2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Independent review & score by Carivo
Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 7 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | SUV |
| Base Price | $38,424–$48,612 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L is a suv that earns a Carivo score of 7.1/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Value at 8.8/10, while Technology at 7.4/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional suv — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. Reliability stands out at 8.5/10. The Grand Cherokee L nameplate has earned that score through its track record and a comparatively clean recall sheet. Safety lands at 7.6/10 — solid, though some rivals offer more advanced driver-assist features as standard. Confirm official results for your trim at nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Few rivals match it for performance: 8.2/10. Expect handling and power delivery that make this one of the more entertaining suvs to actually drive. At 7.4/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $38,424–$48,612, 19 MPG, seating 7, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L sits in the mid-market bracket of the suv segment. Its value score of 8.8/10 confirms that the price reflects the quality — you're getting a lot for your money here. At 5 years old, it's worth checking whether a newer generation or refresh has addressed any weaker dimensions — compare it to the current model year before buying.
Verdict: The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L sits in the middle of the field. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L ranks #1814 of 2454 suvs in the Carivo database — better than 26% of the segment. Its 7.1/10 overall score is 0.3 points below the segment average of 7.4/10. Its $38,424 starting price is about 6% above the segment's median of $36,079.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full SUV ranking → · Best SUVs under $50k →
| Fuel (75,000 miles) | ~$13,815 ($2,763/year at $3.50/gal) |
|---|---|
| Recall repairs | $0 — 3 campaigns on record; recall work is always free at franchised dealers |
| Insurance | Varies widely by driver and state — always quote the exact trim before buying |
We only print costs we can compute from sourced data (EPA fuel economy, NHTSA recalls). We don't estimate maintenance or depreciation — anyone who gives you one number for those is guessing.
Across the Grand Cherokee L model years we've scored, the 2021 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.3/10 | $43,491 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.3/10 | $43,491 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.3/10 | $42,225 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.1/10 | $40,958 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.2/10 | $39,691 | Read review → |
| 2021 (this review) | 7.1/10 | $38,424 |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle with our free VIN recall checker.
| Air bags / Side/window 27/11/2024 · 24V897000 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An improperly secured connector for the front seat side air bags (SAB) may prevent the air bags from deploying. As such, these… |
|---|---|
| Equipment / Electrical / Infotainment / Video (touch)screen/monitor/unit 13/02/2025 · 25V083000 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. The center stack upper display (DCSD) contains a transistor that may overheat and prevent the rearview camera image from displaying. As… |
| Suspension / Rear / Springs / Coil springs 29/01/2026 · 26V051000 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles. The rear coil springs may be incorrectly installed and detach from the vehicle while driving. |
Source: NHTSA recall database, fetched at page build time.
Own a 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L that's been repaired repeatedly for the same problem? It may qualify under your state's lemon law — run the free lemon law check →
We rate the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L's reliability 8.5/10 — one of the stronger records in its class. It has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
3 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.1/10 overall, ranking #1814 of 2454 suvs in our database (better than 26% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L starts at $38,424 and ranges up to $48,612 across trims (MSRP when new). At 19 MPG, expect roughly $2,763/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
No standout weak years: across the 6 Grand Cherokee L model years we've scored, every year lands within half a point of the best (7.3/10). Pick on price and condition rather than year.
The documented issues for the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L are its NHTSA recall campaigns, which involve: Air bags, Equipment, Suspension (details in the recalls section above; repairs are free at dealers). For wear-and-tear patterns beyond recalls, owner forums are the best source — we only report what federal data documents.
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Explore the full lineup of Jeep models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.