First Drive: 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee

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Returning to a grander Jeep

More refined on-road and off-, can Jeep's latest Grand Cherokee win back lost fans

By John LeBlanc SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – It’s back to the future with Jeep’s new 2011 Grand Cherokee. Specifically, Chrysler’s off-road brand wants to party like it’s Nineteen-Ninety-Nine. That’s when its second-generation midsize SUV debuted, and seriously considered by well-to-do customers as a legitimate alternative to the much pricier Land Rover Range Rover. Over a decade and two generations of Grand Cherokee later—and after a down-market detour with the 2005 to 2010 version—Jeep has the same upmarket aspirations with this fourth-generation 2011 Grand Cherokee. Fundamentally, the latest Grand Cherokee hasn’t strayed too much from the original 1993 model. It’s still a midsize, car like unibody, five-passenger, utility-vehicle with outstanding off-road capabilities. Compared to the outgoing model, Jeep is boasting new levels of refinement from its exterior detailing, interior décor, under the hood, and behind the steering wheel. It may be optimistic to think it competes against current  $100,000 luxury SUVs like the Range Rover or Porsche Cayenne, but after a day’s drive in various 2011 Grand Cherokees, it’s safe to say it competes well—and better in some areas— with similar-priced rivals like the Honda Pilot, Land Rover LR4, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner, and Volkswagen Touareg. Although the 2011 Grand Cherokee is the second Chrysler Group product launched (after for this year’s new Ram heavy-duty pickups) under the reign of the U.S. automaker’s new parents at Italy’s Fiat (which took over last year), the SUV was developed while still owned by Germany’s Daimler, Mercedes-Benz’s owners. So even if from the outside the new Grand Cherokee has retained the last model’s proportions—and some of  the 1999 to 2004 model’s styling themes—it’s structure is based on the same unibody chassis as the ‘Benz ML Class. And, interestingly enough, not the current model, but the next ML. Arriving at Canadian Jeep dealers now, the 2011 four-model Grand Cherokee range starts with the $37,995 Laredo E, and tops out with the loaded $49,995 Overland. A new V6 and a carryover V8 will be offered in all models expect the base. And although our friends to the south will be getting 4x2 versions, all Canadian 2011 Grand Cherokees will come with traction at all four wheels. Whatever new Grand Cherokee you pick, customers will be treated to a well-built, easy-on-the-eyes and roomy interior. You would have had to spend some time in the last Grand Cherokee’s roughhewn, hard surfaced interior to appreciate the huge jump in refinement, detailing and build quality the 2011 model offers. If you’ve ever developed calluses from the rough-hewn interior bits in the last Grand Cherokee, you’ll almost cry when first settling into the new model’s inviting cockpit. Surfaces that aren’t of the soft-touch plastic variety are either some kind of faux aluminum or wood. And they are all assembled with small panel gaps and aligned well. The big Jeep’s interior isn’t revolutionary. But it can now be considered competitive with some of its more premium rivals. The leather looks like it actually came from cows, not from tar ponds. The new five-passenger Grand Cherokee is wider, and longer than the last one. The main beneficiaries will be rear seat occupants that now enjoy more legroom than any of the aforementioned competition. The rear seats also recline. There’s almost 20 per cent more cargo now, too, over 990 litres—but that’s still less than the LR4 and 4Runner. The mix of the 2011 Grand Cherokee’s new Rock of Gibraltar structure (almost one-and-a-half times more rigid than the outgoing model) fuel-efficient and rev-happy V6, fully independent suspension (equipped with variable rate springs in the rear) and a pair of new suspension tricks (see below) sets the table for the SUVs refined road manners and extreme off-road capabilities. First, the newly available Quadra-Lift air suspension can raise or lower the Jeep to five different heights, from a drop of 38 mm to ease entry an exit in Park mode, all the way to raise of 270 mm in Off-Road 2 mode. Next is the optional Selec-Terrain. Similar to Land Rover’s system, you can "select" five different “terrains” via a console-mounted dial. Married to the stability and traction control systems, 12 different settings for power, throttle, braking and transmission evolve to either on- or off-road conditions. Jeep is highly touting the Grand Cherokee’s new V6,  the first we’ve seen of Chrysler's new so-called "Phoenix" engine. There’s little to compare the new 3.6-litre unit with the outgoing 3.7 boat anchor. With an aluminum block, dual-overhead cams and variable valve timing, it adds 80 hp (now 290) and 25 lb-ft of torque (now 260.) Better yet, fuel economy improves to 13.0L/100 km city, 8.9L hwy, versus 13.9L and 10.1L, respectively. You do lose out with the six in regards to towing capabilities. The carryover 5.7-litre V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft can pull 7,400 pounds, versus only 5,000 lbs with the new six. On our day’s drive from the north side of the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco, to one of California State's off-roading facilities near Hollister, south of San Jose, the new Jeep’s engine noise and tire roar was kept to a bare minimum. Potholes and rough pavement were seen, but rarely felt and seldom heard. Its steering is more accurate and direct than the last model, and the big SUV can prove relatively nimble in back-back corners on the twisty mountain roads we traversed. Both engines are available across the new Grand Cherokee range. And both are mated to the carryover five-speed automatic gearbox. Jeep says there are no immediate plans for a diesel Grand Cherokee, citing the new V6 gets better fuel consumption than the previous Mercedes-sourced 3.0-liter diesel. And a high performance SRT8 version hasn’t been confirmed, but if it does get a go ahead, don’t expect it for a couple of years. That’s also when a new eight-speed automatic transmission will come on stream. It’s needed badly. Rivals offer more gears, and the current five-speeder makes the Grand Cherokee feel sluggish in most instances As refined as the new Grand Cherokee can be on pavement, it’s a beast off the beaten track, even if most Canadian driver won’t use all of the Jeep’s substantial capabilities. And for that, the 2011 Grand Cherokee offers a quartet of 4x4 systems, from the full-time Quadra-Trac I, to the Quadra-Drive II (which comes standard with Selec-Terrain) that offers an electronic-slip differential. We didn’t drive through any snow on the off-road course that Jeep organizers laid out for the media drive. But with guides to help us over some of the Dodge Caliber-sized boulders and double-black-diamond rated inclines, the newly refined Grand Cherokee proved to have lost none of the previous generations’ off-road capabilities. Even if in some regards the new 2011 Grand Cherokee is a match in features and performance (especially off-road) with a Range Rover or Cayenne, few outside of Jeep’s marketing department would consider a luxury SUV with the chrome letters J-E-E-P on the hood. But when it comes to premium SUVs nearer its price range, the new Grand Cherokee has the fit-and-finish, features, and road manners to compete with the best of the rest. Obviously benefiting from its  former link with Mercedes, the 2011 Grand Cherokee is setting a high standard for the rest of the new or refreshed 2011 Chryslers promised over the next few months, as well as the future Fiat-based products as well. Let’s just say, the bar has been set. 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee WHAT WE LIKE: Fuel-efficient V6; upscale interior and features; refined on-road manners, yet extreme off-road capabilities. WHAT NEEDS WORK: No diesel or high-performance SRT model; only five-gears in autobox; Chrysler’s poor reliability ratings Base prices: $37,995 to $49,995 Type of vehicle: AWD mid-size SUV Engines: 3.6L V6/5.7L V8 Power: 290/360 hp Torque: 260/390 lb.-ft. Transmission: Five-speed automatic Est. Fuel Consumption L/100 km (city/hwy): 13.0, 8.9/15.7, 10.6 Competition: Honda Pilot, Land Rover LR4, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner, Volkswagen Touareg

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