Jeep Grand Cherokee vs BMW X5 – Which is the midsize luxury SUV to buy?

After a gap of nearly two years, Jeep has brought back the Grand Cherokee nameplate in an all-new avatar. The Grand Cherokee has arrived with a new design, much better and more premium interiors and a whole new powertrain under the hood. This time around, Jeep has launched the Grand Cherokee with a petrol engine only, thus targeting a whole new segment of urban customers who value a premium feel over anything else.

This segment of premium SUVs is already having a wide range of competitors to choose from, with the BMW X5 being one of the bests in this space. The BMW X5 is one SUV which is equally loved by both types of people – one who prefers to be behind the steering wheel and the other who prefers in being chauffeured. The Jeep Grand Cherokee has arrived at a price point similar to that of the BMW X5, thus making it a head-on competitor. Here, we compare the Grand Cherokee with the BMW X5 to let you know which one of the two suits your taste more.

Price

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has arrived in India in a single fully-loaded variant, Limited (O) 4×4 AT, which has been priced at Rs 77.50 lakh. On the other hand, the BMW X5 is available in two variants – while the lower-spec xDrive 40i SportX Plus variant is priced at Rs 79.89 lakh, the more premium and better-equipped xDrive40i M Sport is available at Rs 95.73 lakh.

(All prices mentioned above are ex-showroom, pan India)

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 Engine and Performance

Both the Jeep Grand Cherokee and BMW X5 are being offered potent turbocharged petrol engines, but on paper, it is the BMW X5 which is a clear winner. The Jeep Grand Cherokee gets a smaller 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine in comparison, which develops 268 bhp of maximum power and 400 Nm of maximum torque. On the other hand, the BMW X5 is powered by a larger 3.0-litre inline-six engine, which produces a much higher 335 bhp of maximum power and 450 Nm of maximum torque. The X5 also produces its peak torque output at a much lower rpm than the Grand Cherokee.

In both SUVs, the engines channel power to all four wheels. However, the Jeep Grand Cherokee gets a more impressive four-wheel-drive system, which makes it a more hardcore SUV to drive over off-road terrains in comparison to the BMW X5. Both SUVs come equipped with 8-speed automatic transmission as the standard gearbox.

Exterior and Dimension

In a direct comparison, the BMW X5 is a marginally longer and wider SUV in comparison, with a marginally longer wheelbase too. However, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the taller SUV here, with a significantly larger boot compartment at the back. Both the SUVs also fare almost equally when it comes to ground clearance.

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Design

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the newer SUV in this comparison, and when compared to the BMW X5, it offers a more traditional upright stance and angular lines. The Jeep Wrangler gets a more squared-off appearance with the iconic seven-slat grille and all-LED headlamps following the squared them. Even the window panels of this SUV on the side and wheel arches follow a squared and angular approach in their design. At the back, the Grand Cherokee has angular pair of tail lamps with refreshing-looking LED inserts. All these design highlights look like a clear evolution of the previous-generation version of the SUV.

The BMW X5 might be a more familiar sight on Indian roads now, but it is one of the more premium designs in the premium midsize luxury SUV category. In comparison to the Jeep Grand Cherokee, the BMW X5 has more curves, while having a smart-looking and muscular road presence. The highlights like a double kidney grille, LED headlamps with rounded edges, more amount of chrome garnishing all around and sleeker tail lamps make the BMW X5 look more sophisticated in this comparison.

 Interior and Features

The cabin of the Jeep Grand Cherokee might have a simple-looking all-black theme, but it is the layout of the dashboard, which makes this place feel more distinctive. In addition to the full-TFT instrument console and a slanted touchscreen infotainment in the centre console, the Grand Cherokee also gets an additional screen on the co-passenger side of the dashboard for additional functions and as an auxiliary screen for the infotainment. The brushed aluminium and gloss black inserts further add a touch of premium appeal to the cabin.

On the other hand, the cabin of the BMW X5 feels more premium with dual-tone black and walnut brown leather upholstery. The fit and finish levels of the BMW X5 feel superior over the Grand Cherokee, while it also gets a whole host of modern functions like a full-TFT instrument console, infotainment screen, wider and sleeker looking centre console and abundant use of gloss black and brushed aluminium inserts.

 Verdict

While the Jeep Grand Cherokee and BMW X5 might be of almost similar size and co-exist in the same price range and segment, these two SUVs have completely different identities of their own. The Jeep Grand Cherokee is for those people who love to drive their SUVs equally in both on-road and off-road conditions. This flagship SUV from Jeep has more hardcore off-road pedigree on offer and has a more traditional upright design which should appeal to SUV purists more. On the other hand, the BMW X5 feels like the more luxurious SUV out of the two. It has a more premium and better-equipped interior, a much more powerful and lovable petrol engine, a more sophisticated overall appeal and better driving dynamics in urban conditions.

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