Fans of Jeep’s midsize SUV, the Grand Cherokee, will find plenty to appreciate about the 2020 model. Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety provided favorable reviews overall for the Grand Cherokee’s safety. 

In fact, Jeep appears to have successfully managed complaints that plagued earlier models, including the 2011‘s faulty wiring and engine problems. While Jeep’s V6 is generally considered underwhelming in the performance department, the Grand Cherokee, currently in its 10th year of production, provides plenty of options and safety features to continue earning high marks. 

How the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee measures up with NHTSA 

The NHTSA evaluated the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee with an overall safety rating of five stars. Using a simulated frontal barrier head-on collision with similar vehicles at 35 mph, the safety organization combined the vehicle’s five-star front passenger-side crash test with the driver’s side front test rating of four to reach the overall front crash four-star rating. 

The safety administration’s testing facility arrived at a unanimous five-star rating for both the driver and passenger side crash ratings. The Side Barrier test simulated a collision between an object moving at 38.5 mph and a standing vehicle. 

Its simulation of a vehicle crashing into a fixed object, like a tree, concluded the Side Pole Barrier rating with five stars. 

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee completed the rollover test with four stars. The agency uses a Rollover Resistance test measure to calculate the risk of a single vehicle losing control. It found the vehicle’s rollover risk to be 16.90% with no dynamic tip results. 

IIHS’s perspective of the 2020 Grand Cherokee’s safety 

The IIHS divided the 2020 Grand Cherokee’s overall crashworthiness into six individual ratings. The first two leave plenty of room for improvement. 

The rating for the front driver-side small overlap ranked a marginal score. The test is intended to imitate what happens in the front corner of the vehicle as it collides with another object.  

It measures the driver’s injuries to the neck and head, hip and thigh, and chest, all of which received the highest rating possible. Injuries to the lower leg and foot, however, only earned a marginal rating. 

The dummy’s movements during the simulated crash were “reasonably well controlled,” earning an acceptable mark. 

IIHS’s overall evaluation concluded with a marginal rating with the structure and safety cage also earning marginal scores. Using the same criteria for the passenger overlap test only achieved a “poor” rating. 

The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee redeemed itself with the front moderate overlap, side crash, roof strength, and head restraints and seats all completing with the highest “good” marks. 

The vehicle’s headlights only managed to reach the “acceptable” realm and varied by model; however, the option package received a poor rating. 

The vehicle’s final aspect test, child seat anchors, were rated as marginal for the latch’s ease of use. 

The bottom line on the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee 

There have been no recalls on either the 2019 nor the 2020 Grand Cherokees; however, consumers have registered three consistent complaints on the 2020. There’s a problem with spontaneous acceleration when using the rear park assist. 

With the Grand Cherokee’s features, including blind spot monitoring, forward collision mitigation, and lane departure warning, the 2020’s securely ranked as a top choice in the mid-size SUV category.  

Add a 7,000-pound towing capacity, off-road capabilities, power, and interior accouterments to the successful overall safety rating, and the 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee is more than a contender. It remains a tough competitor to beat.