Compare the2026 Jeep Grand CherokeeVS 2026 Lexus NX

The Jeep Grand Cherokee has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve/Summit helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The NX doesn’t offer a night vision system.

Both the Grand Cherokee and the NX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is safer than the Lexus NX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Jeep Grand Cherokee is safer than the Lexus NX:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

There are almost 10 times as many Jeep dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Grand Cherokee’s warranty.

The battery on the Grand Cherokee is under the seat, which protects it from hot under-hood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Grand Cherokee’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The NX’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

The Grand Cherokee has more powerful engines than the NX:

Both the Grand Cherokee and the NX have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Grand Cherokees have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. The NX 350h/450h+ doesn’t offer a way to disable start/stop.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Jeep Grand Cherokee uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 350 AWD requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Grand Cherokee has 8.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the NX (23 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Grand Cherokee has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The NX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

For better stopping power the Grand Cherokee’s brake rotors are larger than those on the NX:

The Grand Cherokee stops shorter than the NX:

For better traction, the Grand Cherokee has larger standard tires than the NX (265/60R18 vs. 235/60R18). The Grand Cherokee Summit’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the NX (275/45R21 vs. 235/60R18).

The Grand Cherokee Summit’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX’s optional 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Grand Cherokee Summit has standard 21-inch wheels. The NX’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Grand Cherokee has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The NX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the NX; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The Grand Cherokee offers an optional automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Grand Cherokee’s height leveling suspension allows the driver to raise ride height for better off-road clearance and then lower it again for easier entering and exiting and better on-road handling. The NX doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Cherokee’s wheelbase is 10.8 inches longer than on the NX (116.7 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Grand Cherokee is 2.2 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than on the NX.

The Grand Cherokee’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the NX’s (57.7% to 42.3%). This gives the Grand Cherokee more stable handling and braking.

For greater off-road capability the Grand Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 350 F Sport Handling AWD (8.4 vs. 7.7 inches), allowing the Grand Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Cherokee Summit’s minimum ground clearance is 2.8 inches higher than on the NX (10.9 vs. 8.1 inches).

The front grille of the Grand Cherokee uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Grand Cherokee Altitude/Limited/Summit uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The NX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Grand Cherokee has 1.6 inches more front headroom, .3 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 2.9 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear legroom, 3.8 inches more rear hip room and 4 inches more rear shoulder room than the NX.

The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the NX with its rear seat up (37.7 vs. 22.7 cubic feet). The Grand Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the NX with its rear seat folded (70.8 vs. 46.9 cubic feet).

The Grand Cherokee’s cargo area is larger than the NX’s in every dimension:

The Grand Cherokee’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus NX is only 2000 pounds. The Grand Cherokee offers up to a 6200 lbs. towing capacity.

The Grand Cherokee Summit can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Grand Cherokee can be unhitched and driven around locally. The NX can’t be towed flat on the ground.

The Grand Cherokee has a higher standard payload capacity than the NX (1240 vs. 1125 lbs.).

The Grand Cherokee has a higher maximum payload capacity than the NX (1280 vs. 1205 lbs.).

The engine in the Grand Cherokee is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the NX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because the accessory belts are in front.

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the NX, the Grand Cherokee Summit has a passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position (with optional power wheel adjuster), outside mirror angle and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The power windows standard on both the Grand Cherokee and the NX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Grand Cherokee is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The NX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

Consumer Reports rated the Grand Cherokee’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the NX’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Grand Cherokee to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The NX doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Grand Cherokee Limited Reserve/Trailhawk/Summit has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Cherokee Summit also has them in the rear. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The NX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats in the rear.

The Grand Cherokee Summit has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the NX.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee stands out above the Lexus NX by offering not one, but two Qi-compatible phone chargers. This convenience helps travelers with multiple devices to keep powered up on-the-go. Wireless charging eliminates lost or cluttered charging cables and one of them provide more flexibility.

The Grand Cherokee Laredo X/Altitude/Limited/Summit has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The NX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Grand Cherokee third among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The NX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee outsold the Lexus NX by almost three to one during 2025.