2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee is rated 14 to 19 mpg combined across 5 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 3.6L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic.

EPA fuel economy

2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee · 5 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

19MPG combined

16 city 23 highway

$3,550 a year to fuel

3.6L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic

Best version costs $5,750 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.47 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Oct 2, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $3,550 to $5,850 a year. Compared with 2011, the best gas version is up 1 mpg.

More complaints than most Grand Cherokee years

The 2012 drew 283 owner complaints in its first three years, against about 180 for a typical Grand Cherokee year: 1.5 times as many. It is not a year to avoid, which takes at least twice the typical count and at least 50 complaints.

Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, and 2023. Based on owner complaints, not adjusted for sales.

Every Grand Cherokee year ranked The 2012 Grand Cherokee's recalls and problems

Every 2012 Grand Cherokee version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
3.6L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic Best EPA listing: Grand Cherokee 4WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	19 mpg	16 / 23	$3,550
3.6L 6-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Grand Cherokee 2WD · Flex-fuel (E85)	19 mpg	17 / 23	$3,550
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Grand Cherokee 2WD · Midgrade fuel	16 mpg	14 / 20	$4,750
5.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic EPA listing: Grand Cherokee 4WD · Midgrade fuel	15 mpg	13 / 20	$5,050
6.4L 8-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed automatic EPA listing: Grand Cherokee SRT8 4WD · Premium fuel	14 mpg	12 / 18	$5,850

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.47 a gallon for regular gas, $5.07 a gallon for midgrade gas, and $5.48 a gallon for premium gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.6L 6-cyl · AWD · 5-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,645
3.6L 6-cyl · RWD · 5-speed automatic	$3,529	$294	$17,645
5.7L 8-cyl · RWD · 6-speed automatic	$4,753	$396	$23,766
5.7L 8-cyl · 4WD · 6-speed automatic	$5,070	$422	$25,350
6.4L 8-cyl · 4WD · 5-speed automatic	$5,871	$489	$29,357

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Jeep Grand Cherokee MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 18 to 23 mpg (every year from 2010 to 2026); highest in 2026. Diesel: 24 to 25 mpg (2014 to 2016, 2018 to 2019); highest in 2014.

Best gas version
Best diesel version

2012: gas 19 mpg · diesel not offered

Show as a table

Jeep Grand Cherokee best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version	Best diesel version
2010	18	–
2011	18	–
2012	19	–
2013	19	–
2014	20	25
2015	20	25
2016	21	25
2017	21	–
2018	21	25
2019	21	24
2020	21	–
2021	21	–
2022	22	–
2023	22	–
2024	22	–
2025	22	–
2026	23	–

Every Grand Cherokee year's ratings in one table

How the 2012 Grand Cherokee compares

2012 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2012 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	29 mpg	21 mpg	$2,850
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,400
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,800
Ford Explorer Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,900
Honda Pilot Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Nissan Murano Best: gas	20 mpg	20 mpg	$3,350
Jeep Grand Cherokee This page Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Dodge Durango Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Mazda CX-9 Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
GMC Acadia Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Buick Enclave Best: gas	19 mpg	19 mpg	$3,550
Nissan Pathfinder Best: gas	17 mpg	17 mpg	$4,850

2012 Grand Cherokee recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 10 safety recalls and 1,644 owner complaints for the 2012 Grand Cherokee.

Owners most often describe stalling (339 complaints, 21%), then smoke or a burning smell (140). NHTSA's overall crash rating: 4 stars.

See the 2012 Grand Cherokee recalls and problems

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee's gas mileage?

Sometimes. On versions that differ only in drive, the gap ranges from 0 to 1 mpg combined: the 3.6L 6-cyl gets 19 mpg combined with two-wheel drive and 19 with AWD.

Does the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee need premium gas?

Some versions do. EPA lists the 6.4L 8-cyl on premium, the rest use regular.

How does the 2012 Grand Cherokee's MPG compare with the 2011?

For 2012, the best gas version is rated 19 mpg, up 1 from 18.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 29, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.47, midgrade $5.07, premium $5.48, diesel $6.38 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Oct 2, 2026 and complaint file dated Oct 2, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.