2026–27 Toyota Grand Highlander vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Grand Highlander — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–3 across 5 categories, winning on better fuel economy (36 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined) and more available power (362 hp vs 324 hp). Choose the Grand Cherokee if the lower sticker matters most ($37,995 vs $42,260 to start).
Scorecard: Grand Highlander 3.5 pts · Grand Cherokee 3 pts across 5 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 Grand Highlander | 2027 Grand Cherokee | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $42,260 | $37,995 | Grand Cherokee |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | — | 0.59 | No data |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | — | 44.4% | No data |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 36 mpg | 23 mpg | Grand Highlander |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 362 hp | 324 hp | Grand Highlander |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 6,200 lb | Grand Cherokee |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 20.6 cu ft | — | No data |
| Standard seats (1) | 7 | 5 | Grand Highlander |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 0.9% off MSRP | — | No data |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | — | 28 | No data |
| Weighted points | 3.5 | 3 | Grand Highlander |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Grand Highlander — 36 mpg vs 23 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Grand Highlander — 7 vs 5 (standard seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Grand Cherokee — $37,995 vs $42,260 (starting MSRP).
- Towing. Towing: the Grand Cherokee — 6,200 lb vs 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Grand Highlander starts at $42,260 and tops out at $60,175; the Grand Cherokee runs $37,995 to $61,990 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Grand Highlander buyers paid a median 0.9% off MSRP across 29 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 2% off.
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Grand Highlander: a complaint rate per 1,000 sold isn't available yet.
- Grand Cherokee: 0.59 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 37th percentile among the SUVs we track).
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Grand Cherokee 2016 (solid), 2017 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 Grand Highlander | 2027 Grand Cherokee | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $42,260 | $37,995 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $60,175 | $61,990 |
| Horsepower | 245–362 hp | 293–324 hp |
| Max torque | 400 lb-ft | 332 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 22–36 mpg (hybrid avail.) | 21–23 mpg |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 6,200 lb |
| Max payload | — | 1,280 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 7 / 8 | 5 / 5 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 20.6 cu ft | — |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Resale: 5-year value retained
There's no 5-year retention figure for the Grand Highlander yet. A 5-year-old (2021) Grand Cherokee lists for a median $22,179 — 44.4% of today's median new price of $49,974.
Shop both
- See new 2026 Toyota Grand Highlanders for sale →
- See 24,796 new 2027 Jeep Grand Cherokees for sale →Median listed price $48,984 · updated Nov 7, 2026
Negotiating either one?
CarWhere PRO ($12.99/mo) shows the 75th-percentile target price for your exact trim and zip, comparable nearby deals, and an AI quote analyzer. See PRO → · Checking a specific used one? The $9.99 Full VIN Report covers the federal record + original window sticker.
More on the Toyota Grand Highlander
More on the Jeep Grand Cherokee
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Grand Highlander better than the Grand Cherokee?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Grand Highlander — it leads our weighted scorecard 3.5–3 across 5 categories, winning on better fuel economy (36 mpg vs 23 mpg best EPA combined) and more available power (362 hp vs 324 hp). Choose the Grand Cherokee if the lower sticker matters most ($37,995 vs $42,260 to start).
Which is more reliable, the Grand Highlander or the Grand Cherokee?
We only rank reliability by NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold, and that rate isn't available for both models yet.
Which holds its value better, the Grand Highlander or the Grand Cherokee?
We don't have a 5-year retention figure for both models.
Which is cheaper, the Grand Highlander or the Grand Cherokee?
The Grand Cherokee starts lower: $37,995 vs $42,260 starting MSRP (before destination).
Which has better gas mileage, the Grand Highlander or the Grand Cherokee?
The Grand Highlander: up to 36 mpg combined vs 23 mpg for the Grand Cherokee (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026–27 Toyota Grand Highlander vs Jeep Grand Cherokee: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/toyota-grand-highlander-vs-jeep-grand-cherokee, updated November 8, 2026.