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.
Owner's reference
Look up any model year
Specs, the maintenance schedule, fluid capacities and owner's manuals for every 2015–2027 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
| Model | From* | Max power | Max towing | Economy / range | Seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep Compass200 hp · tows 2,000 lb | $29,990 | 200 hp | 2,000 lb | 21 city / 29 hwy | 5 |
| Jeep Cherokee210 hp combined · tows 3,500 lb | $35,130 | 210 hp combined | 3,500 lb | 39 city / 37 combined (Jeep estimate) | 5 |
| Jeep Wrangler470 hp · tows 5,000 lb | $36,635 | 470 hp | 5,000 lb | 20 city / 23 hwy | 4-5 |
| Ram ProMaster City166 hp · tows about 2,000 lb | $37,400 | 166 hp | about 2,000 lbtargeted | — | 2 (cargo) / 5 or 8 (wagon) |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee324 hp · tows 6,200 lb | $39,730 | 324 hp | 6,200 lb | 21 city / 26 hwy | 5 (Grand Cherokee); 6-7 (Grand Cherokee L) |
| Chrysler Voyager287 hp · tows 1,500 lb | $41,395 | 287 hp | 1,500 lb | 19 city / 28 hwy | 7 |
| Chrysler Pacifica287 hp · tows 3,600 lb | $41,595 | 287 hp | 3,600 lb | 19 city / 28 hwy | 7-8 |
| Ram 1500777 hp · tows 11,530 lb | $42,575 | 777 hp | 11,530 lb | 20 city / 25 hwy | 5-6 |
| Dodge Durango710 hp · tows 8,700 lb | $43,875 | 710 hp | 8,700 lb | 14 city / 22 hwy | 5-7 |
| Jeep Gladiator285 hp · tows 7,700 lb | $43,895 | 285 hp | 7,700 lb | 17 city / 22 hwy | 5 |
| Ram ProMaster276 hp · tows 7,130 lb | $44,105 | 276 hp | 7,130 lb | 164 miles (ProMaster EV cargo van) | — |
| Ram 2500430 hp · tows 20,000 lb | $48,040 | 430 hp | 20,000 lb | — | 3-6 |
| Ram Chassis Cab375 hp · tows 34,540 lb | $49,170 | 375 hp | 34,540 lb | — | 3-6 |
| Ram 3500430 hp · tows 37,020 lb | $49,340 | 430 hp | 37,020 lb | — | 3-6 |
| Dodge Charger670 hp | $49,995 | 670 hpDaytona Scat Pack Plus with PowerShot | — | 267 miles (Daytona Scat Pack Plus) | 5 |
| Jeep Grand Wagoneer420 hp · tows 10,000 lb | $65,000 | 420 hp | 10,000 lb | 17 city / 22 hwy | 7-8 |
| Jeep Wagoneer S600 hp · tows 3,500 lb | $65,200 | 600 hp | 3,500 lb | 294 mi | 5 |
| Jeep Recon670 hp · tows 3,300 lb | $66,995 | 670 hp | 3,300 lb | 222 mi (Moab) | 5 |
Power and towing are each model's best published figures; ratings vary by configuration.
*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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
ExplainerPacifica and Voyager Fluids, Maintenance and Hybrid DifferencesOil, coolant, battery coolant, fuel tank and maintenance differences between gas and hybrid Pacificas (2017-2027) and the gas-only Voyager (2020-2026).- Buyer guideDodge Durango by Model Year: Engines, Towing, Oil and Maintenance
- Buyer guideWinter Tire and Wheel Sizes by Trim for 2023–2027 Jeep, Ram and Dodge
- Buyer guideAppalachian Back Roads: Trucks and Jeeps for West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky
- OwnershipCold-Weather EV and Hybrid Ownership in Columbus, Indianapolis and Detroit