Battle of the beasts: subaru forester vs. jeep grand cherokee – off-road dominance revealed
What To Know
- While the Forester is a compact SUV known for its practicality and reliability, the Grand Cherokee is a midsize SUV that offers a blend of ruggedness and refinement.
- The Forester gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, while the Grand Cherokee with the V6 engine gets 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
- The Forester is a practical and reliable compact SUV that is perfect for everyday use, while the Grand Cherokee is a more rugged and refined midsize SUV that is also capable of tackling off-road trails.
The Subaru Forester and Jeep Grand Cherokee are two highly popular SUVs in their respective segments. While the Forester is a compact SUV known for its practicality and reliability, the Grand Cherokee is a midsize SUV that offers a blend of ruggedness and refinement. In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll delve into the key differences between these two SUVs to help you make an informed decision about which one is right for you.
Performance and Fuel Economy
The Subaru Forester comes standard with a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated engine that produces 182 horsepower and 176 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Jeep Grand Cherokee, on the other hand, offers a wider range of engine options, including a 3.6-liter V6, a 5.7-liter V8, and a 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6. The base V6 engine produces 293 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque, while the V8 delivers a whopping 357 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. The Grand Cherokee also comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
In terms of fuel economy, the Subaru Forester has a slight edge over the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Forester gets an EPA-estimated 26 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway, while the Grand Cherokee with the V6 engine gets 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Interior and Features
The Subaru Forester’s interior is spacious and well-appointed, with comfortable seats and a user-friendly infotainment system. It offers a generous amount of cargo space, with 31.1 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a more luxurious interior, with high-quality materials and a wider range of features. It offers more legroom and headroom in both the front and rear seats, and it has a larger cargo capacity of 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 68.3 cubic feet with the seats folded down.
Off-Road Capability
Both the Subaru Forester and Jeep Grand Cherokee are capable off-road vehicles, but the Grand Cherokee has a slight edge in this area. It offers a higher ground clearance, a more advanced four-wheel-drive system, and a variety of off-road-oriented features such as skid plates, hill descent control, and low-range gearing. The Forester, on the other hand, is more suited for light off-roading, with a lower ground clearance and a less sophisticated all-wheel-drive system.
Safety
Both the Subaru Forester and Jeep Grand Cherokee have received high safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Forester earned a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS, while the Grand Cherokee received a four-star overall safety rating from NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick award from IIHS. Both SUVs come standard with a variety of safety features, including airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control.
Price
The Subaru Forester has a lower starting price than the Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Forester starts at $25,195, while the Grand Cherokee starts at $37,995. However, the Grand Cherokee offers a wider range of trims and options, so it’s possible to configure a Grand Cherokee that is more expensive than a Forester.
Which One is Right for You?
Ultimately, the best choice between the Subaru Forester and Jeep Grand Cherokee depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for a compact SUV that is practical, fuel-efficient, and reliable, then the Forester is a great option. If you’re looking for a midsize SUV that offers a blend of ruggedness, refinement, and off-road capability, then the Grand Cherokee is a better choice.
The Verdict: A Tale of Two SUVs
The Subaru Forester and Jeep Grand Cherokee are both excellent SUVs, but they cater to different needs. The Forester is a practical and reliable compact SUV that is perfect for everyday use, while the Grand Cherokee is a more rugged and refined midsize SUV that is also capable of tackling off-road trails. Ultimately, the best choice for you depends on your individual lifestyle and driving habits.
Answers to Your Questions
Q: Which SUV is more fuel-efficient?
A: The Subaru Forester has a slight edge over the Jeep Grand Cherokee in terms of fuel economy.
Q: Which SUV has a more spacious interior?
A: The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a more spacious interior than the Subaru Forester, with more legroom and headroom in both the front and rear seats.
Q: Which SUV is better off-road?
A: The Jeep Grand Cherokee has a slight edge over the Subaru Forester in terms of off-road capability, due to its higher ground clearance, more advanced four-wheel-drive system, and off-road-oriented features.
Q: Which SUV is safer?
A: Both the Subaru Forester and Jeep Grand Cherokee have received high safety ratings from NHTSA and IIHS.
Q: Which SUV is more affordable?
A: The Subaru Forester has a lower starting price than the Jeep Grand Cherokee.