Compared: 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vs. 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L

Jeep's three-row SUV duo show plenty of contrasts and plenty of overlap.

Chris O'Neill | 
Feb 28, 2024 | 3 min read

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve and 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L Series III comparedJeep Grand Cherokee L (top) | Jeep Wagoneer L (bottom)

If you're considering a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Jeep Wagoneer that needs to carry more than five passengers, the 2023 lineup offers a pair of elongated three-row versions: the midsize Grand Cherokee L and the full-size Wagoneer L. The Grand Cherokee L starts at about $20,000 less than the Wagoneer L, but that gap narrows considerably once you start adding options.

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Summit Reserve driving down highwayJeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Is the More Expensive Choice

Pricing for the Grand Cherokee L starts at about $45,000; there are another five trim levels above that. Power comes from a V6 engine mated to an automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive. Second-row captain's chairs are standard on the Grand Cherokee L, with a three-across bench available to up the seating capacity to seven. Four-wheel drive (4WD) adds $2,000.

A V8 — with mandatory 4WD — can be added, starting with the Overland at about $67,000. The top-of-the-range Summit Reserve starts at about $72,000, exclusively with 4WD.

With a starting price about $20,000 more than the Grand Cherokee L, Jeep's full-size Wagoneer SUV can be had in four trims, starting at around $68,000 with RWD and its lone engine option, a twin-turbocharged inline-six-cylinder mated to an automatic transmission. Those wanting 4WD will pay a $3,000 premium. The larger Wagoneer L offers one more seat than the Grand Cherokee L in the third row, for a total of eight.

Starting with the $71,000 Series II, a pair of optional captain's chairs for the second row drops the seating capacity to seven. The top-trim Wagoneer L Series III starts at $80,000. After that, the related — but decadently outfitted — Grand Wagoneer L takes over and can climb to six figures.

2023 Jeep Wagoneer L Series III interior and dashboardJeep Wagoneer L

The 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L Wins in Features

The Grand Cherokee L is built on a unibody platform, while the Wagoneer L uses a body-on-frame design shared with the Ram 1500 full-size pickup truck. As a result, the Wagoneer L is considerably larger than the Grand Cherokee L in every dimension.

For starters, the Wagoneer L has a 3.3-inch advantage over the Grand Cherokee L when it comes to second-row legroom. In their respective third rows, the Wagoneer offers 36.6 inches of legroom, while the Grand Cherokee L has 30.3 inches. Cargo volume for the Grand Cherokee L comes in at 27 cubic-feet with the third row folded and 17 cu-ft with it unfolded. The Wagoneer L offers 88 cu-ft with the third row down and 44 cu-ft with it unfolded.

When it comes to towing, the Wagoneer L can tow up to 7,400 pounds, while the Grand Cherokee L is limited to 6,200 pounds with the V6 and 7,200 pounds with the V8.

As for infotainment, both vehicles use a similar infotainment system with wireless smartphone mirroring, but the Grand Cherokee L's center screen ranges between an 8.4-inch version and an available 10.1-inch screen that's standard in the Wagoneer L.

2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland interior and cargo spaceJeep Grand Cherokee L

The 2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Beats the 2023 Jeep Wagoneer L in Fuel Economy

The 4WD 3.6-liter V6 Grand Cherokee L making 293 horsepower is rated at 18/25/21 mpg city/highway/combined while the 2WD returns 19/26/21 mpg. The 357-hp 5.7L V8/4WD returns 14/22/17 mpg.

The Jeep Wagoneer L's 420-hp 3.0L twin-turbo inline-six engine with 2WD returns 17/24/20 mpg, while the 4WD version returns an estimated 16/23/19 mpg.

All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.


Written by humans.
Edited by humans.

This site is for educational purposes only. The third parties listed are not affiliated with Capital One and are solely responsible for their opinions, products and services. Capital One does not provide, endorse or guarantee any third-party product, service, information or recommendation listed above. The information presented in this article is believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but is subject to change. The images shown are for illustration purposes only and may not be an exact representation of the product. The material provided on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice or to indicate the availability or suitability of any Capital One product or service to your unique circumstances. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

Chris O'Neill

I am an auto-industry veteran and a current MBA candidate at the University of Utah. After moving to Utah in October 2015 and being fascinated by the unique car culture of the region, I started an Instagram project highlighting the rare and distinctive vehicles I see in the Mountain West region. I enjoy sharing with others my unique perspective and passion for all things automotive. In my free time, when I’m not thinking and writing about cars, I enjoy photography, toying with my 2011 Volkswagen GTI and 1999 Toyota Land Cruiser, and exploring Utah with my girlfriend and two dogs.


Shop Jeep Grand Cherokee