Driven: 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve
jeep | jeep grand cherokee l | reviews | suvs
Jeep’s venerable Grand Cherokee SUV is at its best in its most luxurious version: the Summit Reserve. The extended-wheelbase model we tested features a beautifully refined interior with room for six passengers, top-grade materials, the latest technology, and a fantastic sound system. Plus, it’s still, at heart, an off-road capable Jeep.
Measuring 204.9" long, the Grand Cherokee L is roughly 11" longer than the standard 2-row Grand Cherokee, with 5" added to its wheelbase. The upscale Summit Reserve model looks excellent in Hydro Blue pearlcoat paint which covers both the body and lower trim pieces. The gloss black roof, rear spoiler, and black mirror caps add to the SUV's sporty appearance, as do the optional 21" black wheels, which have a cool snowflake design.
The Grand Cherokee L continues to be powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine that produces 293 horsepower and 257 lb-ft. of torque. That's mated with a ZF 8HP50 transmission, and the Summit Reserve comes only in an all-wheel drive configuration. A 5.7-liter V8 Hemi with 357 horsepower is available as a $3995 upgrade, but we didn't get to test this more powerful engine. The V6 offers plenty of power for everyday driving and provides better fuel economy. But if you plan on towing, the V8 can pull 7200 pounds versus the V6's 6200-pound towing limit.
Vehicle technology abounds in this Jeep, including a widescreen digital instrument cluster, adaptive cruise control, lane centering, blind spot detection, surround view parking cameras, a front-facing off-road camera, drowsy driver detection, hill descent control, a digital rearview mirror and more. There's also a wireless phone charger and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. We were impressed with the adaptive cruise control, but the lane-centering system tends to ping-pong a little bit between the lane markers. On the other hand, the digital rearview mirror is bright and crisp and provides a clear, wide-angle view regardless of who or what is in the back of the cabin.
Thanks to a four-corner air suspension and semi-active damping, the Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve offers an incredibly smooth and cushioned ride and does a great job isolating the cabin from bumps and vibrations. The air suspension offers five adjustable heights, including a 6.4" Park mode for passenger loading and the highest setting offering up to 10.9" of ground clearance for off-roading. Aero mode keeps the chassis 7.4" off the ground at highway speeds, maximizing fuel efficiency.
What really sets the Summit Reserve apart from other Grand Cherokee models is its interior. Elegant materials abound, including high-end Palermo leather seats and genuine wood accents on the dashboard, doors, and steering wheel. The comfy front seats feature a diamond-quilted pattern repeated on the soft-touch door panels. Acoustic laminated glass on the windshield and doors helps keep out road and wind noise.
The large, 10.1" center touchscreen runs Stellantis' stellar UConnect 5 multimedia system and is fast, intuitive, and configurable. You can access navigation, media, vehicle, and other app settings all from a well-integrated interface that can save individual driver profiles. The control screen for the massaging seats is shown here, which offers five different modes and three intensity levels, adding a premium level of comfort and relaxation to the already plush and supportive front seats. In addition to the touchscreen, there are tactile controls for climate control, seat temperature, the heated steering wheel, radio tuning, and audio volume.
The 19-speaker McIntosh audio system is extraordinary, pumping out clean, studio-quality sound with excellent imaging and a wide soundstage. An active noise canceling system help reduce unwanted engine and other noise in the cabin. The right side of the dashboard gets its own touchscreen display which lets the passenger control the audio system, view video content via HDMI, view vehicle cameras, and create driving routes and send them to the main navigation screen. This screen is polarized so only the passenger can see it, reducing distractions for the driver.
The second-row captain's chairs aren't quite body-hugging as the front row, but they're still quite wide and comfortable. Both of these seats have heating and ventilation, and there are also dedicated climate controls and vents back here. You'll also find USB and USB-C charging ports and a 110V AC outlet in the back of the center console. There's a nice-sized storage box between these seats, and they fold and slide forward to provide access to the third row.
A large panoramic sunroof covers much of the cabin, adding to its spacious feel. Third-row passengers get a narrower seating area due to the wheel wells, and legroom is limited back there, but it's still a good spot for kids. They also get USB and USB-C charging ports and drink holders.
With all three rows in use, cargo space is limited to a car-like 17.2 cubic feet - enough for a couple of small suitcases or the week's groceries. With the third row folded, that jumps to 46.8 cubic feet. Fold the second and third rows, and that increases to a cavernous 84.6 cubic feet. We like the pushbutton controls, which can remotely fold down the second or third row and raise the third row. A power liftgate with hands-free access can be activated with a wave of your foot under the bumper. One minor annoyance is that the button to close the power liftgate is inside the cargo area instead of on the liftgate itself, so you need to get your arm out of the way quickly before it closes, or it will reverse as a safety measure.
Jeep has done a superb job with the entire Grand Cherokee lineup, with the three-row Grand Cherokee L providing extra space for the kids and cargo. While you can get into a base 2WD Laredo model for as little as $42,130, the tricked-out Summit Reserve model offers all of the comforts and features of a high-end vehicle. It's spacious, smooth, quiet, and every bit as elegant as luxury brand SUVs. The current base price for the 2023 Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve is $71,535. Our fully-loaded test vehicle had a sticker price of $76,820, including the destination charge.
