Contemplating a 2022 Durango and the sales guy recommended the Grand Cherokee, mostly I think because they had no Durango's. But they are very similar so I am not sure I care. It will be my first new vehicle in 35 years but I am surprisingly ambivilent. I just decided that when I go to the shop I want to work on one of my projects and not my daily any more. I am going Mopar because I can tow it four down and I do not want something kicking around just for the odd camping trip. Also I currently have an LR3 which I really like (keeping it for the kids I think) and I wanted something similar. So, Durango or Grand Cherokee? Unless there is another mid size SUV that fits the bill.
SWMBO has a 2018 Durango we bought new. We crossed shopped the Grand Cherokee but wife wanted the 3rd row so the Durango won out. Plus Dodge was easier to special order with the options we wanted. She loves her Durango and absolutely will not part with it even though we could get all but about $3k of the purchase price back if we sold it now.
FYI right now Dodge selling an all new Grand Cherokee AND the old Grand Cherokee side by side, same model year. Make sure you know which one you are getting.
Do NOT get a Grand Wagoneer for any reason, they have serious electronic issues that are bricking them literally right off of dealer lots.
Also I don't think you can tow any of them 4 down anymore, you'll really want to double check that...
I'd go 2021 Grand Cherokee if you can find one, or the 2022 Grand (not the all new 2022). They've made that one forever, and they're bulletproof for the most part. If you can find a leftover 2021, they have more trim levels than the 2022.
Rodan
SuperDork
3/21/22 11:39 p.m.
As far as I know, all GCs with the Quadra Trac II 4wd (t/c with low range and neutral) can be flat towed. There aren't many mid-sized SUV's that can be flat towed and have much off road capability.
We have a 2021 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk with the V6. Being able to tow four down was one of the primary reasons we bought it. That and we wanted something more civilized than a Wrangler on the highway, but also had 90+% of the off-road chops. We've put 18k on it in the first year, and have no serious complaints. It's comfy on and off road, can run 80mph all day down the interstate and get 20+mpg doing it. Short of serious rock crawling, it's plenty capable for rough/off roading.
Unless you need 3 row seating, or plan to tow a trailer regularly, I'd go with the GC over the Durango.
I confirmed the towing details. The guy I am talking to has sold 15 this year to RV owners and he seems to know his stuff. The lower end of both lines have no proper transfer case with a neutral but the upper tiers do and he said they tow like a wagon and do not accumalate miles on the odometer. He has both old look and new look 2022's on the lot and there is very little difference but I think I like the redesign better. I guess I will get the Jeep unless a Durango pops up locally. Not sure why they are so scarce here.
The redesigned 2022 Grand Cherokee is a wonderful vehicle, I spent a week with a Grand Cherokee L (same thing, longer wheelbase) and really loved it. It is on a new platform that departs from the shared architecture that underpinned the outgoing Grand Cherokee, Durango, and Mercedes-Benz ML, so this one is all Stellantis/Mopar. Get the V8 if you can, I find the Pentastar V6 to be entirely adequate at best. Durango is pretty good but will feel old vs these new Grand Cherokees - if you want the extra length of a Durango, the L will get you the longer wheelbase and third row.
In reply to Brake_L8 (Forum Supporter) :
I think I will get the V6 actually. I have a 230 hp V6 in my Rover and everyone told me it would be slow but I find it just fine and mpg's are mpg's. Anyway the V6 is already 295 hp which is adequate I would say. I like the front end treatment better on the redesign as in your photo, compared to the old body style Rodan posted. And 5 seats is all I need so no L required.
Rodan
SuperDork
3/22/22 8:53 p.m.
In normal driving the V6 is plenty quick (and we live at 5000ft), and off road there's no need for big HP. The MPG penalty for the V8 isn't worth what you gain in normal use. IMHO, the only reason to get the V8 in a GC is if you want to tow with it, or if you're getting the SRT/Trackhawk.
RossD
MegaDork
3/23/22 10:41 a.m.
I killed our 14 Grand Cherokee 3.6 with 168k miles this past summer. We loved it for the good fuel economy and 4wd with conditions selection (snow mud rock...) The 3.6 gave up the ghost on our 1000 mile trip home on vacation.
Now that our kids are getting bigger we picked up a 2021 Durango with awd and a hemi. Love the more space (didnt actually care about the 3rd row but the extra rear space was worth it to us). The hemi gets close to the 3.6 mpgs but not quite.
The 8 speed is my favorite. The 2021 dash was upgraded compared to the 2020. Very nice.
If the question was "what car, Dodge only" I think my answer would be building a clone of the '68 Charger 500.