2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Grand Cherokee L: How to Choose the Right One for Your Needs in Chicagoland

May 1st, 2025 by

Two Rows or Three? Choosing Between the 2025 Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L

Shopping for a new SUV in Chicagoland means balancing everyday functionality with the ability to handle everything from city commutes to weekend escapes up north or across the lake. If you’ve been eyeing the Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup, you’ve got two strong contenders: the 2025 Grand Cherokee and the 2025 Grand Cherokee L. Both offer bold styling, advanced tech, and class-leading performance—but which one fits your lifestyle?

Let’s break it down.

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2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Grand Cherokee L: Room for the Whole Crew—or Just You and Yours

Think about how many people you regularly drive around. The Grand Cherokee is a two-row SUV, offering seating for up to five. It’s sleek, powerful, and perfect for couples or small families who don’t need the third row.

The Grand Cherokee L, on the other hand, is the three-row sibling, built for larger families, carpool warriors, or those who frequently load up friends for a trip to Starved Rock or the Dells. It seats up to seven, with an extended wheelbase that gives you more legroom and cargo flexibility. With its available power-folding third row and second-row bucket seats, it’s easier than ever to reconfigure the space to fit luggage, dogs, or hockey gear.

Driving around Naperville or the North Shore, you’ll notice how both models turn heads—but the L offers a bit more presence and utility if size is what matters.

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2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs. Grand Cherokee L: Power, Performance, and Play

Both models deliver legendary Jeep capability, but there are some differences worth noting. The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4xe, for instance, gives you 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, plus standard sway bar disconnect and best-in-class approach angle—ideal for tackling snow-covered forest preserves or off-road adventures near the Wisconsin border. It also gets up to 56 MPGe with a 25-mile all-electric range, perfect for guilt-free errands in the city.

The Grand Cherokee L also holds its own, with up to 6,000 lbs of towing capacity and the same refined drive quality. It may not match the off-road prowess of the Trailhawk, but its long wheelbase brings a smoother ride and more cargo flexibility—important if your adventures include towing a boat out of the Calumet or loading up for a Costco run in Schaumburg.

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The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L Offer Technology and Safety Built for Chicago Traffic

Navigating I-55, Lake Shore Drive, or the Eisenhower during rush hour can be brutal. Thankfully, both models come loaded with smart tech to keep you safe and entertained. The Grand Cherokee lineup has been named a 2024 IIHS Top Safety Pick, and the available driver-assistance features like adaptive cruise control and lane management help reduce fatigue on long stretches of highway.

If you’ve got little ones (or pets) in back, the Grand Cherokee L shines again with its rear-seat monitoring camera—available right on the Uconnect® 5 touchscreen, so you never have to twist around or guess what’s going on. Need to keep devices charged? You’ve got six USB ports in the L—two per row—keeping everyone connected and happy, no matter how long the drive.

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The 2025 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee: Where Luxury Meets Utility

Both models offer refined interiors, but the Grand Cherokee Summit and Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve elevate comfort even more. Soft-touch materials, available second-row captain’s chairs, Quad-Zone Climate Control, and a 19-speaker McIntosh® sound system make either SUV feel like a rolling concert hall.

In the Grand Cherokee L, the extra space creates a true luxury lounge—roomy enough for Chicago winters and stylish enough to valet at your favorite steakhouse without hesitation.

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Which Jeep is Right for You?

If you’re after a premium SUV with off-road capability, plug-in hybrid efficiency, and a compact size that fits easily into city parking spaces, go for the 2025 Grand Cherokee. It’s ideal for urban dwellers, young professionals, and small families.

If your life includes carpools, road trips, sports tournaments, or you simply crave more room, the Grand Cherokee L answers the call. Its third-row flexibility and expanded cargo space make it a top pick for growing families.

No matter your pick, you’re getting one of the most awarded SUVs ever—one that’s built for your life in and around Chicago.

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Sources:

www.jeep.com/grand-chrerokee
www.jeep.com/grand-cherokee-l