2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2026 Mazda CX-90: Alberta Family SUV Showdown
Shopping for a midsize SUV that can tow a trailer to the lake and still handle a rough gravel road means looking past horsepower numbers alone. The 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Mazda CX-90 both promise capability, but they're built around different priorities. For Alberta drivers who split time between highway commutes and rougher ground, the details in ground clearance, transfer case hardware, and tow ratings matter more than trim badges.
| Category | 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2026 Mazda CX-90 |
|---|---|---|
| Max towing | 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg) | 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) on GS-L and up; 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg) on GS and PHEV |
| Ground clearance | 214 mm, up to 320 mm on Summit air suspension | 204-206 mm |
| Approach / breakover / departure angle | 20.5° / 19.1° / 26.6° (28.2° approach on Summit air suspension) | 18.8-19.1° / 15.9-16.2° / 20.6-20.8° |
| Drivetrain | 4WD with Selec-Terrain; optional 2-speed transfer case, 2.72 low range | Standard i-Activ AWD with Off-Road drive mode |
| Payload | 526-572 kg depending on trim | Not published |
| Base engine | 3.6L V6, 293 hp, 257 lb-ft | 3.3L turbo I6 mild hybrid, 280 hp, 332 lb-ft |
| Available turbo engine | 2.0L Hurricane 4 Turbo, 324 hp, 332 lb-ft | 3.3L turbo I6, up to 340 hp, 369 lb-ft (GT-P, premium fuel) |
| Plug-in hybrid torque | 470 lb-ft (4xe Trailhawk) | 369 lb-ft (PHEV) |
| Combined fuel economy | 10.4 L/100km (Hurricane 4 Turbo) | 9.4 L/100km (MHEV GS) |
| Seating | 5, with a three-row Grand Cherokee L available | Up to 8, standard three rows |
| Cargo behind 2nd row | 1,067.5 L | 1,133 L |
| Touchscreen | Up to 12.3 in standard from Laredo Altitude | 10.25 in standard on GS, 12.3 in from GS-L |
| Premium audio | 19-speaker McIntosh on Summit | 12-speaker Bose on GT and up |
Selec-Terrain, a Two-Speed Transfer Case, and Real Trail Hardware
The Grand Cherokee ships with 4WD and Jeep's Selec-Terrain traction management as standard equipment, matched to a single-speed active transfer case. Buyers who want to go further off-pavement can add the optional two-speed transfer case, which drops into a 2.72:1 low range for crawling over rock or deep snow.
Ground clearance starts at 214 mm and stretches to 320 mm on the Summit's air suspension, with a 20.5° approach angle (28.2° with air suspension) and a 26.6° departure angle.
The CX-90 relies on standard i-Activ AWD, backed by an Off-Road setting in the Mi-Drive system that adjusts throttle and traction response. That's a useful setting for gravel and light snow. But the CX-90's ground clearance tops out around 204-206 mm and its approach angle stays under 19.1°, without a low-range transfer case to lean on for genuine crawling.
When the trail gets steep or the load gets heavy, the Grand Cherokee's extra clearance and gearing give it room the CX-90 doesn't have.
Towing Numbers That Change What You Can Bring
The Grand Cherokee's gas engines carry a maximum tow rating of 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg), enough for a mid-size travel trailer or a loaded boat. Payload runs from 526 kg on the Summit to 572 kg on the Limited, leaving room for gear, passengers, and hitch weight together.
The CX-90 splits its towing figure by trim. The base MHEV GS and every PHEV model are rated to 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg), and only the GS-L and higher mild-hybrid trims reach 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg), and only when fitted with Mazda's Genuine Towing Accessories. That's a usable number for a light utility trailer, but it leaves a gap of 1,200 lbs (544 kg) against the Grand Cherokee's rating once a travel trailer or a larger boat is involved.
Turbo Fours, V6 Power, and Plug-in Torque
The Grand Cherokee's headline engine for 2026 is the new 2.0-litre Hurricane 4 Turbo, rated at 324 hp and 332 lb-ft and standard from Laredo Altitude up. The carryover 3.6-litre V6 opens the lineup at 293 hp and 257 lb-ft. For plug-in power, the Grand Cherokee 4xe's Trailhawk trim delivers 470 lb-ft of torque, more twist than any Grand Cherokee before it.
The CX-90's mild-hybrid inline-six starts at 280 hp and 332 lb-ft on the GS, climbing to 340 hp and 369 lb-ft on the GT-P when running premium fuel (319 hp on regular). The plug-in CX-90 pairs a 2.5-litre four-cylinder with an electric motor for up to 369 lb-ft and 42 km of electric-only range.
The GT-P's horsepower edges past the Hurricane 4 Turbo's. But the Grand Cherokee 4xe's 470 lb-ft outmuscles the CX-90 PHEV's 369 lb-ft, and the Hurricane still delivers a rated range of up to 851 km on a full tank, ahead of the CX-90 PHEV's combined gasoline-and-electric range of about 801 km.
Fuel economy favours the CX-90's mild hybrid, which returns a combined 9.4 L/100km on the GS against 10.4 L/100km for the Hurricane 4 Turbo. That gap narrows in real terms once a trailer is hooked up and the Grand Cherokee's tow rating does the heavier lifting.
Cabin Tech, Cargo, and Seating for the Whole Crew
The Grand Cherokee's Laredo Altitude and up come with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, and the range-topping Summit adds a 19-speaker McIntosh sound system alongside massaging front seats and an available off-road camera. Cargo volume runs to 1,067.5 L behind the second row and 2,004.8 L with seats folded, and the Grand Cherokee L extends that into a three-row layout for larger families.
The CX-90 opens with a 10.25-inch display on the GS, stepping up to a 12.3-inch screen from the GS-L trim, and tops out with a 12-speaker Bose system on the GT and Signature. Cargo behind the second row measures 1,133 L, slightly ahead of the Grand Cherokee's number, and every CX-90 seats up to eight across three rows as standard.
For groups that need three rows without stepping up to the Grand Cherokee L, that's a real advantage. But for the two-row Grand Cherokee lineup, the extra cargo depth pairs with a tow rating the CX-90 can't match trim for trim, so the space works harder once a trailer's involved. Both SUVs include standard blind-spot monitoring and forward collision warning with automatic braking, so the safety basics hold steady before trim-level extras come into play.
Who the Grand Cherokee Is Built For
Alberta drivers who tow trailers to the mountains, haul a boat to the lake, or drive gravel roads to a cabin get more from the Grand Cherokee's mix of a 6,200 lbs (2,812 kg) tow rating, standard 4WD, and a low-range transfer case option built for real terrain. Weekend trail use and long highway hauls both lean on that hardware.
Families who want three rows without leaving the lineup can step into the Grand Cherokee L, which keeps the same 4x4 hardware. A boat launch, a backcountry campsite, or a long haul to a job site all lean on that same clearance, transfer case, and towing capacity.
