Used Buying Guide | Sport Durst CDJR, Durham NC
Best Year for the Jeep Grand Cherokee
For most buyers, 2019 to 2021. Those are the last years of the WK2 generation, after Jeep had spent most of a decade building it. If you want the current-generation vehicle instead, shop 2023 and newer, once the WL had a couple of years behind it.
What This Guide Covers
The Grand Cherokee has been in production for over thirty years, and the used market has four generations in it at once. Picking a year is really picking a generation first. Here is the order to think about it in.
The Generations on the Used Market
Like the Wrangler, Grand Cherokee owners talk in chassis codes. Four of them turn up in used listings today, and knowing which one you are looking at tells you more than the model year does.
| Generation | Years | What defines it |
|---|---|---|
| WJ | 1999 to 2004 | The old-school one. Solid axles front and rear. Cheap now, and a project as often as a car. Buy with a thorough inspection. |
| WK | 2005 to 2010 | Independent front suspension arrives. More comfortable than the WJ, still simple, and getting old enough that condition matters more than year. |
| WK2 | 2011 to 2021 | The one that made the Grand Cherokee a genuine luxury SUV. Air suspension available, a proper interior, and an eleven-year production run that Jeep used to refine it. |
| WL | 2021 to present | Bigger, much quieter, and a far more modern cabin. The three-row Grand Cherokee L came first as a 2021 model, and the two-row WL followed for 2022. |
One thing that trips people up: the WK2 was sold alongside the new WL for a while, so a listing from the changeover years can be either generation. Look at the dash, or send us the VIN and we will tell you which one it is.
Back to topThe Value Pick: 2019 to 2021 WK2
This is the answer for most people shopping used. By 2019 the WK2 had been in production for eight years. Jeep had refined the assembly, the interior had been updated, and the driver-assist equipment had caught up with the class. These are the last and most polished years of that generation.
The 2020 model is the one to look at first. It sits at the best intersection of equipment, availability and price of any Grand Cherokee year, and there are plenty of them around. J.D. Power gives the 2020 Grand Cherokee a Quality and Reliability score of 82 out of 100, which is in its "Great" band.
What you give up against a WL is cabin noise and screen size. The WK2 is a quieter car than most of its rivals were at the time, but the WL moved the bar. Drive both back to back on I-40 and you will hear the difference in the first mile.
The Current Car: 2023 and Newer WL
If you want the current-generation Grand Cherokee, 2023 is the sensible entry point. That gives the WL a couple of production years behind it and puts you in a vehicle that is meaningfully better on the two things buyers notice first: noise and the cabin.
The WL is a bigger car inside than the WK2, and the interior is a step change rather than an update. The screens are larger, the materials are better, and the available front passenger display is the kind of feature that sells the car in the showroom. If your commute is long or you spend real time in traffic on 15-501, this is where the money goes.
It is also the generation still being built, so a 2023 or 2024 may still carry factory coverage depending on how it was sold and how many miles it has. Ask us to check the in-service date on anything you are serious about. That single lookup is often worth more than the model year argument.
Best for
Long commutes and highway miles
The WL's cabin is the quietest the Grand Cherokee has ever been. If most of your miles are on I-40, I-85 or the drive to RTP, that is the feature you will notice every day.
Best for
Getting the most car for the money
A 2019 to 2021 WK2 has taken its depreciation and is a great deal of SUV for what it now costs. If the budget is the constraint, start here rather than stretching for a newer car with more miles.
The Three-Row Question
The Grand Cherokee L is the long-wheelbase, three-row version, and it is a different vehicle from the standard car. It launched first, as a 2021 model, a year before the two-row WL. If you need a third row, this is the one to shop. Do not try to make a standard Grand Cherokee work as a seven-seater.
The reverse is also true. If you do not need the third row, the standard-length car is easier to park, slightly better to drive, and cheaper to buy. Plenty of families in Durham and Chapel Hill buy the L for two trips a year and live with the extra length the other 363 days.
Our Grand Cherokee L fuel economy page covers the running-cost side of that decision, and our guide for Duke families works through it from the school-run angle.
V6 or V8, and Which Four-Wheel-Drive System
The engine
The 3.6L Pentastar V6 is the right engine for most buyers, and it is the one in most used Grand Cherokees. It has the longest track record in this vehicle and it is the cheapest to run. Buy the 5.7L V8 if you tow regularly, or if you want it and know what it costs at the pump. Do not buy the V8 because you are worried the V6 is not enough car for a commute.
The four-wheel-drive system
The Grand Cherokee has offered several, and the listing photo will not tell you which one is underneath. Broadly: a single-speed system handles rain, snow and a gravel driveway without fuss. The two-speed systems with a low range are what you want if you tow off a boat ramp at Jordan Lake or drive forest roads in the mountains. There is no wrong answer, only a mismatch between what you bought and what you do.
Read the window sticker or the build sheet rather than the badge. Tell us how you actually use the vehicle and we will point you at the right combination.
Air suspension
Quadra-Lift air suspension has been available on higher Grand Cherokee trims for years, and it is genuinely good. It lowers the vehicle for easier entry, drops it at speed, and lifts it for clearance. On a used car it is also a system worth confirming works, the same as it would be on any air-sprung vehicle from any brand. There is a check for it in the list below.
Back to topWhich Year Fits Which Buyer
| If you want | Shop | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The best overall used buy | 2020 WK2 | The strongest balance of equipment, availability and price in the whole run. |
| A late WK2 with the most equipment | 2019 to 2021 WK2 | The most refined years of that generation, with the driver-assist equipment caught up. |
| The current-generation vehicle | 2023 and newer WL | Quieter, bigger inside, and a far more modern cabin, with a couple of production years behind it. |
| Three rows of seats | Grand Cherokee L, 2021 and newer | The long-wheelbase version. It launched a year before the two-row WL. |
| To tow regularly | A V8 with a two-speed transfer case | The engine and the low range together are what make towing comfortable rather than merely possible. |
| The lowest purchase price | WK, 2005 to 2010 | Old enough that condition and service history matter far more than the model year on the window. |
What to Check on Any Used Grand Cherokee
Run this on whatever you are looking at, from any generation, at any dealership. On a vehicle with a production run this long, the individual car's history matters more than the year.
- The air suspension, if it has it. Start it cold and watch the vehicle settle to ride height. Cycle through the heights and listen to the compressor. Check that all four corners sit level on flat ground. This is the standard inspection on any used air-sprung vehicle, and it takes two minutes.
- Which four-wheel-drive system is underneath. Read the window sticker or the build sheet, not the badge. Then match it against how you plan to use the vehicle. A single-speed system in a car that will spend weekends on a boat ramp is a mismatch you can avoid at the point of purchase.
- The service records. A documented Grand Cherokee is worth paying more for than an identical undocumented one. This is the single highest-value thing you can ask for, and it costs nothing to ask.
- Everything electronic, one at a time. Sit in it and work through the screen, the climate control, the seat heaters, the tailgate and the sunroof. Do it before the test drive, not after, while you are still parked and paying attention.
- The underside and the tires. Look at the frame, the exhaust and the suspension components. Check that all four tires match and read the date codes. Mismatched tires on an all-wheel-drive vehicle tell you something about how it was maintained.
Every used vehicle we retail goes through our own shop first, and our Durham service department works on Jeeps every day. If you are looking at a Grand Cherokee somewhere else and want a second set of eyes, bring it to us.
Back to topShopping a Used Grand Cherokee Around Durham
The Grand Cherokee is one of the steadiest sellers in the Triangle used market, which cuts both ways. There are usually several to choose from, and the clean ones with records do not sit long. Come knowing which generation you want and whether you need a third row, and the search gets short.
We are at 4511 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, about seven miles from the UNC campus and a straight run down 15-501 from Chapel Hill. Cary, Apex and the RTP office parks are all inside a half-hour. Our used inventory turns over weekly, so tell us the spec you want and we will watch for it.
If a new one is also on the table, our Grand Cherokee trim levels guide walks the current lineup from Laredo to Summit, and you can browse new Grand Cherokees or the wider new Jeep lineup in Durham.
Two more pages worth a look: how much a Jeep Grand Cherokee weighs if towing is part of the plan, and our best year for the Jeep Wrangler guide if you are still deciding between the two.
Back to topUsed Jeep Grand Cherokee Questions
What is the best year for a used Jeep Grand Cherokee?
For most buyers, 2019 to 2021. Those are the last years of the WK2 generation, by which point Jeep had been building that platform for the better part of a decade. The 2020 model in particular is the best balance of equipment, availability and price, and J.D. Power gives it a Quality and Reliability score of 82 out of 100. If you want the current-generation vehicle, shop 2023 and newer.
What is the difference between a WK2 and a WL Grand Cherokee?
The WK2 ran from 2011 to 2021 and the WL replaced it. The WL is bigger inside, much quieter, and has a far more modern cabin with a larger screen and an available front passenger display. The WK2 is the better value and the simpler vehicle. Both are proper Grand Cherokees with real four-wheel-drive hardware underneath.
Is the Grand Cherokee L the same vehicle as the Grand Cherokee?
No. The L is the long-wheelbase three-row version, and it launched first, as a 2021 model. The two-row WL Grand Cherokee arrived for 2022. If you need a third row, you want the L. If you do not, the standard-length car is easier to park and rides slightly better.
Should I buy a used Grand Cherokee with the V6 or the V8?
The 3.6L Pentastar V6 is the right engine for most buyers. It has the longest track record in this vehicle and it is the cheapest to run. Buy the 5.7L V8 if you tow regularly or you simply want it. Do not buy the V8 because you think the V6 is not enough car for a commute between Durham and Raleigh.
What should I check on a used Grand Cherokee with air suspension?
Start the vehicle cold and watch it settle to ride height, then cycle through the ride heights and listen to the compressor. Check that all four corners sit level. This is the standard inspection on any used air-sprung vehicle from any brand. Air suspension is a genuinely good feature and it is worth confirming it works before you buy rather than after.
Which four-wheel-drive system should I look for?
Look at the badge and the window sticker, because the Grand Cherokee has offered several. The single-speed system is fine for rain, snow and a gravel road. The two-speed systems with a low range are what you want if you plan to tow on a boat ramp or drive a forest road. Tell us how you actually use the vehicle and we will match the system to it.
Is a used Grand Cherokee a good family SUV?
Yes, and it is one of the few in the class that tows properly as well. A two-row Grand Cherokee suits a family of four with room left for a dog and the school run. If you need a third row, shop the Grand Cherokee L instead of squeezing into the standard car.
Do you have used Grand Cherokees at Sport Durst in Durham?
Our used inventory changes weekly. Check our used inventory page for what is on the ground right now, or call 919-873-4578 and tell us the generation, the engine and whether you need a third row. We will tell you what we have and watch for the rest.
What Our Durham Customers Say
Come Look at One in Person
Sport Durst Chrysler Jeep Dodge RAM
4511 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd
Durham, NC 27707
Sales: 919-873-4578
We have been on this corridor since 1998, on the same auto mall campus as the other Sport Durst stores. Easy parking, and nobody will follow you across the lot.
Bring this guide with you. Ask for the build sheet, ask what our shop found on the inspection, and drive a WK2 and a WL over the same stretch of road before you decide.
Find Your Used Grand Cherokee
Tell us the generation, the engine and whether you need a third row. We will do the looking.
Sources
- Generation spans and the Grand Cherokee L launch sequence: Wikipedia's Jeep Grand Cherokee WK2 entry, CarBuzz's Grand Cherokee generation guide and JeepSpecs, reviewed September 2026.
- J.D. Power Quality and Reliability score of 82 out of 100 for the 2020 Grand Cherokee: J.D. Power, reported via the CarGurus Jeep Grand Cherokee buying guide.
- Current model specifications and lineup: jeep.com Grand Cherokee.
- Guidance on which model years to prioritise is editorial opinion drawn from the CarGurus, CarBuzz and Autotrader buying guides, not a manufacturer statement.
Reviewed September 2026. Used vehicle availability, condition and history vary by individual vehicle. Have any used vehicle inspected before purchase.