I got the 2021 Grand Cherokee Laredo at the beginning of this winter and live in Ontario Canada. We get some crazy snow if you’re wondering. When purchased, the vehicle had all season tires equipped and I have to say I was less than impressed with its performance in the snow (regardless of mode). I purchased the Michelin X-Ice North 4 studded tires and HOLY CRAP. This vehicle is a tank when equipped properly. Tires 100% make all the difference people.
Yep why I got some Yokohama geolander A/T on my pathfinder their amazing in the snow they just plain grab and go no sliding around even in 2 wheel it runs good now better then my BFG AT on my Jeep and I thought those were good on snow
I still struggle to understand the reasoning of purchasing the Trailhawk GC and immediately downgrading its capability by installing highway all season tires. Such an odd thing to do to an off road trim.
Could not agree more. They said they were given the tires from Pirelli -- but why?!?! They put KO2's on just about everything else but even the stock Trailhawk tires would do better than these. Clearly Pirelli is just throwing money at them to highlight some new tire of theirs.
They take a perfectly good Grand Cherokee then hamstring it with street like tires. I guess they must be trying to give the poor Defender a leg up. I think it’s disgusting. Go over to Prodigal Overland for what the WK 2 is capable of matched against like competition.
Agreed, I get that Pirelli wants them to advertise the tires but why on the offroad trim GC? Put them on something else! I really want to see them put a good set of tires on that thing, I'm not a huge fan of KO2s, I think there are better tires out there nowadays.
So the Defender has the best off road system you have driven . It has a better interior . It outperformed the Jeep in this test. It has better towing ability. Better gas mileage. Faster at getting to off road height. It won every single test yet you picked the Jeep ? Obviously you made your decision before you started the test .
You got it , brother . Why even bother with a test? He probably made his decision sitting in his kitchen over a cup of coffee. Defender is better, in all categories, and not by a small margin. He likes Jeep because “it’s easier to park in a garage”? Good grief!! I guess he’d LOVE a Ford Ecosport! Jeeeezzzz, what a waste of time!
I actually like the interior of this generation Grand Cherokee better than new generation. It has much less black gloss on center area, and a real transmission lever instead of that idiotic knob. The looks and performance are also fine with this generation. Jeep should keep making this and call it a classic Grand Cherokee. Much more dependable than that Land Rover, even though Land Rover is way cooler.
Our '14 WK has been pretty good. However, I just installed the 3rd radiator in it. They are aluminum/plastic and they fail at the joint. Also, with the 3.6 it is just fine for daily driving and does 19/25 mpg. Pretty good for that kind of rig.
Unless both vehicles are on the same tire, its a silly comparison. Same as the previous video when you compared a truck to an SUV in the snow. Its all about tires when talking about snow performance.
@@fanfei20 it's 2 different class. Defender it's G class competitor, jeep trail cost 47k (not 53 as in video) and defender X 110 start at 86k (not 69, as in video) - so it's almost half of the price
You are exactly correct. After watching countless comparisons of off roading SUV’s it’s rarely about the the actual vehicle but rather it’s about the tires. Doesn’t matter if it mud, rocks or snow, it’s primarily about the tires. What’s frustrating is shows like TFL only test stock vehicles when anyone buying a vehicle to do serious off-roading would know to change out the tires before taking the vehicle off road. If all vehicles were equipped with the same tires you’d have a much more interesting video.
Was wondering the same…a Trailhawk with all season tires is not a Trailhawk anymore. Not a fair comparison with the off-road package on the Defender and then have stripped most important variable (the tires!) when trying to go through snow.
Defender has inline 6 twin turbo with electric super charger . I’ve owned 2 grand Cherokee’s an 18 and 20 and now a defender . When suspension is lifted on the jeep the suspension is super harsh . The defender lifted is smooth no matter the height selected. The Land Rover performs a lot better off road.
I have driven (3) Grand Cherokees in the past 28 years, each one getting 350,000 km (220,000 miles) I drive on snow for at least 4 months a year. My road is an up hill gravel road 1 km (0.65 miles) long before getting to any asphalt roads. We often get freezing rain and up to 4 m (13 feet) of snow a year. I run Blizzak tires and have never been stuck by snow or ice. My next car will be another Grand Cherokee. Service was not covered in this video, and it is a plus having local mechanics who can service Jeeps. Not all garages or mechanical can or will service a Discovery.
Tommy is clearly struggling with the Defender because of the experience he had with the long term project vehicle, which in my opinion TFL botched. The original idea was great…everything you need and nothing you don’t. Yes, they got a lemon but the mistake they made was to take a P400 without the full set of off-road options, which they then treated like true off-road machine. An S model Defender with all the off-road options runs in the high$50’s to low $60’s so Jeep Rubicon equivalent and will be slightly worse than the Jeep is a couple of areas but remarkably better in a number of areas. As for this video, Tommy says at one point don’t buy the 4 cylinder but later says he’d buy the one with the steel wheels (which is the 4 cylinder). Also, the P400 hybrid uses the same 4 cylinder motor, which is used in a number of other JLR vehicles and is well regarded.
I had a '11 JGC Overland Summit for 10 years. The interior disintegrated after 5 years, FCA said they would fix it but always claimed they were waiting for parts, so never did. There was a serious safety recall related to the fuel system, again never fixed it for years. So had to drive it in fear it could suddenly shut down. I now have a '22 Defender P400SE which blows the Jeep away. Even in your test, the Defender smoked the Jeep in everything but you picked the Jeep. Seriously? A moment of silence for Anton Yelchin. You own a Jeep -- Bless your heart.
Glad you bought a WK2! I have a 2018, and it's nice to see you comparing yours to other vehicles. Please do a roller test, including without the rear e-locker. The Defender is definitely a cooler, nicer vehicle, but thanks to WK2 volume production you can get parts in stock or overnight anywhere you are in the country, for not too much money. I suspect you'll need parts for both vehicles...
I have a JGC Trailhawk with the Hemi and love it! It is capable beyond everything in its class/type of SUV off road…with the possible exception of the LR much more expensive vehicle. Better use of money is the JGC Trailhawk!
I have an 18 jeep grand cherokee trailhawk with the v6. I can get 24 to 26 on the hwy and 14 to 15.5 mpg while towing a 6x10 enclosed trailer. With it's ample power and great mpg I don't see the need for a more complex turbo engine with less space in the engine bay and more to go wrong.
This should be a Range Rover Sport VS Grand Cherokee. Defender is more Wrangler and Bronco level. Sure the price differences are stark but Land Rovers are just not cheap.
@@zachmcbee9311 That specific Grand Cherokee chassis is OLD and the Defender is a new platform. The Range Rover Sport is a better comparison by age of chassis. Just because you have these vehicles “laying around” in your fleet doesn’t mean they are good comparison subjects to each other.
Tommy, please read the Defender manual! Grass/gravel/snow is for on-road snow. Manual recommends Sand mode for deep snow and snow on loose surfaces. More wheel spin. That said...the stock AT tires are lacking. I went with Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT, which ar 3 peak rated and much better traction on snow. KO2s are what many defender owners prefer, followed by wildpeaks, then a smattering of others, but almost all who want maximize capability switch from factory or use the UK off-road spec at a minimum (duratracs).
@@fredmertz3837 Mickey Thophson deegat AT38 series)) They are better in deep snow than Bf goodrich Koe2 quieter and softer) As an example, we went with a friend to a snowy field with his bmw X5 2018 and I had BF tires on my jeep grand cherokee trailhawk Mickey Thopson, so I was driving, and my friend was always stuck !! We couldn't get to the forest!! Then, for some reason, a friend overheated as a result of the four-wheel drive ((
Always liked that Grand Cherokee. A really nice car. The 4 cylinder Defender should not be knocked off but in Diesel ⛽️ as the power is in the low revs which is good for off roading. I have the small Diesel Engine and extremely happy. Both are good are excellent buys.
"The 4WD in the Land Rover is the best in the world"....was this filmed before or after it got stuck and the pickup from the 60's had to pull it out? :)
I really don't understand what happened to off-road vehicles. They went from solid, basic vehicles to luxury vehicles. And now it's almost impossible to purchase a good off roader that is not super fancy. I don't want digital screens or push-button starts or any of that stuff. I want a basic solid vehicle with a minimum number of things that can break. Am i just getting old?
Yeah just getting old lol. On a serious note though you can still buy base level grand cherokees or wranglers for about $20000 less so I don’t really think this argument is valid.
The question I always find myself asking in a comparison, especially if I'm in the market is, "would I put a dead deer in the back? " . I think I'd have a hard time doing so in a $70k vehicle.
@@norwegianblue2017 $53k still a lot of money, so for whom have them probably not a big issue taking such vehicle off-road don't forget taxes on top the sticker price
@@efimlos I agree. If I did buy a brand new off-roader, I would get something like a Jeep Wrangler Willys and keep the price and luxury features to a minimum. For my money, I like to buy cars that are a few years old and have taken the big depreciation hit already.
I have a Grand Cherokee Overland Summit that I fitted BFG KO2’s to. I can tell you without a doubt that those pirelli’s are the only reason that Jeep slips or stalls in the snow. I don’t know what pirelli May have paid to get those tires put on this vehicle, but seeing that Jeep slide and slip around on almost flat ground has made me absolutely certain to avoid that rubber at all costs.
Put the same off road tires on the Jeep and it’ll walk the defender. Very important to have the same tire on all vehicles when comparing off road capabilities, right? The OE wrangler all terrains that come on the TH would have been a good comparison…
air suspension: GC have a less air tank for lift - BUT - it's hided behind rear seat and run on close system nitrogen (cold temp are not good to test it) Defender i can't find info, but if it is like in l405, it's open system with reservoir on external part of the car and a 17 car get it rot. driving on that ground: GC the weight is 500kg lighter, and in this case more weight it's better.
When did Land Rover "pioneer the terrain response dial"? My wife's 2012 Grand Cherokee has one. She has the Overland Summit, and at ten years old, we still love it.
I like the Defender but with those mall-crawler wheels, hidden recovery points and limited underbody plating it is probably best used for ski trips on pavement. Your snow tests were a great demo for those who are considering the Defender in CO. The GC isn't a super hard core off-roader but it is capable and a better match for off-road in a number of areas. I'm a 2018 GC Trailhawk driver so I may be biased. Looking forward to checking out the 2022 next-gen GC Trailhawks.
I feel like the Jeep is being misrepresented in every one of the videos you’ve used it in. Those Pirellis tires are half as capable as the stock Goodyears that come on the Trailhawk. I get your probably sponsored by them but you should make sure to address this. The stock Trailhawk tires absolutely blow those Pirellis out of the water.
That was a totally unless test. You need some actual snow (bumper deep) to drive them through and some BFG ALL TERRAIN KO2 tires on both vehicles. Then find a hill offroad and see who goes the furthest
ah yes, the good old BFG KO2....the white claw of tires. It works...ish.... but every mall-worthy "overlander" thinks they're some kind of amazing off road tire. (insert laughter here) #sponsoredbytoyotahuntingtonbeach
@@donhappel9566, who said they were a great off road tire? Not me. I want GOODYEAR MT/R's for just off road. The KO2's are a great tire for ICE, SNOW, and mud that most people can afford. They are likely better tires for just deep snow but I will bet they are useless on icy highways
@@glenndickson7627 lol? They’re barely adequate in “ice & snow” they’re an “all terrain” tire which BG definition means compromise & they’re more geared toward light rock/sand/ruts than mud. FWIW I run studded Nokian Hakkapeliitta’s in 315/17R70 on my 2020 Raptor during the winter, which I shouldn’t have to point out….would chew both these toys & spit em out offroad lol
@@MS-mr4zm Some of us like to use parkades (studs banned) and I like to travel into Minnesota (studs banned) so we look for an all around good tire for mud, snow and ICE. Having tried just about every decent all around tire out there, in my opinion the BFG KO2 is about as good as it gets. I have 3 JEEPs and all of them have between 400,000 kms (250,000 miles) and 500,000 kms (300,000 miles) that we have personally put on the JEEPS since new. My wife drives her Patriot 4 x 4, 200 kms every day to get to work and back on back roads that are often not plowed and 30% of them are gravel roads in the middle of nowhere. She has never been stuck yet in 15 years (on her 3rd JEEP) My RAM 1500 4 x 4 is young and it only has 350,000 kms. Winter in Western Canada runs from mid October to mid April and often till mid May. We travel all over North America. As two examples we have been through the Sierra Mountains (CA and NV) in a blizzard and up through Northern California to Washington in a blizzard on BFG's. We had chains with us but we did not need to put them on as the BFG's gave us the traction we needed. So you use what you like for your driving conditions but I would bet you haven't seen a fraction of the ice, snow, blizzards etc that we see.
@@glenndickson7627 literally LOL @ this statement. There’s a bigger delta between the way an “all terrain” tire will perform in winter conditions & a dedicated snow tire than there is between how an “all season” tire would perform @ a track against a DR. That’s not hyperbole, it’s literally a fact.
Nice comparison, Tommy! Sure, the snow wasn't as deep as it might have been (as someone else wrote below). My biggest question is: How will the reliability of these two vehicles compare over the first five years of ownership? How will it compare over ten years of ownership? And another good question, how much will the owner have to pay for dealer performed service work for each vehicle over, say, 25,000, 50,000 and 100,000 miles? If Land Rover reliability is better than it was in the last days of British Leyland (known as B.L. at that time), your Defender may be the more desirable of these two vehicles, the Grand Cherokee and the Defender. Thanks for another interesting video! Keep up the good work!
Defender: *outperforms Jeep in test* TFL: “I’m gonna give it to the Jeep”. Suppose the value of the Jeep is hard to argue with, but the video does say which is best…
Wow it just amazes me all these Jeep lovers yet I never see any of them around the world doing anything just off-road trails in America the defender is known all over the world.
Nice video. I was a bit surprised you favored the Jeep at the end. It appears the Defender did far better in the snow as well as your up/down test. Perhaps that was most based on cost rather then function. Ty
Me: "So what can i get in terms of a functional work type SUV" LR:"We have this, this is the new Defender, you propably know the old one. It has a large boot, you can have it with two seat benches, rubber mats front back and trunk, and with AT tires." Me: "That sounds awesome, just what i need. How much will it be?" LR: "That`s gonna be luxury sedan territory" Me: "But..." LR:"It also will propably break down like a dozen times in the first couple of weeks" Me"....why?" LR: "Money"
That was a fair evaluation of the performance of both vehicles! I currently drive a 2020 Grand Cherokee Hemi Trailhawk that I took delivery of on Feb 2 2020 but this is not my first GC my first was a 97 Laredo 5.2L Magnum V8 w/Up Country Package which was a 2 inch lift, Under body Armor and off road tires with full size spare tire that was good but had issues like if you were going on a 40 degree down hill like engineer pass at Idle Speed the Transmission would STALL OUT the ENGINE and I had NO POWER trying NOT to HIT the Other Jeep ahead of me because I was part of the Ouray Jeep Jamboree. Other issues were the interior started to come apart after 2 years of owning the vehicle but it was covered under warranty that is one thing I will give to Jeep they are VERY GOOD about Backing their PRODUCTS. A few years later I purchased a TJ because the convertible top was calling me because I was living at the Beach Town. After a few years of the TJ life I return the Grand Cherokee because I was married and the wife did not like the convertible top of the TJ. I went away from GC for a few years but came back in 2020 with the Trailhawk but that was after I test drove the Defender because I ALWAYS LOVED the OLD SCHOOL Military Defender 90 and 110. During my time in the Military both in Europe and in the Middle East I was lucky enough to get to drive Defenders and they were a BLAST and when I heard that we were getting them back again I wanted to try one before I got my new SUV but it was NOT the SAME Driving Experience that the older ones had like you SAID THEY are TOO BIG and HEAVY! It is a Shame that the DOT Regulations Killed the Importation of the Military Type Defender 90 that was so Popular in the 80s and 90s. Now days a 1995 Defender 90 will cost you almost as much as a NEW 2022 Defender and I have seen a few that have been modified with Chevy LS1 V8 Engines that can run upwards of $160K now that is what I CALL a KICK ASS Defender and not this Luxury Box that you can take into the Dirt.
Fair to cripple the Jeep by replacing the all-terrain off-road tires that came with it and adding all seasons street tires? Then do a snow performance comparison with a vehicle that has capable tires? I don't understand the logic there but okay.
@@genesishep You are 100% Correct on the TIRE Issue! The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is a MUCH MORE Capable Vehicle that the Defender because Land Rover is using the Name just like Ford is with the Bronco but neither Company build a Vehicle that is a CAPABLE and the Name Plate Heritage Implies! You also have to remember that the Defender had some All Season 20 inch Tires which made it fair because the Off-Road Tires are ONLY available in the 4 cylinder Version of the Defender. Back in 97 when I was looking at getting my first SUV I looked at the Defender 90 and actually got to test drive one for a whole weekend from the Dealership since a buddy of mine was friends of the Sales Manager it was a Soft Top 2 door and I really liked it but I was not too crazy about the PRIZE which at the time was about 17k more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee that I got which had the Up Country Off Road Package, 5.2L V8 and 5 Off Road Tires and Wheels. I ended up getting the GC and Putting the ARB front Bull Bar with Witch and also replaced the Rear Bumper with a Steel one that had a Tire Carrier when I had the bumpers done I also had the Springs up graded to take the Extra Weight of the Bumpers and it was a Great Off Road Rig that I used all over and I still saved 10k over what the Defender would have cost.
@@af22raptor23503 I may have misread your reply, were you saying the Defender in the video was riding on all seasons like the Jeep? If so you are mistaken, it was stated directly in the video that the Defender was required with the off-road package which included all terrain tires. Even if it wasn't stated in the video you can easily tell just by looking at them that they have an aggressive and deep tread pattern while the Jeep does not. In the snow, quality tires are everything, especially in climates like Colorado where they are filming.
i have jeep grand cherokee trailhawk 2019 3.6 very durable relieble suv, drive as a track very havy!! It also has a resource and endurance!! My friend jeep grand cherokee 2012 3.6 mileage 565 thousand kilometers!! No problem!! So the Jeep grand cherokee wk2 is a rugged, unkillable SUV!!
Now I will say that’s both are nice I would choose the defender all day long but what I will say is when you look at the crash rating for both of the vehicles the good old Jeep Grand Cherokee is dangerous and the defender has much better. Can safety crash rating so I respect Land Rover for build an all around product that go off road get good fuel be comfortable stylish and also has high crash impact safety ratings that’s a hard thing to do I can’t get the visual of what that Jeep looked like when it was crash tested made me change my mind quickly.
Cool to see you utilizing the new land so quickly. Should do a video of ALL your off road vehicles/4WD's making a run across it. lol Break it in quickly. Do a quick, which is best on our new land video. :)
Unfortunately, piano black is not "early 2010s". It's use has greatly expanded on the new Jeep products and is also increasing across the board as more and more luxury options move to capacitive touch (another crappy trend).
The Trailhawk's seats are actually the SRT seats and are superior and more supportive than the GC seat in every other trim level. They are all day comfortable. Are the WL Trailhawk seats different from other trim levels? No one has said. Also, please don't say "piano black." This is ridiculous term because it implies the highly polished lacquered wood of a piano. In a car interior, it's just cheap shiny black plastic. Big difference.
Piano Black is the actual term used by the auto industry interior designers. It is susceptible to quality rejects due to the high gloss. Most examples are painted plastic, and the cost is not cheap compared to mere molded plastic.
@@FJUH Yes. If you have the money you get what you want. If you don’t you should not be in a Land Rover to begin with but you can get 18” steel wheels on your more budget friendly P300.
I own the exact same Grand Cherokee as the one in the video (different color) and I can say that the tires that came with the car are very poor performing in snow. I couldn't wait to get them off the Jeep when they wore out. I also upped to a bigger tire, 265/75/r18 Falken Wild Peak and man has the vehicle changed. Very solid grip and the snow rated tires do amazing with all the tech in the GC. I often drive through snow in the Sierra Nevada and this GC will inspire confidence with a better tire. I like the look of the defender but would never buy one. Too many headaches and repair costs are astonishing.
What color Jeep? none of that means anything if you dont tell us what color ... i heard white performs best in the snow. That way you can park it in a snow drift, and no one will see it
I love my jeep grand Cherokee, but after 100,000 miles it's a money pit, tonight mine is sitting on the side of a road waiting on a $400 alternator to arrive. Every time I turn around it's $100 here and $200 there.
What about equal tires same tire from both vehicles? The one tire and the advantage or the other? I know I switched from Michelin to Goodyear and made a difference!
You guys need to ditch those Pirelli all-seasons. I realize Pirelli is sponsoring those tires but c’mon, they make the Grand Cherokee appear incompetent!
Totally agree. I had a 2013 GC with the 5.7 and all the options short of air ride. I would still skip the air ride. I towed a ~6,500lb boat all over WA, would hold the limit over the passes easily. Rovers are always cool...when they work.
@@miyahtallulah Crazy! I think it may have to do with the engines/models that are imported to each country? Do they offer the Grand Cherokee with the 5.7 over there?
Quite a Agree the 4 Wheel Drive System in the Defender / Land Rover Range Rover is a Superior Product. I owned a Hummer H1 and Ran into a Group of p38 range rovers in the Bush, couldn’t believe how they out performed me. I sold and bought a 2003 Vogue HSE in 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 And Loved it till the day she left many many years. The only other car with an ABS / 4 Wheel Drive I’ve Found Comparable is the 08 Touareg V8 with the Air-ride Suspension, luxury and Very Capable. Thanks for Sharing #777Slots
I believe I see whitish yellow plates on that vehicle. That means it’s from New Jersey in my neck of the woods. What do you expect? Lots of Land Rover’s in Northern New Jersey. $69,000 to drive on route 17 or the Garden State Parkway. You gotta love the irony!
I am SOO excited for the 2022 Grand Cherokee 4xe!! That will be an awesome vehicle (in my head). Finally will get power, performance and better fuel mileage.
No the new Defender got criticism because of the same reason you're using it in a video where you compare it with the Grand Cherokee...., The defender was always competition for the Wrangler. They turned the defender into another discovery..... Imagine if Ford had released the new baby Bronco, as the new Bronco..... Land Rover screwed the pooch...
In all honesty I'd get the Suburban or Expedition Max over either, go big or go home. If I really wanted an off-roader; the decision would be between the Wrangler and Bronco. However - kudos to LR for the turbo six, of these two I'd go for the LR and I'd make very sure to get the 19" wheels.
LR3 = Discovery 3 Once again flooring it in snow. You never just floor it in snow. You want it to grab and bite so you ease in the throttle. Don’t stab it. There’s that silly comment people make again “it’s 4WD because it’s got a low range”. Low range isn’t a drive system. It’s just gearing. You could have a 4 speed transfer case or none it’s still a 4WD as it drives 4 wheels - permanent 4WD in this case (Defender). Grass/Gravel/Snow mode is meant restrict wheel spin as it’s designed for use on slippery, low traction surfaces. By reducing wheel spin you obtain grip - which is what happened. Flooring it does not provide grip if the wheels are spinning. If you wish to play about spinning wheels put it in sand mode and turn off TCS.
should throw like a rav4 or a crv or a ford escape or something cheap//less capable in for comparison. I feel like my minivan with snow tires would probably handle that snow.
In your "time to raise chassis" test I'm like, who cares? Why? I get you see a 100% dif. But if it was 2 secs and 4 secs, it would also be 100% diff and noone would care. If it was 5 mins and 10 mins. Different story, right? So, ok "that's a big difference", is accurate. "That's a big difference but both are quick so who cares?" ....is more accurate and less aggravating. Sayin', bud. Great work!
Nobody knew them before.This guys dad and son duo became quite popular since they bought their first defender tried to fix a winch on it and all the negative publicity they tried to give to the Defender. The truth is a Jeep dealer would offer good discounts on a new car where as if you get hold of a defender it straight away gets a £15k to £20k premium on selling as a used vehicle. Jeep can hang on to the legacy but the truth is no one beats a land rover at off-road not even Toyota. Why compare a 5.7L V8 to a 3L inline six get a V8 defender and do a proper comparison. I guess they can afford that £100K+ V8 defender
One disadvantage of the spare on the tail gate is what happens when you back into a pole. The energy of the impact would be transferred directly from the spare into the tailgate.
The Defender wins in this test hands down on the day. JLR are improving, slowly but surely - and the Discovery is testing and presenting a vehicle that's 5-10 years ahead of the Cherokee and current competitors.
