This new Grand Cherokee, then, was definitely not for him. It may still look like a Jeep with its vertical chrome grille, and it may still provide the off-roading experience of a Jeep, but the ride can be appreciated by anybody who prefers passenger-friendly comfort.
The Grand Cherokee that we drove was a high-end 4-wheel drive Overland (Laredos and Limiteds are also offered; all come with 4WD for rear-wheel drive). The Overland utilized one of three 4WD systems, the Quadra-Trac II, that varies the torque to each axle and is paired with Selec-Terrain, which enables the driver to pick a setting for specific conditions.
The fourth generation of the Grand Cherokee has been redesigned for the next model year. It looks sleeker and Jeep throws out technical numbers such as an 0.37 drag coefficient compared with 0.41 with the 2010 version. The differences that most people will notice is that the 2011 is 1.5 inches longer, 2 inches wider and a half-inch higher. The wheelbase is now 114.8 inches, up from 109.3 inches. The people in the back seat will see these benefits with an additional 4.4 inches of legroom. All riders in the Overland enjoy plush, heated, leather-covered seats. Front seats are also cooled.
Cargo volume behind the rear seat is up to 35.1 cubic feet from 29.5 cubic feet. When the rear seats are folded there is 68.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
The base engine is a 290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6. It does well enough under most conditions, especially considering this model weighs 4,850 pounds. There is also an optional 360-horsepower, 5.7-liter Hemi V-8.
The Overland comes with a dual-pan panoramic sunroof and power liftgate. Among the safety features are hill descent control, hill start assist, rear backup camera and rear park assist. Options include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross path detection, which comes in handy backing out of parking spaces. There is also adaptive speed control and forward collision warning.
Grand Cherokee prices start at $30,215 but fully it loaded can run over $40K. Jeep aficionados just might find the results are worth the price.
David Mikesell is a free-lance automotive reviewer based in Indianapolis. Read this review and others like it at DaytonDailyNews.com/Wheels.
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