite the slight lack of power, the Grand Cherokee handles well and feels planted and sure-footed heading down the road — paved or unpaved. Should you get the itch to hit the trails in this luxury family hauler, the Grand Cherokee has you covered. 

Acceleration and handling 

Car and Driver clocked the V6 Grand Cherokee L going from 0-60 mph in 8.0 seconds. The air suspension does a great job keeping its 5,112-pound curb weight in check and its steering feels appropriately weighted at all speeds. 

Braking 

Braking felt natural and reassuring, even in emergency braking situations. Automated emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection is standard. 

Interior comfort and convenience 

The 2023 Grand Cherokee is one half-step away from being a full-blown luxury vehicle. The interior looks and feels expensive, though the overuse of piano black trim and chrome plastic borders on feeling cheap. Regardless, the build quality is solid, and six adults will be comfortable — as long as they’re not hauling a lot of gear. Our Summit tester was loaded with features like night vision, a passenger interactive display and a 19-speaker McIntosh stereo.

Seats 

The 16-way power-adjustable front seats were comfortable, if a bit on the firmer side. The massage functionality was OK, but something we’d rather pay a massage therapist for. The heating elements worked well, but the ventilated functionality only ever got mildly cool. We were surprised that the interior felt smaller than we expected, especially for the driver and passenger, largely thanks to the supersized center stack. 

Climate control 

Have you ever found yourself thinking that tri-zone climate control is not enough? Well, you’re in luck. The Grand Cherokee L Summit comes with quad-zone climate control, reaching all the way to the third row. 

Cargo space and cabin storage 

With the third row folded flat, there’s plenty of room for a family of four’s luggage. Even with the third row up, there’s still enough space for a small grocery run. Cabin storage is also what you’d expect, with plenty of cubbies and storage pockets for all your treats, sunglasses and Stanley mugs.  

Infotainment system 

We’ve had extensive experience with Uconnect 5, and its functionality is largely the same here in the Grand Cherokee L. It’s sharp, crisp and the cameras look fantastic. As is expected with Uconnect 5, the icons can be on the smaller side and hard to touch. Thankfully there are physical buttons below the screen for most of your needs. The $2,020 optional 19-speaker McIntosh stereo sounded good, but we wouldn’t say it's a must, especially given the upgrade price.

Exterior appearance and functionality 

The new Grand Cherokee generation is decidedly upmarket in its appearance. It’s handsome, stylish and has just the right amount of ruggedness to give a romantic, off-roading allure. The L version elongates the standard Grand Cherokee, but in no way diminishes its aesthetic appeal. Our tester looked very classy being largely adorned in silver — Silver Zynith paint, silver wheels, silver trim. Other paint color options include Bright White, Baltic Gray Metallic, Midnight Sky, Rocky Mountain Pearl and Velvet Red Pearl. 

Towing capacity and payload 

Continuing its theme of rugged capability, the Grand Cherokee L is capable of towing some legitimately heavy loads. The V6 versions are rated at 6,200 pounds, while models equipped with the V8 are rated at 7,200 pounds. Get the V8 while you can, folks. 

Wheels 

Our tester came with beautiful, 20-inch fully-painted aluminum silver wheels with 265/50 R20 performance all-season tires. The wheels looked especially striking coupled with the body’s Silver Zynith paint. Should you want to actually take the Grand Cherokee off-road, we’d recommend opting for some smaller wheels and thicker sidewall all-terrain tires so as to not damage the large, 20-inch wheels or performance all-season tires. 

Lights and turn signals 

We’re always appreciative of bright lights, and the Grand Cherokee doesn’t let us down. LED lights are abundant with the Summit trim, inside and out. 

Cameras and side mirrors 

Jeep has some of the clearest cameras in the segment, and they provide excellent views around the vehicle. Our tester also had Jeep’s Night Vision with pedestrian and animal detection, a rear-view auto-dimming digital display mirror and an interior rear-facing camera which our kids found highly amusing. Is all of this stuff necessary? Probably not. But it was cool to have. 

Front and rear windshield 

As with most Jeeps, the windows were large and rectangular. Visibility was good and aided by an abundance of cameras and safety systems. 

Safety 

The 2023 Grand Cherokee boasts an impressive array of safety features, as well as strong crash test ratings. It also provides a heavy, stout feeling that contributes to an overall feeling of cocoon-like safety.

Features 

As with most vehicles at this price point, the Grand Cherokee is filled to the brim with all the latest safety features. Some of these include: 

• Adaptive cruise control

• Blind spot and cross-path detection

• Intersection collision-assist

• Drowsy driver detection 

• Electronic stability control

For a full list of safety features, click here.  

Awards and Ratings 

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been awarded several awards. Some of these include:

• Five-star crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

• 2023 Best SUV of 2023 from Cars.com

• 2023 2023 Editor’s Choice honors list from Car and Driver

• 2022 Best Two-Row SUV from Newsweek

• 2022 Intellichoice Best Overall Value Winner

• 2022 Intellichoice Lowest Cost of Ownership Winner

• 2022 Intellichoice Multiple Smart Choice Winner

• Brand Keys Most Patriotic Brand for 20 Years 2-3 sentences. Include NHTSA, IIHS, MotorTrend, etc. 

Final impression 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a beloved nameplate in American automotive history. Jeep doesn’t take its updates lightly, and the 2023 Grand Cherokee L is the best the SUV has ever been. It’s luxurious, capable, stylish, roomy and available with a V8. It offers excellent family hauling prowess and can hold its own off-road. In short, if you’re looking for a family SUV that’ll confidently do more than mall crawl, the luxurious Grand Cherokee L is definitely worth your consideration. 

While we enjoyed the Summit trim and all its niceties, we’d also recommend a Limited trim option. The Limited represents the best value but still offers plenty of nice-to-have features and off-road capability as the upper trims, at a nearly $14,000 discount to our tester’s Summit trim. 

Find your next Grand Cherokee L on KSL Cars. 

FAQs 

Is the Grand Cherokee L good for families? 

Absolutely. It’s designed to haul the entire family, and it does a great job. While it’s not as spacious as some of the competition, and the third row can only accommodate two people, the space feels like a minor price to pay for its off-road chops. 

Is it fun to drive? 

We found our V6-equipped Grand Cherokee L to be a bit lethargic and wheezy in its hustle. For our money, the optional V8 seems well worth it. 

Follow KSL Cars on Instagram and Facebook for car news, local spotlights and giveaways. Do you or someone you know have an awesome car story? We want to feature it! Send us a message at cars@ksl.com. 

The makes and models mentioned in this article are not placed in any particular order, nor intended to be viewed as a ranked list. KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.

About the author: Having owned everything from a DeLorean to an E46 BMW M3 and a Toyota Land Cruiser, Jason Bell is a lifelong car enthusiast who loves sharing his passions as a teacher, automotive journalist, and social media manager. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press where he serves on the Board of Directors. Contact him at jasonbellcars@gmail.com