Was wondering if anyone cross shopped with the Jeep Grand Cherokee? I drove a Jeep GC in 1999-2001 and loved it, but don't know much about the newer ones. I find myself "ooh-ing and aahh-ing" when I see one on the road; similar response when I see an RDX drive by me.

Anything would help. Drive quality, reliability, etc.

 

OP....Fleuger99 has traded his wife's Grand Cherokee for the RDX....He would be in a good position to comment. See the thread where he commented on his experience...mid way down the first page.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rdx-photograph-gallery-408/2013-rdx-awd-tech-silver-moon-w-ebony-leather-857811/

 

Love the look but not the reliability and resale.

 

I love the JGC!!! I've wanted one for years but thought they were expensive. Honestly when it came to shopping/buying RDX, I forgot we could now afford the JGC!

 

We test drove a JGC this April. (And I will preface that our experience at the local dealer was awful - every sleezy-type dealer move was thrown at us and it was disgusting.)

There is actually substantially more leg room in the 2nd row in the RDX than in the JGC. This was a dealbreaker for me since I'm 6'5". We would never have been able to fit an adult or a child seat behind me with the drivers seat in a comfortable position.

For those who don't have the issue of legroom behind a massive driver, the fit and finish was unimpressive on the low and middle trim levels and the actual driving dynamics unfortunately screamed Chrysler product. It did have a solid feel that would probably be very good on rough roads but the five speed transmission was unimpressive and the 290hp/260lbft engine didn't excite me at all. Look at it this way - the JGC does 0-60 in 9 seconds with a 290hp engine. Upgrade to the JGC V8 with 360hp and it's still 8. The RDX does it in 6 and change with a 270 hp engine. And the RDX does it with better fuel economy. The JGC has far superior towing capacity of 7400lbs compared to the RDX at 1500.

One major thought in cross shopping would be what trim level of JGC you're looking at. You can get in to a Laredo for under 30k and at that point you're probably better off cross shopping with a CRV.

 

I traded a 2007 Grand Cherokee for my 13 RDX. The jeep was not even in the same catagory. Slow, unresponsive, plastic interior that looked plastic. The only advantage was the amount of cargo I could hold. Have not missed it one bit over my RDX.

 

The major reason to go for a comparably equipped JGC is the additional 10 cu. ft. of cargo capacity over the RDX. In addition, although the RDX has 2" more overall legroom, the JGC is substantially wider, so if you don't have tall people in the front, 3 people can fit more comfortably in the back of the JGC - I fit very comfortable in the back with my wife and a baby seat in my cousin's JGC. He LOVES it.

Another benefit of the JGC is that it offers a superior 4WD system, but that's not important to most people. What's even less important is the JGC with the HEMI.

 

Soon the jeep and many, if not all other Dodge and Chrysler vehicles, will have the 8 speed dual clutch trans, the current 5 speed trans dates back to 2004-2005, same I had in my RT. IMO, they shouldn't even have bothered having all new vehicles in 2012 if they were working on a 8 speed trans and not have it ready until 2013+

 

The new 8-speed unit is not a dual clutch transmission, but rather a conventional torque converter automatic. Like many items, it just wasn't ready as the vehicles themselves were. Next year, you'll see it across the board.

 

You're right, it's not dual clutch but it can shift in 200 milliseconds, check link here.

 

Anything would help. Drive quality, reliability, etc.




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The new grand Cherokee is nice, but the only one I would consider buying is the diesel. I do think they made the laredo trim look too high end as there isn't as much distinction to the limited and overland trims compared to the last generation.