The Jeep Grand Cherokee
April 2010
In case you are in need of a sports utility car with significant off-road ability, then the Jeep Grand Cherokee is the perfect choice. It comes in three four-wheel-drive configurations - Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II – which deliver awesome off-road abilities especially if you specify a four-wheel-drive model. Jeep also gave its new Grand Cherokee a power boost so if you need to tow huge loads, the JGC's maximum towing capacity is pegged at an astounding 7,400 pounds.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is classified as a five-passenger midsize SUV currently available in four trim levels: Laredo, Limited, Overland and the SRT8. The first three come with either rear- or four-wheel drive while the high-performance SRT8 is available in all-wheel drive only. Standard features on the Laredo include a roof rack, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel with audio controls, an eight-way power driver seat, a 60/40-split rear seatback, a trip computer, cruise control, 17-inch alloy wheels shod in all-terrain tires and a six-speaker stereo with a CD player and an auxiliary audio jack.
If you go for the Limited, you get all the standard perks featured on the Laredo plus driver seat memory functions and heated rear seats. The Overland adds more oomph with the authoritative 5.7-liter V8 engine, 18-inch chrome wheels and HID headlights. The high-performance SRT8 is equipped much like the Laredo but people at Jeep gave it special exterior styling revisions, a performance trip computer, leather and suede upholstery, front sport seats, larger brakes, a street-biased sport suspension and 20-inch wheels.
Under the hood of the Laredo is a 3.7-liter V6 that punches out 210 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque. Like any other Jeep Grand Cherokee, the engine is mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox. The JGC Limited boasts a 4.7-liter V8 that generates 305 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque. An optional powerplant for the Limited 4WD and standard on the Overland is a 5.7-liter Hemi V8 rated at 357 hp and 389 lb-ft of torque. The all-wheel-drive-only Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 gets the range topping 6.1-liter V8 good for 420 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.0 seconds.
Jeep made sure that its new Grand Cherokee is not all about power and unsurpassed off-road abilities. It incorporated an extensive lineup of safety features such as electronic stability program, four-wheel antilock disc brakes with brake assist, traction control, a tire-pressure monitoring system, side curtain airbags with a roll-detection system and front advanced multi-stage air bags. As for driving performance, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is quite good considering its all-terrain capabilities. The steering is accurate and handling is generally sure-footed. In off-road situations, Jeep's advanced 4WD hardware makes it the absolute leader in its class. Among tough four-wheel-drive midsize SUVs, the Grand Cherokee still stands tall. Overall, Jeep made a valiant effort to keep its legendary off-road supremacy while proving a host of luxurious and technical updates.