Americans like things big. The bigger the better. Doubt it? Just take a look at the domestic SUV market. You can't get an econobox for under $20,000 anymore, but you can take your pick of mid-size and full-size three-row SUVs. Space for the family? Check. Gutsy turbocharged engines? Also yes. Grippy all-wheel drive? Maybe not as standard equipment, but at least it’s an option. And Jeep believes it has the stretched mid-size SUV boxes ticked without giving up the rugged spirit fans have come to expect, even demand, from the brand. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L Wants To Do It All Stellantis The Jeep Grand Cherokee. Sure, it doesn’t have the same tenure as the Wrangler. That’s a given. But Jeep’s mid-size alternative to the Cherokee has been around since the early 1990s. Now, five generations after the one and only Lee Iacocca smashed the OG ZJ Grand Cherokee through a window and into the hall of the 1992 Detroit Auto Show, you can have your mid-size Jeep SUV in a couple of different flavors. Sure, you could go with the two-row Grand Cherokee for your pseudo-luxe Jeep. Or, for the drivers with families and family-sized cargo to haul, the stretched, three-row Grand Cherokee L adds an additional 11 inches to the two-row model’s formula. The result? The Grand Cherokee L has room for up to seven and added cargo room for, well, you know, whatever. Hockey sticks? Sure. Seemingly unending groceries to feed a family of five? You bet. And all without losing the kind of off-road chops that buyers expect from the name Jeep. The Biggest Mid-Size Jeep Keeps Things Jeep Stellantis You might think that the Grand Cherokee L, with its extra length and interior space, would lose some of its Jeep-ness. The Stellantis-owned American brand thinks not. Aesthetically speaking, the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee L refuses to ditch the automaker’s characteristic seven-slot grille, though round lamps like the rubber duck-toting Wrangler aren’t on the menu. The wheelbase sits at just under 122 inches, with a minimum ground clearance of around 11 inches. It’s a multi-link suspension setup all around, with the brand’s Quadra-Lift air suspension system. A selectable traction system includes individual modes for different terrain, including individual modes for rock, snow, and mud/sand. But selectable off-road modes don’t mean the Grand Cherokee L gives up its road manners.Stellantis However, the longer version of the Grand Cherokee does lose something in its growing pains. Specifically, it’s the Trailhawk treatment for the two-row, mid-size Jeep SUV. In previous iterations, the Trailhawk trim added off-road-ready touches like a Quadra-Drive II 4x4 system, an electronic limited-slip differential (ELSD), and improved suspension travel. The latest version, no doubt, will also put an emphasis on off-road chops. “Today, we are excited to confirm that the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is coming later this year,” the brand confirmed in a statement earlier this month. Jeep Grand Cherokee L Pricing Jeep also claims that the trail-ready Grand Cherokee is “a reflection of the brand’s purpose-built identity.” We’ll have to wait and see. It’s good news for fans at the intersection of having big families and having even bigger off-road aspirations. But the stretched-out Grand Cherokee L won’t be getting the same treatment. At least not yet. Engine Options Done The Jeep Way Stellantis Like any Hollywood celebrity desperately trying to turn back the clock, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L’s base engine is showing its age. We’re talking, of course, about the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 you’ll still find powering the base Wrangler, Gladiator, and Dodge Durango. It’s certainly a familiar sight in Chrysler, Jeep, and Dodge vehicles, as it’s been available for around 15 years. The long-in-tooth 3.6-liter engine is the standard engine in the lower-trim Laredo and Laredo X models.TopSpeedFor 2026, the Grand Cherokee L also gets the new twin-turbocharged 2.0-liter engine to accompany its naturally aspirated V6 option. However, the so-called Hurricane 4 (not to be confused with the Hurricane straight-six engine in the new Dodge Charger and Jeep Wagoneer) produces a mighty 324 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque. That's an impressive 31 horsepower and 72 pound-feet increase over the Pentastar mill. Regardless of engine option, the sole transmission is an eight-speed automatic. Granted, Jeep and six cylinders go together like, well, Jeep and trails. But the Hurricane 4 lends an undeniable livening to the Grand Cherokee L's stout 4,618-pound curb weight. Your Choice Of Drivetrains Stellantis Now, you might think, like the loved-and-hated Wrangler, that power would head to all four wheels as standard application in the Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L. Not so much. Grand Cherokee L buyers have a choice of rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Of course, drivers looking to dip off the pavement and hit the trails will have to go for the all-wheel drive setup. Beyond that, Jeep offers the Grand Cherokee L in two flavors: a full-time, single-speed setup and a two-speed application with a hill-climbing low-range option. That’s good news, but if you’re of the belief that all Jeeps should come with four-wheel drive as standard, it’s not quite up to the brand’s expectations. Still, all-wheel drive with a low range option and selectable terrain modes establishes the three-row SUV as both a competent off-roader and a smooth daily driver. Three Rows, Space For The Whole Family Stellantis To create a true three-row SUV, Jeep stretched the Grand Cherokee L's dimensions. The L model gains 11 inches in length and a little under an inch in overall height. As a result, the third row is usable, even for a set of adults. The three-row SUV’s front and rear track width remain the same, though, as does overall width. With the third row seating in place, cargo volume sits at around 17 cubic feet. Drop that third row, and the extra length turns the Grand Cherokee L into quite the hauler. With the third row seats folded, space opens up to about 47 cubic feet. Not too shabby. Liftover height, meaning the distance you'll have to hoist your groceries or luggage from the ground to the cargo flooring, is 32.2 inches, as confirmed by official specifications. Can’t Out-Pull The Competition Jeep If you’re shopping for a Jeep Grand Cherokee, especially the stretched “L” version, you likely expect it to be able to pull a trailer now and then. Here’s the good news: regardless of engine choice, the Grand Cherokee L has a max tow rating of 6,200 pounds. So, go ahead, get the gutsier, slightly more efficient turbo I4 with confidence; the smaller displacement doesn’t mean a lower tow rating here. Jeep claims that opting for either all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive doesn’t raise or lower that figure, either. That’s enough to out-tow many of its segment competition, like the Ford Explorer and its 5,000-pound max tow rating. It isn’t, however, quite enough to out-pull all of its rivals. The Dodge Durango, for instance, is the segment’s tug-of-war champion with a simply huge 8,700-pound rating. Dainty Thirst For Its Size Stellantis 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Engine Specs How Does The Jeep Grand Cherokee L Stack Up? Toyota Brands, especially tenured ones, come with expectations. Jeep is no different. Considering the American automaker’s early history in wartime and agricultural capacities, fans and critics alike expect a Jeep to be tough, rugged, and to be able to drop off the pavement and take them away from shopping centers and suburbia. Needless to say, the Grand Cherokee and its stretched sibling do the trick, if not quite as brutishly as the Wrangler. Certainly, the Grand Cherokee L is one of the finest options for shoppers seeking a three-row mid-size SUV with the ability to take the entire family down the trail and back to the school drop-off line without too much complaint.Sources: EPA, Jeep, Stellantis, Edmunds, MotorTrend
big space, solid ride, and still feels like a real jeep, thats kinda rare these days
not many three row suvs can go off road like this, pretty cool mix of comfort and capability
its actually impressive how this handles family duties and still keeps that classic jeep off road strength