The Best Midsize Jeeps
Jeep’s current midsize models are the Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Gladiator, and Jeep Cherokee, but how do they compare to their competitors?
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Pat Roache
Table of Contents
If you want a midsize Jeep SUV that fits between the compact and full-size SUV classes, your options from the current lineup are the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Cherokee. If you wish you could have a four-door Wrangler in the form of a midsize pickup truck, consider the Jeep Gladiator.
Let’s take a look at what each of these midsize Jeeps has going for it, and how they compare to their competitors.
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2023 Jeep Wrangler
When you think of the iconic, classic midsize ute design, you’re probably thinking of a
Jeep Wrangler
. Inspired by the World War II Jeep and the Civilian Jeeps of the mid-century, the Jeep Wrangler just keeps being made.However, it seems that Jeep isn’t the best at building these types of SUVs anymore. It’s been given a serious run for its money by the new
Ford Bronco
Raptor, which competes with Jeep’s more high-powered and luxurious models.Pricing
The cheapest 2023 Jeep Wrangler model is the two-door Wrangler Sport, with a starting MSRP of $31,195. The most expensive Jeep Wrangler trim is the coveted
Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 392
. Add on all the goodies, and this trim maxes out above $90,000.Trim levels
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler is separated into three versions: Wrangler, Wrangler Unlimited, and
Wrangler 4xe
. The standard Wrangler has two doors, while the Unlimited and 4xe models have four doors. The Jeep Wrangler 4xe is the model’s first foray into the world of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs).Between these three models, there are twelve available trim levels:
- Sport
- Willys Sport
- Sport S
- Freedom
- Sport Altitude
- Willys
- Sahara
- Rubicon
- Sport RHD
- Sahara Altitude
- High Altitude
- Rubicon 392.
Performance
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler’s performance has a lot to do with what version you get. There are quite a few powertrains to choose from, and each serves its own purpose, in combination with whatever off-road equipment you go for.
The base engine is a 3.6-liter V6 that provides 285 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. This powertrain is also available with an optional electric motor that adds low-end torque and helps to conserve fuel. Finally, two-door Wrangler models are available with a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 hybrid. It gets 270 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Opt for a four-door Jeep Wrangler, and you get even more powertrain options, including the powertrains available for the two-door. The turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 diesel engine is the most efficient powertrain available, and it still offers 260 horsepower and a whopping 442 lb-ft of torque at 1,400-2,800 rpm.
Jeep claims that the new Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon 392 is the quickest Wrangler yet, with a claimed 0-60 time of 4.5 seconds, thanks to its 470-horsepower 6.4-liter V8.
The Wrangler 4xe PHEV powertrain gets a total of 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Fuel economy
The most fuel-efficient 2023 Jeep Wranglers are the ones equipped with the 3.0-liter turbodiesel engine. It gets 22 mpg city/29 mpg highway unless it has to carry all of the extra Rubicon equipment.
The Wrangler 4xe can drive 21 miles with electricity only and gets a mediocre 49 MPGe in electric mode and 20 mpg combined—not bad, but not great.
You’ll get the worst mileage with the V8 Rubicon 392 engine—only 13 mpg city/17 mpg.
Interior and tech
The two-door Wrangler is shorter than the four-door. In this smaller form, it can seat up to four, while the four-door seats up to five. The smaller Wrangler gets 31.7 cubic feet of max cargo space, while the Unlimited and 4xe have 72.4 cubic feet of storage space with the back seats folded.
The 2023 Jeep Wrangler can come with a bare-bones set of standard equipment if that’s what you’re looking for, but there’s plenty of luxury to be had with higher trims. Notable available tech features include:
- Forward-facing off-road camera
- Infotainment touchscreen with Uconnect (three available screen sizes)
- Optional Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
- Navigation system
- Upgraded nine-speaker Alpine sound system
- Available driver assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control parking sensors, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert
Safety and reliability
The Jeep Wrangler may be sturdy on the trail, but when it comes to safety testing for everyday driving, it gets some points against it. IIHS gave it a barely-passing “Marginal” grade for the front driver-side small overlap test and an updated side crash test.
The Wrangler’s headlights get overall Poor ratings in the same assessment. Only the Advanced Safety Group package combined with the LED Headlamp and Fog Lamp Group package bump this rating up to Marginal. Otherwise, the Jeep Wrangler gets good safety ratings, although the recent models have not been put through a full NHTSA crash test yet.
In terms of reliability, it’s notable that all 2021 to 2023 Wrangler 4xe models are being recalled due to an engine shut-down issue related to an internal computer error.
Competitors
So how does the Jeep Wrangler compare to its competition? Let’s take a look at its specs compared to three of the
Jeep Wrangler’s top competitors
.Model | MSRP range | Base powertrain | Fuel economy | Safety ratings | Reliability ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Jeep Wrangler | $31,195 to $82,495 | 285-hp 3.6-liter V6 w/six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD | 13-22 mpg city/17-29 mpg hwy | Good overall (IIHS) | 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 84/100 (J.D. Power), 7.7/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Ford Bronco | $32,295 to $73,780 | 275-hp four-cylinder w/seven-speed manual or ten-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD | 15-20 mpg city/16-21 mpg hwy | Good overall (IIHS) | 3.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 80/100 (J.D. Power), 7.9/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Kia Telluride | $35,690 to $50,390 | 291-hp 3.8-liter V6 w/eight-speed automatic transmission and standard FWD | 18-20 mpg city/24-26 mpg hwy | Good overall (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 84/100 (J.D. Power), 8.4/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Land Rover Defender | $55,100 to $118,400 | 296-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-4 w/eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD | 14-18 mpg city/19-22 mpg hwy | N/A | 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 78/100 (J.D. Power), 7.8/10 (Edmunds) |
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MORE: Does Jeep have a self-driving car?
2022 Jeep Cherokee
While the Jeep Wrangler is a more traditional SUV style geared specifically for wilderness driving, the
Jeep Cherokee
competes with the more city-oriented, compact crossover/SUV category. We hear you saying, “Wait, is the Jeep Cherokee a compact or midsize SUV?”Trusted sources such as Car And Driver and Kelley Blue Book place it in the compact crossover SUV category, competing with models like the
Honda CR-V
and Mazda CX-50. This is conflicting information as far as Jeep is concerned, who argues that the Jeep Cherokee is a midsize SUV.Pricing
The 2022 Jeep Cherokee Altitude is no longer available, meaning that the Jeep Cherokee Latitude Lux is the most affordable model you can get, starting at $34,895 MSRP. Select every available add-on for the top trim
Jeep Cherokee Limited
and you’ll pay over $45,000.Trim levels
There are only five 2022 Jeep Cherokee trims; Altitude, Latitude Lux, X,
Trailhawk
, and Limited. Higher trims add features such as standard all-wheel drive, two engine upgrades, luxury interior items like leather seating, and exclusive options packages.Performance
While optimized off-road performance is arguably the Jeep Wrangler’s goal, the Jeep Cherokee isn’t called upon for the same sorts of high-intensity trail riding. As such, its available powertrains are slightly less exciting, and all-wheel drive (AWD) is not standard on every model.
The 3.2-liter V6 is standard for all upcoming models, and it provides more of what we’d expect from a Jeep SUV by way of 271 horsepower and 239 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.
Available for the Latitude Lux and Limited trims is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4, which gets 270 horsepower while providing 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,000-4,500 rpm and optimizing fuel economy.
Fuel economy
That turbocharged engine is the most efficient 2022 Jeep Cherokee engine, which gets 23 mpg city/31 mpg highway with front-wheel drive (FWD).
The least efficient configuration for the Jeep Cherokee is the Trailhawk, which is only available with the V6 engine paired to an Active Drive II AWD system. This trail-optimized trim gets 18 mpg city/31 mpg highway.
Interior and tech
Although Jeep markets the Jeep Cherokee as a midsize SUV, this five-seater really ought to be described as a compact crossover SUV. The properly-marketed
Toyota RAV4
is the same length as this so-called midsize SUV.The Jeep Cherokee’s rear compartment only offers 25.8 cubic feet of space! As SUV models keep getting gradually larger, this is a clear indication that the Jeep Cherokee is past due for a refresh (making the perfect opportunity for a new name).
On the bright side, many driver assistance features are standard for the Jeep Cherokee. Here are some other notable available technology features:
- Standard Android Auto/Apple CarPlay
- Standard heated front seats and heated steering wheel
- 8.4-inch infotainment touchscreen
- Leather seats on Latitude Lux trim and up
- Power liftgate
- 115V power outlet
- Ventilated front seats/heated, sliding back seats
- Navigation system
Safety and reliability
The IIHS ratings for the Jeep Cherokee are more consistent than the Wrangler, but it still loses some marks for headlights safety. Otherwise, it gets full marks for crashworthiness and its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system. The NHTSA gives the 2022 Jeep Cherokee a four-star overall crash test rating.
RepairPal gives the Jeep Cherokee an above-average 4.0/5.0 reliability rating, ranking it 9th out of 26 models in the 2022 compact SUV class.
Competitors
Here’s how three of the
top competitors for the Jeep Cherokee
compare, all of which are accurately branded by their respective automakers as compact crossover/SUVs.Model | MSRP range | Base powertrain | Fuel economy | Safety ratings | Reliability ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022 Jeep Cherokee | $34,895 to $39,345 | 271-hp 3.2-liter V6 w/nine-speed automatic transmission and standard FWD (base I-4 no longer available) | 18-23 mpg city/26-31 mpg hwy | 4 stars (NHTSA), Good overall (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 77/100 (J.D. Power), 7.8/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Honda CR-V | $31,110 to $38,600 | 190-hp 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder w/CVT and standard FWD | 27-28 mpg city/32-34 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), 2022 Top Safety Pick (IIHS) | 4.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 81/100 (J.D. Power), 8.1/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Mazda CX-5 | $26,700 to $39,650 | 187-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 w/six-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD | 22-24 mpg city/27-30 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 4.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 83/100 (J.D. Power), 8.1/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Subaru Forester | $26,395 to $36,495 | 182-hp 2.5-liter flat-4 w/CVT and standard AWD | 25-26 mpg city/28-33 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Top Safety Pick+ (IIHS) | 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 84/100 (J.D. Power), 7.9/10 (Edmunds) |
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2023 Jeep Gladiator
If you’re looking for a Jeep Wrangler with an open pickup bed, you can pay some extra thousands for the
Jeep Gladiator
. The Gladiator competes with other midsize pickup models like the Honda Ridgeline
and Toyota Tacoma
.Pricing
The base model of the 2023 Jeep Gladiator is the Gladiator Sport, which starts at $38,775 MSRP. The most expensive trim is the Jeep Gladiator High Altitude. Select all the most expensive add-ons for this trim and you’ll end up with a price over $70,000.
Trim levels
There are a total of ten trim levels for the Jeep Gladiator—many of which share designations with the Wrangler and the Cherokee. The Jeep Gladiator continues Jeep’s trend of using First Nations’ tribal names without permission, with the available
Mojave
trim.Upgrading to higher trims means getting specific extras, depending on the version you choose. For example, the Altitude trim includes the Trailer Tow package, while the Overland trim adds infotainment and technology upgrades.
Performance
The base engine is standard for all 2023 Jeep Gladiator models. This standard powertrain is a 3.6-liter V6 paired with a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an optional 8-speed automatic. With this engine, the Jeep Gladiator gets 285 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm.
An optional engine upgrade is available for all but the Gladiator Mojave—a 3.0-liter diesel V6 that produces less horsepower (260), but far more low-end torque (442 lb-ft at 1,400-2,800). This engine is only paired with an automatic transmission.
Each Jeep Gladiator has standard 4WD.
Fuel economy
That diesel engine is the most efficient 2023 Jeep Gladiator engine. It gets 22 mpg city/28 mpg highway when equipped on the Sport or Overland trims.
The least efficient Jeep Gladiators have the base engine. These get 16 mpg city/23 mpg highway with manual transmission and 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway with the automatic.
Interior and tech
Similar to the Wrangler Sport, the Jeep Gladiator’s interior is quite simple in base form, which is specifically geared for off-road fun. The Jeep Gladiator is only available as a four-door, with seating for up to five passengers. It’s slightly longer than the Wrangler Unlimited, allowing for even more rear-seat legroom.
Its most defining interior feature is its removable paneling and fold-down windshield. Open these up if you’re looking to bond with the air and mud. And thanks to its removable carpeting and drain plugs, cleanup can be relatively simple.
Here are some notable interior tech features available for the Jeep Gladiator:
- Removable Bluetooth tailgate speaker
- Forward off-road terrain spotting camera
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- 115-volt power outlet
- Driver assistance safety features (not standard)
Safety and reliability
The Jeep Gladiator has never been crash tested by the IIHS or NHTSA, which is not unexpected. IIHS assessments have been given for its crash prevention technology (full marks) and headlights (Marginal-Poor).
The Gladiator is also not reviewed on RepairPal.
Competitors
The Gladiator is in a league of its own in a way, but here’s how it compares to other top-rated midsize crew cab pickups.
Model | MSRP range | Base powertrain | Fuel economy | Safety ratings | Reliability ratings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 Jeep Gladiator | $37,565 to $54,080 | 285-hp 3.6-liter V6 w/six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission and standard 4WD | 16-17 mpg city/22-23 mpg hwy | N/A | 83/100 (J.D. Power), 7.9/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Toyota Tacoma | $28,080 to $49,390 | 159-hp 2.7-liter four-cylinder w/six-speed automatic or manual transmission and standard RWD | 17-20 mpg city/20-24 mpg hwy | 4 stars (NHTSA), Mostly Good (IIHS) | 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 82/100 (J.D. Power), 7.7/10 (Edmunds) |
2023 Honda Ridgeline | $38,800 to $46,230 | 280-hp 3.5-liter V6 w/nine-speed automatic transmission and standard AWD | 18 mpg city/24 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Good overall (IIHS) | 3.5/5.0 (RepairPal), 80/100 (J.D. Power), 8.5/10 (Edmunds) |
2022 Chevrolet Colorado | $27,100 to $44,200 | 200-hp 2.5-liter inline-4 w/six-speed automatic transmission and standard RWD | 25-26 mpg city/28-33 mpg hwy | 5 stars (NHTSA), Mostly Good (IIHS) | 4.0/5.0 (RepairPal), 83/100 (J.D. Power), 7.6/10 (Edmunds) |
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Is a Jeep Cherokee a midsize SUV?
Technically yes, because all that has to happen for an SUV to be called midsize is for its automaker to have called it so. However, the 2022 Jeep Cherokee is smaller than many compact SUVs, and pretty much everyone other than Jeep considers it to be a compact crossover.
Does Jeep have a mid-size SUV?
Yes! The Jeep Wrangler is a true midsize SUV, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee also competes with midsize SUVs. However, Jeep calls the Grand Cherokee full-size, while the compact Jeep Cherokee is labeled as Midsize by the company.
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