Day-by-Day Review: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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I won’t lie: I do not know much about Jeeps. I do know some things about the mid-sized crossover market, though, which the new Grand Cherokee seems to be targeting now with its unibody construction and handsomely-rugged yet sporty look.

Refreshed inside and out, including a new V6 engine that promises to be more fuel efficient, the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee certainly does look good on paper. It seems to be selling as well, if I base that on the number of them I have seen on the road in the past couple of months.

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My tester is the top-of-the-line Grand Cherokee Overland, minus the V8 engine option. This is, of course, well-appointed in base form, including such items as 20-inch alloy wheels, leather-stitched instrument panel, door uppers and centre console armrest, navigation system and heated wood and leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Other features in my tester include dual-zone automatic climate control, heated second-row seats, ventilated front seats, power liftgate, power tilt and telescopic column, driver’s side memory, bi-xenon headlamps with SmartBeam automatic control, backup camera, and rain-sensing wipers. This vehicle seems pretty loaded on the inside and it is also loaded in terms of drivetrain options.

With standard Quadra-Trac II, which includes a new Selec-Terrain system that can be dialed in for Auto, Sport, Sand/Mud, Snow and Rock settings, and an air suspension that raises or lowers the ride height of the vehicle.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee
MSRP as tested (excluding destination): $48,995

For more information on Jeep and the Grand Cherokee visit Jeep Canada

Day 2

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The inside of this new Grand Cherokee is actually a very nice place to be. With more effort put on luxury and comfort over previous models, it is obvious Chrysler is moving the Grand Cherokee even further away from the off-roader market and into the shopping mall parking lot.

The one thing I noticed over many of the competition is the large cargo area. Add in the fold flat rear seats and there is plenty of room for those Christmas gifts, like, say, a big screen TV? But this does cut down on rear seat room, mostnoticeably is headroom, as it is very much in short supply in the rear.

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In the front, it is all luxury. I’m especially enjoying the heated steering wheel, although its girth is a little excessive, making it difficult to wrap your hands around it. My tester is wrapped with leather throughout, including the dash, offering that air of elegance. Unfortunately, some things still stand out as cost-cutting, such as the centre console plastic edges that are rough and do not offer a seamless connection between layers.

Lighting and ambiance are great at night, with that very familiar green hue that Chrysler has used for what seems like forever, with added lighting in the door panels, around the door handles and all the switches.

The power adjustable tilt and telescopic steering is welcome, but only because I am having a difficult time finding a comfortable driving position, I find myself, too close then too far, then too high, then too low. Outward visibility is severely hampered by the excessively large A-pillars and side mirrors; mothers pushing baby carriages down the sidewalk, beware!

Day 3

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On the road, the Grand Cherokee continues its theme of being easier to drive than the previous generation. It no longer rides like a truck and doesn’t bounce around as much as it did previously. Perhaps that is due to the new trick suspension that lowers as you get up to highway speeds for better aerodynamics or can be raised for rock climbing.

The Grand Cherokee is smooth and quiet. Not a whisper of wind noise can be heard; the engine can be heard slightly but is non-intrusive and has a nice growl to it on hard acceleration. Steering is quick and it allows the Cherokee to feel nimble for its size and is weighted nicely. Jeep has done a great job of ensuring this vehicle is easy to drive and to maneuver at any speed.

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Acceleration from the 290hp V6 is sufficient. Some seem to think it is slow, but this can be avoided through driving style. The five-speed automatic transmission is obviously tuned for fuel economy: if you accelerate slowly second gear gets selected in a flash and acceleration is downright glacial. But accelerate semi-briskly from the get-go and there is no issue with keeping things on the boil enough to get going at a decent pace. You never feel like you are trashing it with this style either. If you do wish to thrash the engine and sprint from light-to-light, the Grand Cherokee can do that too.

Don’t get on it too quickly in traffic though: the brakes feel mushy and have quite a bit of dead-zone before they grab, which is not confidence-inspiring. It does stop quickly when asked to, but that slight delay could be an issue if following too closely or you get distracted by the multitude of toys in the interior.

Day 4

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A short week with the holidays so near means less driving than I’d do in a normal seven-day period. As a result, my 14L/100km average fuel consumption may be a little on the high side.

That said, watching the instant fuel consumption gauge certainly wasn’t very promising, even out on the highway.

Highlights in the Grand Cherokee were plentiful, such as a very quiet interior and exceptionally smooth ride in a vehicle that is capable off-road as well.
*Rating out of 5: