2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s practical 3.6L V6, reliable 5.7L V8, and monstrously powerful 6.4L V8 each meet specific purposes for all drivers–from the commuter looking for decent gas mileage to adrenaline fans needing a muscle-car-spirited SUV.
Key Points
- The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 3.6L V6 provides drivers with 290 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, enough for daily use, but not heavy towing.
- Stepping up to the 5.7L V8 boosts power output up to 360 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque, offering the most towing power in the lineup–up to 7,400 pounds.
- The high-performance SRT8 trim’s 6.4-liter V8 throws down 470 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. torque, best suited for straight-line runs more than off-road traversing or towing.
- Both V8 engines feature Jeep’s Multi-Displacement System (MDS) variable displacement, aka cylinder deactivation, technology.
- The 3.6L V6 and 6.4L V8 engines utilize a five-speed automatic transmission, but the 5.7L uses a six-speed automatic for smoother, more efficient highway driving.
2013 Grand Cherokee 3.6L V6 Offers Modest Power, Competitive Fuel Economy, and a Smooth Drive
For everyday use by urban drivers, the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee‘s 3.6-liter V6 is plenty sufficient thanks to its balance of power and fuel efficiency. The 2013 Grand Cherokee tops out at 290 horsepower and an okay 260 lb.-ft. of torque, which led reviewers at Autoblog to comment: “The horsepower is welcome, but a shortage of torque is why it shifts out of overdrive a lot.” The 3.6 V6 will get the Grand Cherokee up to speed, but it might feel like it’s working hard to do it.
The Grand Cherokee’s 3.6L Pentastar V6 returns an EPA-estimated 19 mpg combined in both two-wheel and four-wheel-drive models (only losing one mpg in city driving when opting for the 4×4). The Grand Cherokee’s 19 mpg is the same as its direct competition, which includes the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse and its 3.6 V6, and the Toyota 4Runner and its 4.0L V6.
Mated to a Mercedes-sourced five-speed automatic transmission, the 2013 Grand Cherokee moves from zero to 60 in approximately eight seconds. Compared to the lighter 2013 4Runner, which also uses a five-speed automatic, the 4Runner got to 60 mph in almost a second faster. The five-speed automatic transmission was replaced by an eight-speed automatic transmission in 2014.
2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s 5.7L Hemi V8 is the Best Choice for Towing and Hauling
Reintroduced in 2003 after an over-30-year hiatus, then-Daimler Chrysler revived the Hemi name in the form of a 5.7-liter V8, which eventually found a place in several Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep products. The naturally-aspirated engine has received several updates, including the addition of MDS cylinder deactivation “fuel-saving” technology in 2005.
Additional updates in 2009, like variable valve timing, modernized Jeep’s V8 further, which eventually made its way into the updated fourth-generation Grand Cherokee in 2011, and carried over through 2013.
For the 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee, the 5.7L Hemi V8 churns out a healthy 360 horsepower and a solid 390 lb.-ft. of torque. For context, a 2013 GMC Yukon‘s 5.3L V8 produces 320 horsepower, and the 2013 Land Rover LR4‘s 5.0L V8 drops 375 ponies.
The Jeep’s 5.7 V8 is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. However, under normal driving conditions, you’ll probably only notice five rpm flares. Jeep calls it a six-speed nonetheless. It gets the Grand Cherokee to 60 mph in approximately seven seconds.
For the engine’s size, and ability to tow an impressive 7,400 pounds max, it returns decent fuel economy at 15-16 mpg combined (depending on if the vehicle is four-wheel drive). This is better than the 2013 Land Rover LR4 but worse than the GMC Yukon.
2013 Grand Cherokee SRT8 Boasts 6.4L V8, the Performance Muscle Meant for Dragways and Parkways
Jeep sought to bring some spice to the Grand Cherokee by dropping a mighty, naturally-aspirated 6.4L Hemi V8 in its bay. Throwing down 470 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque, the 6.4-liter V8 made the Grand Cherokee SRT8 Jeep’s most powerful vehicle to date. The engine uses an active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft with cam phasing for maximum low-end torque without sacrificing top-end horsepower. With 90% of its peak torque available between 2,800 and 6,000 rpm, the 6.4L will pull hard off the line.
Paired with a five-speed automatic, the Grand Cherokee SRT8 hauls from 0 to 60 in sub-five seconds. The Jeep pushes more horsepower than GM full-size SUV’s larger V8 option, a 6.2-liter engine, delivering a more performance-focused driving experience complemented by its powertrain and suspension setups.
The additional 100 horsepower only knocks two mpg off the 2013 Grand Cherokee’s EPA fuel economy rating. Unfortunately, the additional horsepower drops maximum towing capacity down to approximately 5,000 pounds.
2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s Three Engine Options Provide Buyers an Economy-grade V6, Highly-functional V8, and Speed-friendly V8
The 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee’s engine options each meet specific purposes for drivers. The average commuter that wants a traditional, modern SUV that gets decent gas mileage, will appreciate the availability of the 3.6L Pentastar V6.
For buyers that want to use the Grand Cherokee for more enhanced travel (say with a boat or camper in tow), the 5.7L Hemi V8, with its 7,400-pound towing capacity may be a better fit. And for buyers chasing an adrenaline rush from a muscle-car-spirited SUV, the Grand Cherokee’s 6.4L Hemi V8 is the best option.
Photos: Stellantis
