One hour you're rolling down Ocean Drive with all the windows down, the next you're heading toward Tiverton with three kids, two coolers, and a last-minute "can we bring the dog?" squeezed into the back. So this comparison stays focused on what matters for actual Rhode Island life: comfort, winter traction, cargo logic, highway calmness, and real-world engine numbers.
Grand Cherokee L vs Chevy Traverse: Which 3-Row SUV Handles Newport Road Trips Better
Quick takeaway for busy Newport families
- Grand Cherokee L = premium feel + stronger towing + winter confidence.
- Chevy Traverse = huge cabin volume + value pricing + super easy daily driving.
Power and towing: facts you'll feel merging onto Route 24
Grand Cherokee L: Offers a 3.6L Pentastar V6 with about 293 hp, paired with a smooth 8-speed automatic. Towing tops out around 6,200 lb when properly equipped. That matters if your road trip includes hauling a pair of jet skis to Narragansett or a small camper north to Maine.
Chevy Traverse: The latest generation runs a 2.5L turbo-four producing roughly 315 hp and 317 lb-ft. Torque is strong, and it moves the big Chevy confidently. Towing is rated up to about 5,000 lb, which is fine for lightweight trailers or small aluminum boats.
Verdict: If towing is part of your Newport travel routine-even once or twice a year-the Grand Cherokee L's higher rating gives you breathing room.
Cabin comfort: long-haul calmness and "family peace mode"
Grand Cherokee L
- Lux interior feel-soft materials, muted noise, big screens.
- Optional air suspension gives a super-smooth, quiet glide.
- Great seat comfort for long trips up I-95.
Chevy Traverse
- Massive space in all three rows; adults fit in row three easily.
- Cargo volume advantage-packing beach stuff is a breeze.
- Simple and easy interior tech for families.
Ocean Drive curves + winter slush: how each SUV behaves
Grand Cherokee L: Based on a platform built for stability, the L feels grounded on twisty coastal roads. Optional Quadra-Trac and Quadra-Drive II 4x4 systems add serious winter traction. Instant confidence when fresh snow piles up near the base gates or the wind throws slush across Memorial Blvd.
Traverse: All-wheel drive adds solid winter grip. It's predictable, stable, and calm. Not quite the deep-snow capability of the Jeep's advanced 4x4 systems, but for most families, it's perfectly fine on plowed roads.
Cargo & road-trip logic (the things brochures skip)
- Traverse: If you pack like a traveling circus-chairs, bags, snacks, "just in case" items-this is the easier SUV. The cargo floor is huge and flat.
- Grand Cherokee L: Slightly tighter behind the third row, but smarter under-floor storage and better tie-downs. Also nicer materials, so it feels like a road-trip treat instead of family duty.
Ride quality: where you spend most of your life
Grand Cherokee L rides like a scaled-down luxury SUV. It absorbs broken pavement on Broadway and stays composed on long drives. Traverse rides softer and more floaty. If your goal is "make the kids stop asking how long until we're there," both succeed, but the Jeep feels more premium doing it.