When most people think of a jeep, they think of the iconic Wrangler. And in early 2021, Jeep sold about as many Wranglers as the Grand Cherokees. But month by month, Grand Cherokee sales have risen, and it now dwarfs Wrangler sales. It seems that some Jeep fans are choosing the latest generation of Grand Cherokee over the Wrangler.
Jeep Wrangler’s Origin
RELATED: The 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xes figures may surprise you
For decades, the Jeep Wrangler has been one of the most iconic 4×4 cars on the planet. It can trace its memorable design back to the Willys Jeep designed to transport Allied troops through war-torn Europe. After World War II, Willys offered the first civilian jeep (CJ) and it became the open 4 × 4 choice across America.
By 2007, the Jeep had become part of the Chrysler Corporation, and the CJ has been transformed into the Wrangler through a series of minor developments. It was still a two-door, 4 × 4 convertible with a narrow turning radius, solid axles and an available manual transmission.
For the 2007 model, Chrysler chose to make a big change to its Jeep Wrangler: It launched the four-door Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. With an available factory-installed, detachable hard top, the Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is comparable to many other mid-size SUVs. Now it is a viable choice for motorists who need four doors and plenty of cargo space. The result was an increase in sales of the Jeep Wrangler.
Jeep only sold 80,000 two-door Wranglers a year. But in 2007 alone, Jeep sold 119,000 Wranglers and Wrangler Unlimiteds, according to the website Good Car, Bad Car.
Sales have continued to improve: in 2015, Jeep sold 200,000 Wranglers in one year. Since 2018, the new “JL” generation launched Wrangler sales to 240,000. Jeep has sold at least 200,000 Wranglers every year since then. But now the Wrangler has tough competition from within the Jeep: Grand Cherokee.
The all-new 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
In June 2021, Jeep launched a brand new Grand Cherokee with three rows of seats: the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L. This SUV combined legendary Jeep off-road capabilities with the abundance of pioneers of the Ram-based Grand Wagoneer.
RELATED: Serious mountain bikers do not waste money on Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
The 2021 Grand Cherokee L was the first model in the Grand Cherokee’s fifth generation (codenamed WL). While it carried over the V6 and V8 engines, with its eight-speed gearboxes, from the previous generation, it was technically very different.
Grand Cherokee L features include its “Quadra-Drive” four-wheel drive system available with Hi / Lo differential. Many car manufacturers actually refer to such a system as a full-time 4WD, but Jeep’s decision to call its system AWD puts it in the company of luxury SUVs such as Land Rover. Jeep also offers its Cherokee L with adjustable air suspension and a rear differential with limited sleep.
Inside, the Cherokee L shares luxurious features with the new Grand Wagoneer. These include a wood fiber interior and a dedicated touch screen for the front passenger.
Does the new Jeep Grand Cherokee hurt sales of the Wrangler?
This new Jeep Grand Cherokee with long wheelbase was obviously appealing to car buyers in need of a third-row SUV. In 2021, Jeep saw a 25% increase in sales of the Grand Cherokee, which rose from about 200,000 to 254,445 units. At the same time, Wrangler’s sales remained static at 200k.
RELATED: Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk vs. Dodge Charger Hellcat Redeye: Which Supercharged Masterpiece Is Faster?
Specifically, the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler had roughly equal sales in the first quarter of 2021. In April, May and June, the Wrangler saw a summer sales boom and it was moving forward. But Jeep also launched the new 2022 Grand Cherokee L in June 2021.
In July 2021, the new Grand Cherokee increased sales of Grand Cherokee from 17,000 to 24,000 per month. It remained the strongest seller for the rest of the year.
For the 2022 model, Jeep expanded its new WL Series Grand Cherokee to its regular Grand Cherokee model. This Jeep is five inches shorter and has a row of seats smaller. It also has a narrower turning radius, which makes it more capable in terrain. The result appears to be a further decline in Jeep Wrangler sales.
During Q1 (Q1) 2021, Jeep sold 55,197 Grand Cherokees and 49,647 Wranglers. But during the first quarter of 2022, the number of Wranglers Jeep sold dropped to 45,553 while the number of Grand Cherokees sold increased to 75,116.
Obviously, all this interest in the new Grand Cherokee could not come from the small decline in Wrangler sales. Most Grand Cherokee buyers have to choose it over other SUVs in the third row. That said, the decline in Wrangler sales suggests that at least some Jeep fans are choosing the Grand Cherokee.
Then watch a review of the 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee in the video below:
RELATED: Wrangler is outdated, here’s why jeep fans do not care