2024 Chevrolet Trax vs 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L evolved from a storied legacy. From its dramatic debut in 1992, where it burst through a glass wall, Jeep consistently couldn't meet demand due to its popularity. The Grand Cherokee's initial design featured a robust, boxy shape merged with a seven-slot grille, striking a balance between ruggedness and luxury. Until the arrival of the new Wagoneer, it held the title of the most luxurious Jeep. In the midsize SUV segment, it even outclassed many competitors in terms of opulence. The Grand Cherokee L extended the original by over a foot without losing its iconic style.

Our model, adorned in Hydro Blue and featuring the High Altitude package, showcased a bold look. This package blacked out the grille, logos, and door handle tops, paired with dark gray 21-inch wheels. The interior was equally striking, with black leather, gold stitching, and light walnut trim. The overall design boasted typical Jeep features such as U-shaped fenders and a square greenhouse, combined with modern touches like slim LED lighting, integrated exhaust tips, and a subtly curved roofline, ensuring its appeal would last.

The quality of materials in upper trims was impressive, although not every component was top-tier. Hard plastics were found in the lower dash, and the leather on the steering wheel felt a bit coarse. Nonetheless, for a $70,000 vehicle, 90% of the materials felt appropriate. The polished black dash featured an optional hidden touchscreen for the passenger. The gear selector was a chunky metal dial, and driving mode switches had a satisfying heft. The design reflected a strong premium feel, highlighted by aluminum speaker grilles and diamond-patterned stitching. Lower trims, although missing these lavish details, still surpassed competitors like the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax underwent a radical transformation, baring little resemblance to its previous iteration. Design principles from GM's golden era led to a "longer, lower, wider" approach. The new Trax was 11 inches longer, had a nearly six-inch wheelbase stretch, four inches lower, and two inches wider than its predecessor. It borrowed styling cues from the midsize Chevy Blazer, including a dominant grille and a stepped body design, which distinguished it from rivals like the Hyundai Venue and Nissan Kicks.

The base LS model rode on 17-inch steel wheels, while higher trims featured 18-inch or 19-inch aluminum wheels. Trims like Activ and RS offered distinctive style elements. Activ trims had rugged-looking faux skid plate trim, while RS trims boasted blacked-out accents, enhancing its sporty demeanor. Even in its simplest form, the Trax's design team managed to craft a vehicle that carried a significant presence.

Inside, the Trax LS featured cloth upholstery and abundant plastic materials, standard for its entry-level status. However, intelligent design choices prevented it from feeling mundane. The dashboard had a minimalist approach, with a freestanding touchscreen and prominent round air vents. Higher trims, like Activ and RS, came with Evotex upholstery, which aimed to mimic leather. Though the RS model introduced additional piano-black plastic, it fostered an aesthetic that made the Trax interior far from dull.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's standard V6 engine was its weakest link. Despite its quiet operation from intake to exhaust, performance at higher revs revealed a lackluster 3.6-liter Pentastar engine producing 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. It left much to be desired, feeling outdated especially compared to the unreleased turbo inline-six from the larger Wagoneer. The sport mode only partially redeemed the driving experience by improving throttle response, though it kept the eight-speed automatic transmission from shifting optimally. The Jeep’s considerable weight demanded more low-end torque.

The optional 5.7-liter Hemi V8, with 357 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, significantly improved performance and towing capacity, bumping ratings from 6,200 pounds with the V6 to 7,200 pounds. The V8's robust sound added to the appeal, compensating for the lack of a plug-in hybrid 4xe option. The V6's fuel economy stood at 18 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined for 4x4 models, while the V8 delivered considerably lower ratings at 14/22/17 mpg.

Despite the lackluster engine, the Grand Cherokee L's chassis excelled. The air suspension system provided a smooth ride and superior handling for an SUV of its class. While the steering could use quicker response, the vehicle excelled in maneuvers, outperforming many luxury counterparts, barring specialized performance models from Mercedes-AMG and BMW M.

Jeep offered three 4WD systems on all trims except the Summit Reserve, with RWD as the standard. The 4WD systems improved handling and stability, with various capabilities for off-road performance. When combined with air suspension, ground clearance reached up to 10.9 inches, making it a formidable off-roader, second perhaps only to Land Rover.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Trax featured a single-engine option, though notably smaller than its precursor. The new 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, a reduction from the previous 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Despite downgraded power, Chevy claimed the new Trax was quicker to 60 mph by about a second. Our tests confirmed satisfactory performance, with minimal turbo lag and prompt responses during highway merges and overtakes.

The six-speed automatic transmission from the previous model persisted, though the new Trax was available only with FWD. This decision helped distinguish it from the similarly sized Trailblazer, which offered AWD.

The Trax's handling promised a more car-like experience, emphasizing stability with its wider track, appealing to consumers wary of the "tipsy" feel of taller SUVs. The vehicle exhibited predictable and nimble handling, characteristics of the best small cars, albeit with limited grip and noticeable body roll. Though far from a hot hatch, it delivered a commendable driving experience for its class.

Refinement stood out as a strength for the Trax. Active noise cancellation effectively muted distractions, though tire noise was a downside in the 2RS model we tested. Despite a somewhat firm ride, the overall handling compensated admirably for the slightly harsher ride quality.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L benefited from extended length, providing ample legroom for second-row passengers. With an additional five inches in wheelbase, even taller individuals enjoyed spacious accommodation in both the front and second rows. Standard second-row captain's chairs (with optional bench seating) and optimized storage solutions underscored its comfort and practicality. The third row, while adequately roomy for children, presented a tighter fit for adults.

From a driver's perspective, visibility was excellent, complemented by a user-friendly layout of controls. However, the infotainment system's graphical legibility issues detracted somewhat from the otherwise functional interior. Cargo capacity shone brightly, offering 17 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 47 cubic feet with it folded, and reaching 85 cubic feet with both rear rows down—besting many competitors and adding considerable practicality.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax, despite its larger exterior, did not uniformly translate this into interior space. It gained three inches in rear-seat legroom and modestly improved front-seat legroom, yet headroom decreased slightly. Shoulder room also felt more constrained, but the Trax still outshone rivals like the Nissan Kicks and Hyundai Venue in rear legroom. The seats were reasonably comfortable, and the low driving position coupled with great outward visibility created a car-like experience.

Cargo capacity saw an improvement too, expanding by 12% to 25.6 cubic feet with rear seats up and 54.1 cubic feet when folded. Though marginally better than competitors, this increased space added to its utility.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L impressed with tech advancements. Lower trims like the Laredo and Altitude had an 8.4-inch touchscreen and a 10-inch digital instrument panel. Higher trims from the Limited onward enjoyed a 10.1-inch touchscreen with full-screen navigation. Uconnect 5, standard across trims, performed well except for some legibility issues. The 19-speaker McIntosh sound system was a highlight, although its rear sound imaging lacked perfection. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, enhancing connectivity.

Innovative features like night vision, Active Driving Assist, and a passenger-specific touchscreen stood out. The passenger screen, active only with a seated front passenger, allowed control over navigation, camera views, and even streaming via Amazon Fire TV. These features elevated the tech proficiency of the Grand Cherokee L, positioning it ahead of many competitors.

For the 2024 Chevrolet Trax, technology received a significant boost. The base LS and 1RS trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to an 11-inch screen and an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. The introduction of wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and phone charging represented substantial tech advancements.

The infotainment system was user-friendly, with clear graphics and an intuitive menu. The digital instrument cluster, despite its simplicity, effectively conveyed essential information. However, the driver-focused screen orientation posed usability challenges for passengers. The inclusion of multiple USB ports across trims and optional wireless charging further improved convenience.

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L earned high marks for safety. A Top Safety Pick+ designation from the IIHS (for models built post-May 2023) and five stars from the NHTSA (excluding a four-star rollover rating) underscored its robust safety credentials. Standard safety features included comprehensive emergency braking systems, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Optional enhancements like front cross-traffic braking, a backup camera washer, and 360-degree camera systems added layers of safety.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trax's safety ratings were pending at the time of publication, yet it offered a respectable suite of driver-assist technologies. Standard features encompassed automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, forward collision warning, and automatic high beams. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear park assist as options.

Chevy's Teen Driver system, which promoted safer driving habits for young drivers through monitored behaviors and report cards, was another notable inclusion.