During passing maneuvers, it struggled a little bit more than the V-8 but felt fine for everyday driving. We drove a V-6 model later in the day, and found it to be a perfectly capable engine. The newly developed 3.6-liter V-6, although still mated to a five-speed, gets 23 mpg on the highway, according to Jeep. Jeep has yet to explore efficiency technologies such as direct injection, and sticks the Grand Cherokee with a five-speed automatic. This engine uses cylinder deactivation, cutting down on fuel use while cruising, but we still wouldn't expect economy over 20 mpg. It moved the Grand Cherokee effortlessly, going up hills on the freeway at 70 mph with no complaint. On the other hand, it also turns out 390 pound-feet of torque. This engine uses variable valve timing, but only makes 360 horsepower. Where many SUVs can feel like dumb crates with unpredictable handling, Jeep kept the Grand Cherokee tight, with good damping response when hitting the inevitable bumps in the road.įor the first section of the drive, we had a Limited trim vehicle with the available 5.7-liter V-8. Unlike Lexus, which tends to overboost its power steering, the Grand Cherokee wheel requires a little effort to turn, which mirrors the overall tautness of the suspension. Jeep tuned the steering perfectly, giving it a solid feel with a reasonable amount of resistance. With our speed dialed in at 75 mph, the Grand Cherokee slowed for traffic ahead, and would bring the car to a full stop if needed. Nicely inset buttons on the steering wheel spokes set the adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot detection turned on a warning light in the mirror when another car was off our rear quarter. Along with the Wi-Fi router mentioned above, Sirius TV and Flo TV will be available.īut what we found more interesting were some of the driver assistance technologies as we drove the Grand Cherokee down the freeway. Jeep updated the interior fit and finish to compete with luxury SUVs.ĭuring this preview event, we didn't have the chance to test these systems but were impressed that Jeep will offer its full suite of electronics in the Grand Cherokee. The hard-drive-based navigation includes traffic and 3D maps for a full-featured system, but the LCD is small, and the plastic buttons surrounding it are unrefined. In the car, we immediately recognized the UConnect head unit, which combines navigation, audio, and the Bluetooth phone system, having seen it most recently in the Chrysler Town and Country. Upholstered interior door handles and console top completed the cabin appointments. Real wood trim graced the cabin, and soft plastics covered the dashboard. Getting into the car, we were immediately pleased with the steering wheel's feel, as it is wrapped in a matte finish leather. That is a tall order, but from our initial look at the cabin, Jeep is off to a good start. While maintaining its reputation for off-road prowess with the Grand Cherokee, Jeep also wants to make it competitive in the luxury SUV segment, putting it up against the Lexus RX 350. The new Grand Cherokee looked to be a huge technological leap from its predecessors. And the drive response is now controlled by a terrain system, which lets the driver simply select the type of driving surface with a knob on the console. Jeep added its UConnect suite of cabin tech, including navigation and a wireless router. A fuel-saving 3.6-liter V-6 became the base level engine. Gone was the live rear axle from the previous version, in favor of a modern independent suspension. From the beginning, it was a radical reinterpretation of the Grand Cherokee. The car before us, which we would soon get to rough up on dirt roads, represented a difficult birth. Last year the company was on the verge of bankruptcy, and the fate of this vehicle remained uncertain. Jeep product planners, engineers, and designers were all in a self-congratulatory mood as they talked about the new Grand Cherokee's features, and with good reason. On a cold San Francisco morning we gathered to hear Jeep staff talk about their new 2011 Grand Cherokee before a drive that would put us on winding mountain roads and a challenging off-road course.
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