2020 Fleet SUV of the Year: Jeep Grand Cherokee

FCA’s Jeep Grand Cherokee was voted the winner of the 2020 Fleet SUV of the Year award based on public voting by professional fleet managers.

SUVs were added to Automotive Fleet’s fleet vehicle of the year voting ballot in 2019 to reflect the growing popularity of the segment in commercial fleets. 

“The Jeep Grand Cherokee provides drivers and passengers a superior riding experience,” said FCA Head of U.S. Sales Jeff Kommor. “The styling, electronic features and cargo space are all designed to provide comfort and flexibility. We thank Automotive Fleet readers for their vote and will continue our efforts to keep the Grand Cherokee a leader in the industry.”

The Jeep Grand Cherokee, which is currently in its fourth generation, is available in 10 different trim levels, including several limited-edition models. All models are available with four available 4x4 systems that are designed to tackle varying weather conditions. 

Under the Hood

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is powered by a 3.6L Pentastar V-6 Engine, which is standard across a majority of its trim levels. The engine features up to 295 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque and includes electronic stop/start technology along with up to 6,200 pounds of towing.

Also available is a 5.7L Hemi V-8, which is also standard on the Trailhawk, Overland, High Altitude, and Summit, and boasts 360 hp and 390 lb.-ft. of torque

Other engines available include a 6.4L Hemi V-8 on the SRT trim, and a 6.2L supercharged Hemi V-8 on the Trackhawk trim. 

FCA continues to ensure its vehicles have the key features fleet customers need in order to handle the job and keep drivers safe. From a total cost of ownership perspective, the Grand Cherokee makes a great addition to any fleet looking to add a mid-size SUV. The Grand Cherokee boasts best-in-class towing of 7,200 pounds and a crawl ratio of 44.1:1, the company said.

All Grand Cherokee models are mated to a TorqueFlight eight-speed automatic transmission, which is designed to enhance ride quality.  

Payload capacity is standard at 1,180 pounds, and is 1,370 pounds when powered by a 4x4 model.

Jeep Grand Cherokee is the most awarded SUV ever and the vehicle that has long defined what an SUV should be. The legendary Jeep capability speaks to all customs including our fleet customers. It’s good-looking and capable, and still unlike any other SUV, the company said.

Connectivity to the Forefront

The Jeep Grand Cherokee was also recognized for its robust suite of advanced technological capabilities. 

It also includes more than 70 safety and security features, as well as an array of advanced user-friendly technology features, such as the latest version of the award-winning Uconnect 8.4-inch touchscreen radio with standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, integrated climate and infotainment controls and a 7-inch customer-configurable multi-view display cluster.

Powered by UConnect, FCA’s advanced connectivity system, the Jeep Grand Cherokee’s suite of technological capabilities serve as a practical solution to connect fleet drivers to their vehicles and help improve productivity. 

The Grand Cherokee is also available with 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot that allows for up to eight devices to connect to.

Also available is SiriusXM Guardian, which via a smartphone app, allows drivers to lock and unlock doors, start the vehicle remotely, activate the vehicle horn, and access their vehicle health report, which offers a summary of the vehicle’s key systems every month and maintenance information.

Another available solution is the connectivity with Amazon Alexa, which allows drivers to start the vehicle, check fuel levels, send an address to the navigation system, and more.

Suite of Safety Tech

Driver safety is elemental to every fleet operation, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee is able to help ease the minds of fleet managers with its 70 safety and security features, according to FCA.

The ProTech Safety package, which is standard across the entire Jeep Grand Cherokee lineup, is highlighted by blind spot monitoring, with rear cross path detection, which is designed to help detect the presence of other vehicles in blind spot zones. 

Another notable safety feature is the ParkSense rear park assist and the ParkView rear back up camera, that feature dynamic gridlines that allows the driver to more easily back into parking space.

In the event of a crash, the Grand Cherokee is equipped with seven airbags  and a chassis that’s manufactured with advanced high-strength steel to help direct crash energy away from the cabin. 

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has also received the five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), for the 2020 and 2021 model-year.