Help! Grand Cherokee Summit vs X5 vs GLE

"whatisthatsound" (whatisthatsound)
10/02/2019 at 11:53 • Filed to: None

In my quest for the next vehicle, I’ve come across some really solid deals on a '17 JGC. I realized I need a tow vehicle not necessarily a truck. These are the three contenders that will have no issue with towing an enclosed trailer behind them. Anyone have any thoughts or input?

DISCUSSION (33)

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 12:00

The new G05 X5 is an excellent car. I helped a family friend buy one and she loves it. The new Cayenne is an outstanding car too, but a bit pricier.

This is all I can recommend.

412GTI > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 12:04

GC Summit is super comfortable. Air suspension would probably be good for towing, but don’t know how they hold up down the road. 18 is the first year with Carplay/Android Auto if that’s something you like.

X5 diesel seems like a good towing option tho.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 12:07

Personally, I’d still get a truck, especially if your enclosed trailer has any weight to it, or you will be loading it up.

A simple 1/2 ton truck is going to feel much more stable towing a load than a CUV regardless of “tow rating”. Towing with an improper vehicle can be downright scary.

Nibby > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 12:11

GC Overland also has a trailer hitch... I’d pick that out of those 3 honestly

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > Nibby
10/02/2019 at 12:50

GC Overland is very well-equipped. Not sure what the Summit gets you other than appearance items and available quilted leather interior.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 12:53

Going the uni body SUV route, you’re going to run out of ability to deal with tongue weight in a stable manner at speed long before you get to an enclosed trailer that bumps into the tow rating. How much enclosed trailer are you looking at, and what’s inside of it?

Nibby > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
10/02/2019 at 12:55

Honestly I’d skip the Summit unless it’s practically the same price as overland. My dad leased a WK2 Limited from 2016 til a few weeks ago. Was a nice ride, had the LED lamps and vented seats.

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
10/02/2019 at 13:04

Edit: looked up user name name and realized this is probably for your Morgan and single axle enclosed trailer. That ought to be fine behind any number of unibody SUV or CUV vehicles.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 13:30

What year and engine are you looking at for GLE? I would avoid 4 cylinder gas for your application. Not my favorite motor. V6 gas is great, turbo or non. Not many of the new I6 out yet so I can't really comment on reliability there, but it has plenty of power and is smooth.

whatisthatsound > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com
10/02/2019 at 13:51

It just is a little too much on the CX9 which is limited to 350lbs tongue weight. I only need at most 600lbs tongue weight at most that way I can winch the morgan engine first into the trailer.

whatisthatsound > ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy
10/02/2019 at 13:51

That quilted leather! like an audi that leaks and squeaks!

whatisthatsound > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/02/2019 at 13:53

It’s for a 7x12 aluminum enclosed V-nose with the morgan in it. Max weight is 3,000lbs. The CX9 just sketches me out with the tongue weight. My problem wit the truck is I like luxury and the Ram isn’t cheap enough. If I can get a car under 35k I can get a racing kart and that is a pretty big incentive.

whatisthatsound > AMGtech - now with more recalls!
10/02/2019 at 13:54

Definitely not 4 cylinders, 6 for X5 and GLE and 8 for the Jeep.

whatisthatsound > 412GTI
10/02/2019 at 13:56

I think I may get a certified pre-owned then add the Mopar extended warranty as that is actually honored unlike most 3rd party warranties. This would be a 3 year hold and we don’t have crazy cold in the PNW to destroy air suspension. We drive to the snow, but don’t live in it if that makes sense.

whatisthatsound > BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo
10/02/2019 at 13:58

How is the reliability on it? The Cayenne just doesn’t have the tech I want in the price point I’m looking for.

whatisthatsound > Nibby
10/02/2019 at 13:58

The air suspension is what puts me towards the Summit, though I’m not sure what lower trims I can get it on.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 14:01

This is their third BMW X SUV in a row. They’ve had no problems aside from the first one being totaled by a Corolla that ran a red light.

Nibby > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 14:11

having ridden in both... it’s not really worth the hassle. the standard suspension is really comfortable too

whatisthatsound > Nibby
10/02/2019 at 14:20

This honestly might be the best advice because right now I can’t test drive any of these cars so everything is from forums and reports. All I know is the Ram is out because the QA on the first run of those Rams are laughable reading through owners issues.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 15:17

GLE would work great then. New generation is out currently, but hasn’t been long enough for me to tell you anything about it. Previous gen can probably still be found new and is great, but will obviously feel a little dated. Either should do the job just fine.

Drive them all, see which you prefer.

Nibby > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 15:27

when you get a chance to drive one let me know!

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > whatisthatsound
10/02/2019 at 16:08

Why not buy a year old Ram?

You can get one with around 25k miles and remaining factory warranty for $30k or less.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/755095693/overview/

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/783632600/overview/

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/775388267/overview/

whatisthatsound > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/03/2019 at 00:00

For the tech, the ‘18s didn’t have ACC and the upgraded interior. If I’m not buying a sports car I want the most comfortable vehicle I can get with the most driver aids packed into it because I’m not buying it to enjoy driving. I’m buying it to be comfortable as I drive the 3 wheeler to and from mechanics.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > whatisthatsound
10/03/2019 at 07:31

I think if you’re buying it exclusively for towing, you should probably be more focused on the road than tech...........

Comfort I get, but driver aids have no place in a tow vehicle. IMO if you need driver aids, you needn’t be towing.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > whatisthatsound
10/03/2019 at 07:34

Don’t most Audis?

whatisthatsound > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/03/2019 at 07:55

I look at the problem differently. When I tow probably 2-4 times a month I don’t want to worry about anything. When I daily drive I want to just become a numb droid who safely navigates while being enveloped in lavishness. When I want to drive I’ll get a sports car. For my daily, if it isn’t a 2 seater it should have all the tech I can get to numb the pain of not being in a sports car.

ShrimpHappens, née WJalopy > whatisthatsound
10/03/2019 at 09:20

The lowest trim on which you can get the air suspension is the Limited, where it comes as part of the Off-Road Adventure II package.

Also, part of the GC’s towing packing (at all trim levels where it’ s available) is rear load leveling suspension, regardless of springs/air.

Last, as you’re looking at GC’s, use this link to see its window sticker, just swap out the VIN in the address: https://www.jeep.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=1C4RJECG1KC673648

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > whatisthatsound
10/03/2019 at 10:02

Conversely, I refuse to drive anything I don’t enjoy driving. Becoming numb to the world around you is how crashes happen.

Frank > whatisthatsound
10/03/2019 at 10:05

I have owned several Mercedes currently a 2020 gle450. Here's why it is far superior. Mercedes builds into their cars cross wind detection and advances trailer seat control. If you ever passed a semi on a two lane highway you will notice your car may rock not mercedes. My wife has a 2019 Silverado it doesn't have that feature. In fact we tow a small boat and have a 20ft camper and the merc tows so easily you almost forget your towing. Plus the minute you hook up and go on board sensors adjust everything including when auto braking kicks in. This is my third ml/gle and the two prior exceeded 250k miles all I did was follow the service book. It cost more money to maintain my wife's Honda pilot and f150 prior than any of my Mercedes ever did.

Frank > 412GTI
10/03/2019 at 10:06

Rremember the grand Cherokee shares a frame and alot of parts with the mercedes gle.

whatisthatsound > Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness
10/03/2019 at 10:42

Different strokes I guess.

whatisthatsound > Frank
10/03/2019 at 10:44

They crush it on consumer reports as well and I adore the S class.

Long_Voyager, Now With More Caravanny Goodness > whatisthatsound
10/03/2019 at 12:08

Good luck on the hunt, hopefully you find something you’ll love.