Jeep Grand Cherokee vs Subaru Tribeca 02/21/2011
Chrysler's recent redesign of the Jeep Grand Cherokee has earned it a lot of positive press, with many reviewers placing it on their "best of the year" list. To test that praise, we pitted it against an SUV at a similar price point: the Subaru Tribeca.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee begins at $30,215, slightly cheaper than the Tribeca at $30,495. Chrysler also offers drivers a better warranty, with a 5 year/100,000 mile pledge outlasting the Tribeca's 5 year/60,000 mile backing. However, the extra value is really only worth it if drivers plan on traveling more than 12,000 miles per year.
In terms of performance, the Cherokee has a slight edge, with 13 more horsepower, 14 more lb-ft of torque and 2 extra miles per gallon on the highway. One advantage that the Tribeca does have over the Grand Cherokee is its all-wheel drive on its base model. Drivers can spring for this option on the Grand Cherokee, but it'll ultimately make the vehicle substantially more expensive.
The two cars are mostly balanced on interior features. The Tribeca features dual-climate control and an anti-theft system, while the Cherokee has keyless ignition and satellite radio. Chrysler offers drivers a nice range of optional features as well, and owners can probably add one or two because of the initial $300 price difference.
It's close, but we give the nod to the redesigned Grand Cherokee.