[IUHoosiergirl88]

My family has owned both, a new Escape that is less than 2 years old, and a new (at the time) Grand Cherokee that we kept for 4 years. Both have been solid cars, although we did have a few problems with the Jeep, as we've found that Chrysler-based cars traditionally have wonky transmissions. We quit buying them for that reason, although they may have changed. The Jeep will also get a little worse gas mileage than the Escape, although that will depend on the engine size (V6 Escape versus a 4-cylinder Escape)

Not sure what your price point is, but you might want to look into a midsize 4 door w/V6, like a Fusion or a Malibu, or a smaller 4-door like a Cruze (I know that's new but that's the size I'm thinking of)

Also, think about where you're going to be living post-grad. I drive a Pontiac G6, which is a very average sized 4DR and I tend to have issues parking it in the parking garage under my high-rise. Tight aisles/walled spaces means lots of scrapes. If you're looking to live in a city, think about the size and the turning radius! I'm looking to downsize to a smaller 4DR or a 2DR (think: Mini, Jetta, etc.) in a year or so for this reason!