The 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee comes in a total of 11 trims, although three of them are special editions that add a few nice extras to the other eight vehicles. That’s a lot of options to choose from, and it is confusing to figure out which one is right for you. Assuming you plan on taking your Grand Cherokee out on a few summer road trips, the different trims have a few reasons to pick them over the others.
Laredo and Laredo E: The Budget-Conscious Traveler
The Laredo and Laredo E fill out the bottom of the 2018 Grand Cherokee’s range, and they’re the only two trims with an MSRP that starts under $40,000. This makes them easily the most affordable options for SUV buyers who need the space of a midsize crossover but aren’t as worried about the feature list. Of course, if you’d rather have more features and less space for a similar budget, Jeep has several other options that could fit your needs.
Trailhawk: The Adventurer
Nearly every Jeep has a Trailhawk trim, and while the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk doesn’t have the best list of interior features it does come with plenty of off-road features. The Trailhawk is 4×4 only and uses the Quadra-Drive II system, it has sport seats with big bolsters and suede seats, and it comes with 18-inch off-road wheels. If your summer trip goes far off the beaten path, a Trailhawk is a safe way to get there.
Limited, Overland, and Summit: The Family Vacationer
The Limited, Overland, and Summit are standard trims with more features than the Laredo but no special sport or off-road equipment. This includes a 7 or 8.4-inch touch screen and an available rear entertainment system, plus the Summit comes standard with 19 Harman Kardon speakers. If you want a Jeep Grand Cherokee with a nice number of features and you plan on using your vehicle to bring the family on a vacation, then any of these trims will make a good pick. Which one is best depends on your budget and how many features you want to pay for.
SRT and Trackhawk: The SUV Racer
The SRT and Trackhawk are the most expensive trims available for the 2018 Grand Cherokee. The SRT comes with all kinds of sporty features like a unique V-8 engine, Brembo performance brakes, a Bilstein active suspension, and a set of 20-inch wheels. It also has some of the best interior features available. The Trackhawk is unique to 2018 and goes one step further by adding a supercharged V-8 that delivers 707 horsepower. If your vacation involves a lot of racing down winding roads (on designated tracks or below the speed limit, of course), then you’ll need an SRTor Trackhawk.
Thanks to all of its trims, the Jeep Grand Cherokee can fill many roles. Any of them would work as a vehicle for a summer adventure, so the question you really have to ask is what kind of vacation you plan on having.
Photo via jeep.com