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Great LakesCDJR

Great Lakes CDJR · Independent research

Made for salt roads and lake weekends.

New Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram prices, specs and buyer guides for drivers in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Jeep WranglerRam 1500Jeep Grand CherokeeJeep Cherokee
2027 Jeep Gladiator2027 Jeep Gladiator2027 Jeep Wrangler2027 Jeep Wrangler2027 Ram 15002027 Ram 1500

The Great Lakes almanac

Four seasons, four sets of demands

Buying a Jeep, Ram, Dodge or Chrysler between Lake Superior and the Tennessee line means planning for salt, snow, hills and heavy trailers, often in the same year. This desk compares the 2027 lineup with those conditions in mind, from a Compass in Columbus to a Ram 3500 in the Kentucky hills. Prices are starting MSRP and change often.

Winter

Lake-effect snow and salted roads

Squalls off Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Superior can turn an easy commute into a whiteout in an hour, and road crews spread salt for months. Standard four-wheel or all-wheel drive is the practical starting point. The Compass has it on every trim from $29,990 with 8.1 inches of clearance, and the Cherokee hybrid pairs standard 4x4 with a 3,500-lb tow rating. The Pacifica adds AWD on three trims for families. Tires matter more than badges, and heated seats and remote start come on higher trims.

Spring

Potholes, flooding and job-site season

The freeze-thaw cycle leaves craters on Detroit, Toledo and Cincinnati streets, and the Ohio River and its tributaries can spill over low roads. Clearance and a forgiving ride help. The Grand Cherokee raises its air suspension up to 11.4 inches on the Trailhawk, and the Ram 1500 air suspension runs from 6.7 to 10.7 inches in its Entry/Exit to Off Road 2 settings. Trades restart work, too: the ProMaster offers up to 524 cubic feet of cargo room and a 4,750-lb payload rating on the right van.

Summer

Cottage weekends and boat ramps

Summer traffic piles onto I-75 toward the Mackinac Bridge, and trailers fill the ramps at Lake Erie, Lake Cumberland and Kentucky Lake. A tow rating with real margin makes the difference. The Gladiator is rated up to 7,700 lbs and carries a 35.5-cubic-foot bed for gear. The Durango tows up to 8,700 lbs with its Tow 'n Go package, and the Grand Wagoneer reaches 10,000 lbs with the 3.92 axle. Tennessee and Kentucky heat also reward strong air conditioning and a rested engine on long grades.

Fall

Deer camp, color tours and tailgates

October brings leaf drives through the Smokies and the Hocking Hills, then November deer season sends trucks and Jeeps to hunting camps down gravel roads. Campers and horse trailers go back into storage and tailgates fill the lots at the big college stadiums. The Ram 2500 offers up to 14.2 inches of clearance on the Power Wagon and tows up to 20,000 lbs. The Wrangler gives you 34 inches of fording on the Rubicon, and the Voyager's Stow 'n Go seats make tailgate hauling easy.

Lineup at a glance

Every model, lowest price first

Compare side by side
ModelFromPowerTowingEconomy / rangeSeats
Jeep Compass$29,990*200 hpUp to 2,000 lbs21 city / 29 hwy5
Jeep Cherokee$35,130*210 hp combinedUp to 3,500 lbsUp to 39 city / 37 combined (Jeep estimate)5
Jeep Wrangler$36,635*Up to 470 hpUp to 5,000 lbsUp to 20 city / 23 hwy4-5
Ram ProMaster City$37,400*166 hpAbout 2,000 lbs (targeted)—2 (cargo) / 5 or 8 (wagon)
Jeep Grand Cherokee$39,730*Up to 324 hpUp to 6,200 lbsUp to 21 city / 26 hwy5 (Grand Cherokee); 6-7 (Grand Cherokee L)
Chrysler Voyager$41,395*287 hpUp to 1,500 lbs19 city / 28 hwy7
Chrysler Pacifica$41,595*287 hpUp to 3,600 lbsUp to 19 city / 28 hwy7-8
Ram 1500$42,575*Up to 777 hpUp to 11,530 lbsUp to 20 city / 25 hwy5-6
Dodge Durango$43,875*Up to 710 hpUp to 8,700 lbsUp to 14 city / 22 hwy5-7
Jeep Gladiator$43,895*285 hpUp to 7,700 lbs17 city / 22 hwy5
Ram ProMaster$44,105*Up to 276 hpUp to 7,130 lbsUp to 164 miles (ProMaster EV cargo van)—
Ram 2500$48,040*Up to 430 hpUp to 20,000 lbs—3-6
Ram Chassis Cab$49,170*Up to 375 hpUp to 34,540 lbs—3-6
Ram 3500$49,340*Up to 430 hpUp to 37,020 lbs—3-6
Dodge Charger$49,995*Up to 670 hp (Daytona Scat Pack Plus with PowerShot)—Up to 267 miles (Daytona Scat Pack Plus)5
Jeep Grand Wagoneer$65,000*420 hpUp to 10,000 lbsUp to 17 city / 22 hwy7-8
Jeep Wagoneer S$65,200*Up to 600 hpUp to 3,500 lbsUp to 294 mi5
Jeep Recon$66,995*670 hpUp to 3,300 lbsUp to 222 mi (Moab)5

*Manufacturer's suggested retail price, excluding destination, taxes, title and fees. Prices change; confirm with a dealer.

Why it fits the Great Lakes states

Salt, water and hills

  1. 01

    Salt, lake-effect snow and thawing potholes

    From the West Michigan snow belt to the hills east of Cleveland, winter means plowed-over slush, brine on every highway and a pothole season that follows. Drive is the first filter. The Jeep Compass puts 4x4 on every trim from $29,990, and the Cherokee hybrid does the same from $35,130. The Durango and Charger both ship with all-wheel drive standard, while the Pacifica offers it on Select, Limited and Pinnacle. Heavy-duty Rams add a Cold Weather Group with an engine block heater for $245. Whatever you pick, budget for winter tires and regular underbody rinses, because salt does more damage than snow.

  2. 02

    Lakes, cottages and towing

    A Michigan summer often involves a boat or camper behind the vehicle on I-75, I-94 or the road to a Lake Erie marina. Tow ratings sort the lineup quickly. The Cherokee tops out at 3,500 lbs, enough for a small boat or pop-up. The Grand Cherokee is rated for 6,200 lbs, the Gladiator for 7,700, the Durango for 8,700 and the Grand Wagoneer for 10,000 with the right axle. Past that, the Ram 2500 reaches 20,000 lbs and the Ram 3500 diesel 37,020. Tow packages for Jeep SUVs list around $995, so price them in from the start.

  3. 03

    Appalachian grades and flat farm country

    West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and the Smokies reward ground clearance, low-range gearing and strong brakes on long descents, while Indiana and western Ohio reward comfortable, efficient highway miles. For the hills, the Wrangler offers up to 12.9 inches of clearance and 34 inches of water fording on the Rubicon, and the Ram 2500 Power Wagon reaches about 14.2 inches. The Grand Cherokee with air suspension rides up to 11.4 inches on the Trailhawk. For long flat interstates, the Cherokee hybrid is rated by Jeep at up to 37 mpg combined and the Voyager at 28 mpg highway.

Buyer guides

Written for the Great Lakes states

All guides
Buyer guideAppalachian Back Roads: Trucks and Jeeps for West Virginia and Eastern KentuckyLow-range gearing, approach and breakover angles, turning circles and grade towing compared for Wrangler, Gladiator, Ram 1500, Power Wagon and Cherokee.