If you are in the market for a new mid-size crossover SUV, then our team here at Bob Weaver Auto, located conveniently in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, have just the right vehicle for you! If you are considering either the 2020 Jeep Cherokee or the GMC Terrain, we have taken some time to create a comparison of the two, to aid in your decision-making process.
Price / Size
The Cherokee has a starting price of $31,845 and is able to seat up to five people. The Terrain comes in at a slightly lower price-point of $28,400. It can also seat up to five people, however it comes with a greater amount of cargo space than the Cherokee. The Cherokee has a total of 25.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a total of up to 54.7 cubic feet when the rear seat is folded down. The Terrain has 29.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and a total of up to 63.3 including the entire rear seating area.
Fuel Efficiency
The Cherokee has a larger range of gas mileage than the Terrain. The Cherokee gets 22 mpg City / 31 mpg Highway, whereas the Terrain gets 26 mpg City / 30 mpg Highway.
POWER
A big difference between these two vehicles is the amount of power they have. The Cherokee has both a V4 and V6 engine option and can tow up to 4,500 lbs., which is 1,000 lbs. more than the Terrain’s V4 engine can haul.
Capability
Even though the towing capacity of these vehicles differ, they both have incredible off-road capabilities. The Cherokee focuses a little more toward unpredictable and rougher terrain, while the Terrain tackles a broader spectrum of adventure driving.
Jeep has worked really hard to stay at the top of their off-road game. The Cherokee is equipped with Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System that has four customized settings to ensure a functional drive in any conditions. Choose from Auto, Snow, Sport or Sand/Mud to optimize your drive. Beyond that intuitive system, the Cherokee also has what is called Jeep® Active Drive. This is a unique single power take-off unit which is fully automatic and delivers seamless operation in and out of four-wheel drive at any speed. This system, being fully automated, takes the planning out of off-roading and lets the vehicle do that for you. This intelligent system only engages the 4x4 system when necessary so that you can maintain the optimal fuel efficiency whenever possible. Taking it even one step farther, Jeep has an available Active Drive Lock, which adds an additional rear lock for better traction when off-roading. With this feature, Rock Mode is also added to the Selec-Terrain® Traction Management System, elevating the functionality of off-road travel even more.
As Mentioned earlier, the Terrain has a greater focus on your overall driving experience day in and day out. It also has a Traction Select System that allows you to make real-time adjustments to ensure your adventure doesn’t get cut short due to lack of capability.
If you choose to select the All-Wheel-Drive Terrain, here is a list of the Traction Select System modes for that configuration:
• Front Wheel Drive Mode, improves fuel efficiency in your normal day-to-day operations by disconnecting the rear axle to eliminate unwanted drag.
•All-Wheel Drive Mode, automatically and consistently sends power to both sets of wheels to better enhance traction on most any road conditions.
•Off-Road Mode, adjusts the All-Wheel-Drive system a step farther to enable better traction control during off-road conditions.
•Tow/Haul Mode is an available selection that can be added to upgrade your trailering capability with Trailer Sway Control and automatically engages All-Wheel Drive when needed.
If you choose to select the Front Wheel Drive Terrain configuration, the Traction Select System provides these modes: Normal Mode, and available Tow/Haul Mode and Snow Mode, which both help the vehicle in low-traction driving conditions to keep tire-slippage to a minimum.
Comfort / Infotainment
The Terrain and Cherokee both support Apple CarPlay®, and Android Auto™ and have available built-in navigation. The Terrain has an available Rear Seat Infotainment System w/DVD player, Customizable Touch-Screen, and available 4G LTE Wi-Fi® Hotspot.
Safety
In terms of safety, both vehicles are very comparable with their customized array of safety features. Some of those standard features in both vehicles include; Traction Control, Stability Control, Tire Pressure Monitor, and Back-Up Camera.
Comparison
Because both of these vehicles excel in so many areas, you really can’t go wrong with either choice. However, if you are looking for a little lower price-point, more cargo space, a higher overall fuel efficiency and don’t need as high of a trailering rating or as specialized off-road capabilities, the Terrain will be the perfect choice for your family. On the other hand, if you need the higher towing capacity, and more honed off-road capabilities and you are ok paying a little bit more, the Cherokee is the better option. If you are still debating about which is the best option for your family, don’t hesitate to come on down and visit us today at Bob Weaver Auto.