Tested: 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Remains True to Form

UPDATE 12/15/21: This review has been updated with test results for V-6 and V-8 models.

Jeep faced a fair amount of pressure to not screw up the 2021 Grand Cherokee L, the long-wheelbase, three-row debut model of its new fifth-generation mid-size SUV. (A shorter, more traditional two-row version has since entered the fray.) Since its introduction for 1993, the Grand Cherokee has evolved into an SUV icon, an American Land Rover of sorts, flush with refinement and impressive off-road and towing credentials. Despite the outgoing two-row-only model having been on the market for a decade, updates have kept it feeling rather modern, and its brand-leading 209,000 sales last year weren't far off the much newer three-row Ford Explorer's. Maintaining that heritage and sales momentum is no trivial task. But Jeep seems to have hit the right marks with the new L.

With the bulk of today's mid-size SUVs offering six- or seven-seat layouts, an upsized Grand Cherokee is hardly surprising. For the L, Jeep kept its width about the same as the previous model's yet added 15.1 inches in length (now 204.9) and 7.0 inches to its wheelbase (121.7). Available with either standard second-row captain's chairs or an optional 60/40 split-folding three-seat bench, the result is comfortable, six-footer-friendly accommodations front to rear. The middle row's straightforward tilt-and-slide mechanism affords easy access to the L's rearmost quarters, where there are generous levels of leg- and headroom for two adults. A solid 17 cubic feet of cargo room lies behind the L's third row; fold it flat and that space grows to 47 cubes, or 11 more than in the outgoing Grand Cherokee. Although some competitors are more capacious still, Jeep will gladly direct you to its new full-size Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer if you need even more space and a seven-slot grille.

Speaking of which, the slightly forward cant of the new Grand Cherokee's snout is a nod to the Wagoneers of old. Accented by LED lighting all around, the L projects a handsome, appropriately stocky look that is immediately recognizable as a Grand Cherokee. We will say that the stretched proportions of this long-wheelbase model are exaggerated when sitting on the standard 18-inch wheels, but that visual imbalance is lessened with the optional 20- or 21-inchers. In any case, the design always looks much more cohesive than Jeep's last attempt at a three-row SUV, the gangly Commander.

Jeep says that the Grand Cherokee L's body helps make it significantly stiffer than its predecessor. The brand also claims this allowed it to keep curb weights roughly the same despite the L's growth spurt. This is a good thing, as the fourth-gen Grand Cherokee was always a pretty heavy—albeit solid-feeling—thing, with acceleration that's more deliberate than spirited, at least in non-SRT-tuned versions. The lighter of two 4x4 L models we tested still weighed a hefty 5112 pounds, about 125 pounds more than the previous two-row GC. Given that the available powertrains—293-hp 3.6-liter V-6 or 357-hp 5.7-liter V-8 lashed to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission—carry over, the three-row version feels much the same getting underway.

As before, the V-8's strong 390 pound-feet of torque make it our pick over the comparatively high-strung V-6, which only produces 260 pound-feet of twist and must rely more heavily on the smart programming of the eight-speed for meaningful progress. The V-8's deeper exhaust rumble and easier-going power delivery are simply a better match for the Grand Cherokee's upscale demeanor. As equipped, the run to 60 mph takes a relatively spry 6.2 seconds versus the V-6 model's noticeably lazier 8.0-second effort. The larger engine also unlocks the L's 7200-pound towing capacity, up from the V-6's still-stout 6200 pounds. Unfortunately, we experienced some issues regarding the repeatability of the V-8 model's acceleration runs. We tested two different examples, and both exhibited heat-related issues, losing significant power after only a couple of straight-line acceleration runs as the oil temperature climbed to a not-that-hot 250 degrees F. Our normal testing procedure generally entails a handful of back-to-back sprints, which the V-6 L managed without issue.

Also unfortunate is the penalty that the Grand Cherokee's wide-ranging capability brings to its fuel economy, with the EPA issuing the L combined estimates of 21 mpg for V-6 models and just 17 mpg for the V-8. The fourth-gen Grand Cherokee diesel earned an EPA combined score of 24 mpg, but that 3.0-liter V-6 was dropped for 2020 and doesn't return here. We weren't able to collect fuel-economy data on the V-6, but the eight-cylinder version averaged just 16 mpg in our hands, even though that included extended highway running.