Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo Vs Limited: Which Trim is Right For You?

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is the Patrick Wilson of SUVs.

Like the Virginia native, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has a certain everyman charm. It can adapt to any role it needs to: affordable family SUV, swanky luxo barge, capable off-roader. The Grand Cherokee is as at home at a red carpet event in Santa Monica as it is parked in front of a cottage in Rhode Island.

Of course, it depends on which trim you’re picking. Jeep offers its venerable SUV in a gaggle of flavors, but we’re zeroing in on just two today. Whether its the base-line Laredo or mid-level Limited, which one offers the best blend of affordability, creature comforts, and presence? Let’s find out.

(Editor’s Note: For the sake of this trim comparison, we’re avoiding the three-row Grand Cherokee L.)

With the 2022 restyling, the Jeep Grand Cherokee didn’t break anything. This was a soft-hand update, focusing in on the details without altering the general proportions. The headlights got a little squintier, while the wheel arches stayed squared off. Ultra-thin taillights took up residence out back, along with integrated exhaust tips for a cleaner look. But rest assured, it still looks like a Grand Cherokee.

As the starting point in the trim walk, the Laredo does lack some of the fanciness you’ll find in the Limited. Say goodbye to front foglights, for instance. You’ll also find matte black plastic for the grille, door mirrors, and roof rails; the Limited (which you'll see throughout this article) swaps the former two to gloss black. The Laredo is the only current Jeep Grand Cherokee to roll on 17-inch wheels; the Limited moves up to 18s.

Jeep has vastly improved the GC’s cabin for this latest generation. There’s a big focus on horizontal space here, with a wide, multi-tier dashboard and an infotainment screen that waterfalls down from the high-mount air vents. A big, knurled metal rotary knob handles shifting duties, and all the climate and audio controls are kept as physical buttons just below the infotainment touchscreen, which measures 8.4 inches on the Laredo and 10.1 inches on the Limited. The former trim sticks to cloth seats; the latter moves to leatherette, with two seat design options. Other differences include a stitched dashboard surface, plus wood inlays in the Limited.

The two-row Grand Cherokee is something of an ‘tweener, smaller than the three-rows that make up most of the mid-sized segment now (including the Grand Cherokee L), but more spacious than a regular compact SUV. Both rows enjoy at least 39.4 inches (1,002 millimeters) of legroom; the front folks gain an extra half-inch. Legroom is a stretch-out 41.3 in (1,050 mm) for the front and 38.2 in (971) out back. Those figures are all the same for both trims, with either rear- or four-wheel drive, edging past the other popular two-row luxury SUV, the Lexus RX.

Cargo space behind the second row is a useful 37.7 cubic feet (1,068 liters), which expands to 70.8 cu ft (2,005 L) when that bench is folded flat.

Jeep quietly dropped the V8 from the two-row GC late in 2022. That means the only choice of propulsion for now is the trusty 3.6-liter Pentastar V6. For these two trims, anyway: the plug-in hybrid 4xe is available in a variety of trims, too.

The V6 sends 293 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque through an eight-speed automatic. Rear-wheel drive is standard in the US, with four-wheel drive optional (and standard in Canada). This is Jeep’s Quadra-Trac I full-time system, which lacks the low-speed transfer case of other models.

Thanks to a front-axle disconnect, both setups are rated at the same 19 mpg city, 26 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined in the US. Canadian figures are 12.3, 9.2, and 10.9 L/100 km, respectively. Both powertrains are capable of towing up to 6,200 pounds (2,812 kilograms) when properly equipped.

Unlike some other Stellantis products, the Grand Cherokee includes most modern safety assists as standard. Across the entire roster, features like active lane management, adaptive cruise control, automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with RCTA, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, and rear parking sensors with stopping ability are standard. Buyers also get a security alarm and engine immobilizer key, plus tire pressure monitoring.

While the Limited doesn’t add any additional assists on its own, it does offer numerous upgrades as part of its available packages. Depending on which boxes are ticked, buyers can enjoy a 360-degree camera, intersection collision assist, and keyless entry on all four doors instead of just the front two.

While these two trims might miss out on the fanciest of features found higher up in the lineup, like night vision and a passenger touchscreen, neither is exactly stripped of content. Both the Laredo and Limited feature a digital instrument cluster, with plenty of available information and customisation options. Uconnect 5 runs on the central touchscreen, which measures 8.4 inches on the Laredo and 10.1 on the Limited. You’ll also find three-zone climate control, with heated front seats standard on the Limited and optional on the Laredo.

Limited upgrades include ambient lighting, a memory feature for the driver’s seat, power-adjustable front passenger seat, heated second-row seats. There’s also a heated leather steering wheel; the heat is optional on Laredo, which uses an artificial leather for its rim. The Limited also includes a universal garage door opener. This trim’s Lux Tech Group adds front-seat ventilation, manual second-row sunshades, and a power-adjustable steering wheel.

Both trims also offer a wireless charging pad as part of a package.

Like we said at the beginning, the Grand Cherokee is something of an SUV blank canvas, allowing buyers to tailor it to their needs. That gives both of these trims their own unique pros and cons.

On one hand, the Laredo is both fairly affordable (in the Jeep realm) and also a bit pricey (compared to mainstream competition). It has a reasonable amount of creature comforts, and you still get that go-anywhere Jeep reputation. Even if it isn’t a Trailhawk, the Grand Cherokee Laredo should be able to handle more challenging trails than most car-based crossovers.

The Limited is a pricey upgrade, at roughly 20-percent more depending on market. Incentives might bring that down a bit, but the GC is still edging into premium territory at that price. As a more rugged alternative to the likes of the Acura MDX or Lexus RX, it’s a uniquely American take on luxury that doesn’t feel too shouty. It’s the sweet-spot of the vast Grand Cherokee lineup, but if it’s out of your budget, the Laredo gets most of the experience for a more manageable price.

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