2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is ready to ride out the storm
The new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is the perfect car to overcome these rocky times.
And as the first all-new product to emerge after Chrysler’s bankruptcy last year, this grandest of Jeeps certainly has a lot riding on it. With 70 years of serious off-road heritage and 12 billion dollars of bailout money at stake, Chrysler is counting on this new model to show the world what its new organization is capable of.
Fortunately, there’s a whole lot to like about the new Grand Cherokee.
Jeep’s new flagship has clever technology, amazing capability, and considerably higher quality than its predecessor. Most importantly, this upscale off-roader is a great value. Chrysler claims to have added $2,000 to $6,000 in features to each trim level while simultaneously holding the line on price. Impressive.
Conspicuous consumption is out these days and the Grand Cherokee’s handsome styling says that it’s about function, not flash. The stern face and deep sculpting on the doors are tasteful and restrained. This is how SUVs should look: muscular, confident, solemn.
You won’t be disappointed inside, either. The Grand Cherokee’s new interior impresses with soft plastics, quality leather, and a clean design. There’s also Bluetooth, navigation, voice recognition, adaptive cruise control, satellite television with up to 20 channels, and a mobile wi-fi internet service available for technophiles.
As you’d expect from a Grand Cherokee, off-road technology abounds. Twist the knob on the (optional) Selec-Terrain system and its advanced software will raise the Quadra-Lift air suspension and tweak the operation of the Quadra-Drive II for maximum traction. This Jeep just plain gets the job done.
Grunt comes courtesy of Chrysler’s brand new 290-horsepower “Phoenix” V6 engine, which is surprisingly efficient at 16 MPG in the city and 22-23 MPG on the highway. An optional HEMI V8 engine with 360-horsepower is available and boosts towing capacity from 5,000 to 7,400 pounds.
With it’s reasonable price, graceful appointments, and hefty towing capacity, the Grand Cherokee compares favorably against truck-based competitors like the Nissan Pathfinder. Stack it up to car-based crossovers, like the Ford Edge or Toyota Venza, though, and it gets more complicated.
Do you need the Jeep’s 7,400-pound towing capacity? Are you willing to lose an MPG or two? Do you prefer the quiet, confident type?
Once upon a time the Jeep Grand Cherokee sold in dizzying numbers because it broadcast adventure and promised an escape from the ordinary. This time, I think Jeep’s flagship will sell because it delivers the kind of confidence and roll-up-your-sleeves determination that our country needs right now.
That’s my take.
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