2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland First Test: No Pretender

New for 2021, the Grand Cherokee L carries into 2023 with few changes aside from our near-top-trim Overland's new 10.1-inch infotainment display (up from the 8.4-inch screen offered on lesser Grand Cherokee Ls) and an optional 19-speaker McIntosh audio system for Overland and loaded Summit models.

The smaller two-row Grand Cherokee gets an optional plug-in hybrid powertrain, and the larger Wagoneer gets a new turbocharged I-6, but the Grand Cherokee L for now uses carryover powerplants. Our Overland model sports a 3.6-liter V-6—just about the only mechanical bit it shares with a minivan—that produces 293 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. It's teamed with an eight-speed automatic and an optional four-wheel-drive system, a segment-exclusive feature the Jeep shares with the Dodge Durango. Also on the Grand Cherokee L's list of exclusives

Unlike so many of its competitors, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L is inspiring to drive. There's a solidity in the way it's built and goes down the road, feeling far more like a traditional body-on-frame SUV than a unibody crossover. Its height-adjustable air suspension deserves much of the credit for that, eliminating body roll and brake dive while making most impacts one-and-done affairs, though the ride can be a bit busy on poor-quality highway surfaces when lowered to its aero setting.

The Grand Cherokee L's eight-speed automatic also does wonders for the aging V-6 under its hood. The quick-shifting transmission selects gears smartly, doesn't hesitate to downshift early or upshift late, and keeps the engine in the meat of its powerband.

Those who regularly venture off-road will surely appreciate how easy the Jeep makes it to do so. The Overland model features Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand/Mud, and Rock off-road modes, which when selected, will automatically shift the transfer case, adjust the suspension height, and change engine and stability control programming to suit the expected terrain. In our brief off-road excursions in the deserts surrounding Joshua Tree National Park, we found the Grand Cherokee L to be sure-footed and confidence-inspiring, although we might hesitate to take it on the same tighter, more technical trails where we'd happily off-road the two-row Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe.

The Grand Cherokee L's biggest drawbacks are its engine options. Although the base V-6 and optional V-8 have aged gracefully enough, both date back to the first decade of the century, delivering age-appropriate power delivery and efficiency. Our V-6-powered test example accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds, for example, a figure that makes it among the slowest vehicles in the segment. And although not many Grand Cherokee L owners are lining up for pinks, that type of performance means it's less effective at passing slower traffic on the highway or handling heavier passenger loads than some of its competitors. Jeep's 4xe plug-in hybrid and new Hurricane I-6 powertrains would be welcome additions to the Grand Cherokee L line.

Jeep's advanced driver  assist systems could use fine tuning, especially considering how advanced those in some competitors are. Its adaptive cruise control works as advertised, but its lane keep assist tends to allow the vehicle to bounce between lane markings and it fights the driver's steering corrections.

And although many staffers can look past the Grand Cherokee L's slightly smaller interior compared to its minivan-based competitors, it's harder to look past a few quality gaffes at its $62,990 as-tested price. Some editors reported problems with glare off of the center stack, as well. Elsewhere, the general material richness found in all three rows of seating makes the use of so much piano black trim in the cabin appear cheap.

For those looking to do more than mall-crawl with your family, the Grand Cherokee L, despite a few flaws, is worthy of the short list.