What is the best jeep model for family | Comfort, Space, & luxury?
Jeep makes a variety of vehicles which are all SUVs. When buying a new car, you have to compare features from several. You can then make a final decision on the car that ticked most of your requirements or the car with features that met the requirements that you had prioritized in your checklist.
You can compare different jeep models with other SUVs based on their features and the same body type. Considering comfort, space, and luxury Jeep Wrangler, Jeep Liberty, Jeep Compass, & Jeep Commander are much suitable for small to medium families.
As for medium to a large family, you can choose between Jeep Cherokee or Jeep Grand Cherokee depending on the budget. When buying a family car and you want loads of space in it, an SUV is preferable to a station wagon or a sedan.
Most SUVs are better vehicles than station wagons, but it all depends on how deep your pocket can go when buying a car. SUVs are more comfortable, luxurious, and practical than most family cars. Jeep has a wide range of SUVs you can choose from, including an SUV with a truck bed that most people refuse to call a truck.
However, some of the models are not in production as they were discontinued for a couple of reasons, such as when introducing a new model to the market. Some models have been in production since Jeep was formed. For discontinued models, you are most likely to find them in the used car market and if you feel that’s the Jeep for you, then go for it.
In this article, we will review different jeep wrangler SUVs in terms of comfort, luxury, cabin space, trunk space, and practicality to enable you to choose the best jeep model for family. Optional upgrades and trims will also be listed.
The following is a list of some of the best-selling jeeps throughout the years
Jeep wrangler
The jeep wrangler is one of the most iconic SUVs since first produced in 1987. Over the years, it has undergone changes but still maintains a good offroad build which is one of the reasons it is loved. The wrangler has both on-road and off-road features making it an all-around vehicle.
It comes with a couple of engine options. If you’d like a better fuel economy, there is also a hybrid version, but you still have a good offroad vehicle. Most people will think that because the wrangler is a hybrid, it can not do well offroad compared to other petrol wranglers.
- Comfort
The jeep wrangler comes standard with stitched fabric seats, but you can opt to get leather seats, thus paying more for it. The front seats and the steering wheel are also heated as standard, dual-zone climate control, and adequate legroom for both the front and rear passengers.
The ride comfort on the road might not be that comfortable compared to other Jeep SUVs, but offroad, the wrangler is more comfortable than the rest.
- Luxury
The standard jeep wrangler is not as luxurious as most SUVs within its price range. It has a cheap plastic interior trim, a standard infotainment system, among other cheap interior parts.
But there is the wrangler Rubicon 392, which is the most luxurious wrangler you can buy. It has better luxury features than the standard wrangler, and it costs almost $30,000 more than a standard wrangler.
- Cabin space and trunk space
Four-door jeep wranglers have a seating capacity of 5 people, two at the front and three in the rear. You can have two baby seats in the rear and have an adult in the middle, meaning that the seating capacity is not compromised even with baby seats.
The trunk space for a four-door wrangler is around 32 cubic feet. If you don’t have any passengers in the rear, you can fold the rear seat, which increases the cabin space to almost 75 cubic feet.
Two-door Wranglers only seat four people. The rear seats are smaller, and the legroom isn’t that good. Carrying a tall adult in the rear seats can be pretty uncomfortable. The trunk space is around 13 cubic feet which can be increased to around 32 cubic feet if you fold the rear seat.
- Practicality
As said earlier, the jeep wrangler has an off-road-focused build, but this does not mean that you cannot use it as a daily driven car. Unlike other jeeps, you can use it to commute to work and hit the trail during the weekend.
The wrangler also has removable doors, and roof making, and the only other Jeep with this feature is the gladiator. Basically, you can use your wrangler on any road and for any purpose that you can think of without having to worry about matters such as ground clearance or component damage.
Jeep liberty
The jeep liberty was produced between 2002 and 2012, being the last year of production, but it still remains a common sight on the road and in the used car market.
- Comfort
The jeep liberty is among the worst-rated Jeep ever made. The interior is too cramped even when with the ordinary seating capacity. The fabric seats are poor-quality fabric, and the base seats are too short. The legroom was too small even for the driver.
All the engines available for the liberty were too noisy, including the petrol ones. The ride comfort was bad on-road and off-road.
- Luxury
The Jeep Liberty has a poor build both on the interior and exterior. The plastic interior panels rattled at high speeds and on bumpy roads. Even when you opted for a better interior for your jeep liberty, you ended up regretting your decision.
- Cabin space and trunk space
Just like the jeep wrangler, the liberty seats 5 people, but the rear seats can feel pretty cramped up when there are three adults. There is no space for an extra passenger when you fit baby seats to the rear seat.
The jeep liberty has around 32 cubic feet of trunk space, and it can be increased to around 65 cubic feet with the seats folded.
- Practicality
Like the jeep wrangler, the liberty has a tough build with some touches. All engines were made reliable and powerful enough to be a perfect crossover SUV. You can use it on a mild offroad trail without worrying about much.
Jeep commander
The jeep commander was made in 2005 and was discontinued in 2010. It looks like bigger jeep liberty as it has a similar appearance.
- Comfort
The jeep commander has a long wheelbase; thus, the cabin room is well-spaced even for the third-row seating. The second row and the third-row seating are placed higher than the front seats, thus, the knee room is great.
Air conditioning was available even for the third-row seating, which was not a common feature in SUVs. Even when driving offroad, the commander was still comfortable, and the grab handles really came in handy.
- Luxury
The jeep commander was considered a better option than the liberty because it had a better quality of interior and exterior. The seat fabric was good quality, and you could opt for a leather interior. During its early years of production, the commander was considered somehow luxurious.
- Cabin space and trunk space
The jeep commander has a third-row seating meaning it can seat two people extra. The middle seats can accommodate three adults giving the commander a total of seven.
With the third-row seats up, you only have around 10 cubic feet of trunk space, which can be increased all the way to over 70 cubic feet if all the seats are folded.
- Practicality
The jeep commander is a heavy car but has a build quality similar to the jeep wrangler. Both have a similar offroad capability, and you can also modify it for camping or in any way you please.
Its seating capacity also makes it a good family vehicle, especially if you have a large family and need to carry luggage for every member when traveling.
Jeep compass
The jeep compass has been in production since 2007 and is one of Jeep’s best-selling vehicles. Below are some of its detailed descriptions of the best in terms of a family model.
- Comfort
The jeep compass is given an average comfort rating of 3.9/5, which is not bad for a car its size. Cabin space is not that roomy, but creature comforts such as heated seats.
Air conditioning in the front and rear seats make the interior comfortable for the passengers. The rear seat might feel cramped up for tall adults or three adults in the rear seat.
- Luxury
The interior is standard but cannot be deemed luxurious. You can opt for leather seats over the standard fabric seats making the interior more luxurious.
Higher spec trims of the jeep compass have a better interior than the standard model. The seats are well cushioned. Thus passengers are comfortable even when the ride is a little bit rough.
- Cabin space and trunk space
The compass seats a maximum of 5, two at the front and three in the rear seat. Trunk capacity is at roughly 27 cubic feet, and then you lower the rear seat, it increases to around 60 cubic feet. The tail gait automatically opens at the touch of a button, allowing you to easily get things into the trunk.
- Practicality
Ground clearance in the compass is not that good compared to other jeeps. But it has a four-wheel-drive system and a terrain select system. Such features are not available for other crossover SUVs in its class, thus making the jeep compass a competitive option.
It is one of the best daily driven crossover SUVs as the short wheelbase makes it easy to maneuver in traffic, city roads, and also around obstacles offroad. It also has a reasonable towing capacity of 2000 pounds which is a lot for its size.
Jeep Cherokee
The jeep Cherokee is also one of the best-selling jeeps, with the Higher trim grand Cherokee being Jeep’s best-selling car in recent years.
- Comfort
The jeep Cherokee has a well-done interior with modern touches, making it comfortable for the driver and the passengers. Heated front seats, air conditioning for the front and rear seats, and well-cushioned seats are some of the features that make it attain an average comfort rating of 4.2/5.0. The comfort features are better when you get the high trim Jeep Cherokee, such as the trail hawk or the latitude.
- Luxury
For a crossover SUV, the Cherokee is quite luxurious. You get fabric touches on the dash, the door handles, and the door panels. The infotainment system is perfect and worth every penny.
- Cabin space and trunk space
The standard Cherokee is a 5-seater, but you can also get it with third-row seating. It can get tight for taller passengers in the third row. Trunk capacity is at 28 cubic feet, but it can be increased to double that space when you lower the second and third-row seating. You can barely fit a shopping bag in the trunk with the third row in use.
- Practicality
Jeep makes all their vehicles, including the Cherokee, with the off-road build quality. The ground clearance is low, but you can get the trail hawk edition raised than the standard Cherokee.
Still, the standard Cherokee has a four-wheel-drive system, among other features that make it capable off-road. The towing capacity is similar to that of the compass, making it a good weekend vehicle if you need to tow a trailer to a campsite.
Jeep Grand Cherokee
This is basically a large and more powerful version of the Cherokee. It is a full-body size SUV and one of the best-rated SUVs. There are different trims of the Grand Cherokee, but one sets itself apart.
The Grand Cherokee track hawk. The difference between a track hawk and a standard Grand Cherokee is that it has performance parts from the drivetrain, suspension, transmission, and even the wheels and tires. At its time of production, it was the most powerful SUV as it had a supercharged Hemi V8 making 707 horsepower.
- Comfort
Both rows of seats are comfortable, with leather as standard across all trims. Air conditioning is available for both the front and rear seats, making the cabin comfortable for all occupants.
There are different suspension settings that the driver can select. It includes a comfortable setting that makes the ride as smooth as possible to maximize comfort.
- Luxury
The Grand Cherokee can be considered a luxury SUV. The summit trim is the most luxurious, with leather touches all over the interior. It also has a lengthy moon roof.
You can also opt for some features installed on a standard Cherokee, such as heated rear seats and screens behind the front seats for entertainment purposes, especially if you have kids. Â
- Cabin space and trunk space
You can get the grand Cherokee with third-row seating, which will reduce the trunk capacity when the third row is in use. The Grand Cherokee sits seven with the third row but only seats five without the third row.
Trunk space is around 70 cubic feet with the rear seats lowered and around 38 cubic feet without lowering the seats.
- Practicality
The Jeep Grand Cherokee also gets a four-wheel-drive system, making it very capable off-road, just like other jeeps. If you want to use it as your commute vehicle, it makes a good mall runner or any other way you’d like to use it.
Verdict
The jeep Cherokee, Grand Cherokee, and the jeep wrangler stand out among other jeeps. It all depends on your driving habits and using your ordinary car. Get the jeep wrangler if you have a small family but you often off-road.
A larger family will require a car with third-row seating, so a Cherokee or a Grand Cherokee would do. If you feel that the Grand Cherokee is a little over budget, get a Cherokee.
You can also get older model wranglers if it is your kind of thing and you are looking for a jeep on a budget. Just ensure whichever you are buying passes the used car checklist before buying it.
Conclusion
Jeeps are some of the toughest Subs you can buy as all of them have an off-roading build quality. But this does not mean that they are uncomfortable and not family-friendly. When buying a car, you want something that will last and be practical and comfortable which jeep wranglers provide.
