Compare the2024 Buick EnclaveVS 2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L

The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Enclave and the Grand Cherokee L have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Enclave’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Grand Cherokee L’s (6 vs. 5 years).

For smoother operation, better efficiency and fewer moving parts, the Enclave has an overhead cam design, rather than the old pushrod design of the 5.7 V8 in the Grand Cherokee L.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Enclave has a 170-amp alternator. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard 160-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Enclave’s reliability 32 points higher than the Grand Cherokee L.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Enclave second among midsize suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Grand Cherokee L isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 29 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 19th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 54 more problems per 100 vehicles, Jeep is ranked 19th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Jeep vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 14 places higher in reliability than Jeep.

The Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 17 more horsepower (310 vs. 293) and 9 lbs.-ft. more torque (266 vs. 257) than the Grand Cherokee L’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Buick Enclave is faster than the Jeep Grand Cherokee L V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Enclave AWD gets better fuel mileage than the Grand Cherokee L 5.7 OHV V8 (17 city/25 hwy vs. 14 city/22 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Enclave uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Grand Cherokee L with the 5.7 V8 engine requires mid-grade for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 51.4 cents more per gallon.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Buick Enclave, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Grand Cherokee L.

The Enclave stops much shorter than the Grand Cherokee L:

The Buick Enclave’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Enclave is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 1.6 inches wider in the rear than on the Grand Cherokee L.

The Enclave Avenir AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Enclave Essence is quieter than the Grand Cherokee L Limited 4x4 (38 vs. 39 dB).

The Enclave has 2.8 inches more front headroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, 3 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear hip room, 3.6 inches more rear shoulder room, .3 inches more third row headroom, 3.2 inches more third row legroom, 5.6 inches more third row hip room and 5.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Grand Cherokee L.

The front step up height for the Enclave is 2.2 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L (18” vs. 20.2”). The Enclave’s rear step up height is 1.5 inches lower than the Grand Cherokee L’s (18.7” vs. 20.2”).

The Enclave’s cargo area provides more volume than the Grand Cherokee L.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Enclave easier. The Enclave’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 30.5 inches, while the Grand Cherokee L’s liftover is 32.2 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Jeep. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 38% lower rating, Jeep is ranked 26th.

The Enclave’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Grand Cherokee L’s standard power windows’ rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Enclave the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Grand Cherokee L can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Enclave’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its extra cost Uconnect Access can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

The Enclave’s standard Keyless Access allow you to unlock the doors from any outside door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Enter-N-Go standard on the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a sensor on the rear doors, so you’ll have to reach a front handle to unlock the rear door.

Consumer Reports rated the Enclave’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Grand Cherokee L’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Enclave has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Enclave has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Grand Cherokee L.

Insurance will cost less for the Enclave owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Enclave will cost $500 less than the Grand Cherokee L over a five-year period.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Buick Enclave, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Jeep Grand Cherokee L isn't recommended.