The Jeep Grand Cherokee — a SUV explained

What the Grand Cherokee is

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a SUV that Jeep built from 1993 to 2026 — 34 model years. Our measurements put it at 5 generations, the current one starting in 2022. It has been offered with 4-cyl, Plug-in hybrid, V6, V8 power. Its closest siblings in the Jeep range: Grand Cherokee L, Wagoneer S, Grand Wagoneer L.

Where the Grand Cherokee is built

A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 25,247 Grand Cherokees on record.

Check your own: the first three characters of a Jeep VIN decide which of these 5 lines your Grand Cherokee belongs to. What every character in a Grand Cherokee VIN means →

Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Jeep Grand Cherokee adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.

Grand Cherokee generations, and what changed

These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Grand Cherokee's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Grand Cherokee that gives 5 distinct generations below.

Between 1994 and 2026 the Grand Cherokee gained 42 cm in length (+9.4%) and 529 kg in weight (+32.8%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Grand Cherokee that is 529 kg against 42 cm. Full dimensions by year →

Jeep Grand Cherokee tire size, oil type & owner specs

The fitment Grand Cherokee owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.

Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.

What engines does the Jeep Grand Cherokee have? Power & range

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is offered with 4 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 5.7L 8-cyl, 2L 4-cyl, 2L 4-cyl Plug-in hybrid. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 4 for the Jeep Grand Cherokee, against one or two on most rivals.

Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.

Can a Jeep Grand Cherokee tow? Towing & payload

As an SUV, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.

What sets your Grand Cherokee's tow & payload rating:

• Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
• Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
• Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
• Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.

Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.

The Grand Cherokee by the numbers

What the federal and market records say about the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.