2011 Jeep Cherokee more Grand than ever
Monday, December 13, 2010
I can't confirm that the "Trail Rated" 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee will plow through 18 inches of water without conking out.
I won't swear that it can step over 10-inch logs without getting hung up on a hunk of timber.
And I have no idea if it can climb up the side of a peak with the aplomb of a Sherpa mountain guide.
I can't confirm any of those capabilities because during a week behind the wheel of a new Grand Cherokee Laredo, the closest it got to going off-road was a gravel driveway.
But I can tell you unequivocally that the Grand Cherokee excels on the terrain where it is most likely going to be driven most often: In stop-and-go traffic and on the interstate at 70 mph.
Actually, "excels" might not be enough of a superlative to describe the Grand Cherokee's on-road performance. After spending nearly 15 hours in a Laredo 4x4 during a 900-mile round trip on mostly highways, I anointed the Grand Cherokee one of the best SUVs I've ever driven on the highway.
Think Range Rover at half the price. The Grand Cherokee's road manners are that good.
It is quiet enough for the driver to carry on a conversation with a backseat passenger without either raising their voice --at 85 mph. It rides as smoothly as a luxury touring sedan. And it holds the road well enough, tracks unerringly straight enough and responds competently enough to make driving long distances a tireless proposition.
I've tested some similarly utilitarian crossovers with comparable characteristics. What distinguishes the Grand Cherokee is that it comes with Jeep's pedigree, which means that while it may not run circles around most competitors, it can probably run over them.
Everyone knows Jeep's reputation for building vehicles with remarkable off-road prowess. I've driven Wranglers over boulders and through ponds. I've seen older Grand Cherokees make their way unabated through axle-deep mud.
So while I can't personally vouch for the capabilities of the 2011 Grand Cherokee, there's little doubt in my mind that it has exceptional off-road chops.
"Trail Rated" Jeeps such as the Grand Cherokee I tested can (drive through) 1.5 feet of water. Most drivers don't care about fording anything deeper than a puddle produced by a spring shower, but those who do need a real SUV like the Jeep.
The Grand Cherokee launched the SUV craze in 1992, but high fuel prices ended it. Most of today's vehicles that look like SUVs are no more capable of serious off-roading than your uncle would be of performing in Cirque du Soleil by putting on makeup and a pair of tights.
The new Grand Cherokee, despite being a pleasure to drive on pavement, has specs that indicate it can climb and descend steeper hills and clear larger obstacles than its predecessor.
It also has a new "Quadra-Lift" adjustable height air suspension system and Selec-Terrain feature, which adjusts up to a dozen different powertrain, braking and suspension settings to automatically dial in optimum performance for challenging terrain.
Drivers who want or need those capabilities will appreciate the Grand Cherokee's more accommodating nature: Its larger wheelbase and overall length add four inches of rear-seat legroom and increase cargo space by 5.6 cubic feet.
Another improvement is the more powerful standard engine (a 290-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6) and improved fuel economy. If your Toyota Prius-owning friends mock the Grand Cherokee V-6's fuel economy 16 city/23 highway mpg for a 2WD just ask them if they can tow 5,000 pounds.
A V-8-powerd Grand Cherokee like the one tested can tow up to 7,400 pounds. Its 360-horsepower, 5.7-liter V-8 used to be touted as a Hemi, but the only place you'll see that word on the 2011 model is under the hood. Nevertheless, the robust thrust of that V-8 was evident every time I hit the throttle.
Given its prodigious power, I was pleased that the Jeep averaged over 19 mpg during my test drive.
In fact, I was pleased with almost everything about the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, which costs less than its predecessor despite having more standard equipment. My only real complaint is that I didn't get a chance to test its off-road capabilities, but maybe Jeep will invite me to drive one next year at one of its Jamborees.
Scott Wasser is a freelance auto writer who has been reporting on cars and motorcycles since 1988. E-mail him at carguysw@aol.com.
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