Jeep Cherokee vs GMC Terrain
The Jeep Cherokee is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 37 mpg combined versus 32 mpg for the GMC Terrain, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $550 less per year to fuel.
Across 5 measured categories, the Jeep Cherokee leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Jeep Cherokee
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 79 configurations
2015–2027
GMC Terrain
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 47 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Jeep Cherokee | GMC Terrain |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 37 mpg ✓ | 32 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 39 mpg ✓ | 28 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 35 mpg | 39 mpg ✓ |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $1,650 ✓ | $2,200 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 241 g/mi ✓ | 316 g/mi |
| Engines offered | Hybrid, 2.4, SIDI, 3.2 | SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV |
| Transmissions | Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 9-spd | Automatic 8-spd, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Automatic 9-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular, Gasoline or E85, Midgrade | Regular, Premium, Diesel |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2027 |
| Configurations on record | 79 | 47 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Cherokee vs Terrain: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Jeep Cherokee or the GMC Terrain?
The Jeep Cherokee is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 37 mpg combined versus 32 mpg for the GMC Terrain, a 5 mpg advantage and costs about $550 less per year to fuel.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Jeep Cherokee runs about $1,650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $2,200 for the GMC Terrain — a difference of roughly $550 per year.
What engines do the Cherokee and Terrain offer?
Jeep Cherokee: Hybrid, 2.4, SIDI, 3.2. GMC Terrain: SIDI, 1.6, SIDI; FFV.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Jeep Cherokee as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD and the GMC Terrain as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Cherokee comparisons
Comparison id: jeep-cherokee-vs-gmc-terrain