To save money on a three-row SUV, choose the Grand Cherokee L. Jeep’s all-new SUV starts at $36,995. That’s thousands less than what you might spend on the Chevy Tahoe, which starts at $48,000.

Both of these SUVs offer three rows of seating for big families, but the Tahoe gives you an extra seat with accommodations for up to eight people. With the second-row captain’s chairs, that figure slips to seven. The Grand Cherokee L comes standard with seating for seven, but has six total seats when equipped with second-row captain’s chairs.

We also like the fact that the Tahoe has so many trim levels. Shoppers can choose to save money on the base model, or they can choose one of the specialty models, such as the off-road-ready Z71 or the luxurious High Country.

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L, unlike the regular Grand Cherokee, only offers four trim levels. They range from basic to pretty luxurious. However, the Grand Cherokee L doesn’t offer a trail-rated model at all.

Choose from three Tahoe engine options:

• Standard 5.3-liter V8 (355 horsepower, 383 pound-feet of torque)
• Optional turbo 3.0L inline six-cylinder diesel engine (277 hp, 460 lb-ft)
• High Country: 6.2L V8 (420 hp, 460 lb-ft)

Compared to the Grand Cherokee L, the Tahoe comes standard with more power. The top-trim High Country model gives you even more power. It also offers greater efficiency, via its optional diesel six-cylinder, which helps the Tahoe earn up to 24 mpg combined.(Fuel Economy of 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe)

The Jeep Grand Cherokee L offers two engine options:

• Standard 3.6L V6 (290 hp, 257 lb-ft)
• Optional 5.7L V8 (357 hp, 390 lb-ft)

The base V6 is the more efficient option, helping this big SUV earn up to 21 mpg combined.(Fuel Economy of 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee) The stronger V8 engine is only available for the top-trim Overland and Summit models, however.