Community Newspapers •
JUNE 24, 2013
www . c o m m u n it yn e w s p a p e rs . c o m
VOL. 31, NO. 25
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee gets 2014 Jeep Grand facelift,option new diese facelift, newCherokee diesel gets engine Grant Miller CAR CORNER The Jeep Grand Cherokee looks and feels remarkably upscale; it projects modernism and sophistication, and at the same time maintains the traditional Jeep off-road theme, while delivering a level of performance that rivals vehicles costing much more. The Grand Cherokee won most of the industry awards for its class last year, and it’s even better in 2014. A new 3.0-liter, 240 hp EcoDiesel V-6 engine delivers 30 miles per gallon (mpg) and a driving range of more than 730 miles, and a towing capability of 7,400 pounds. The engine is mated to a new eight-speed automatic transmission that delivers quicker acceleration and precise, smooth shifting, while enhancing ride quality to luxury car levels. An additional benefit is a lower crawl ratio of 44.1:1 to aid in climbing over – or through – tough obstacles, when equipped with a two-speed transfer case. The new transmission also drives the Grand Cherokee’s 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine (25 mpg highway/600-mile range) and the 5.7-liter V-8 (22 mpg highway). The traditional Jeep offroad capability comes courtesy of three available 4x4 systems (Quadra-Trac I, Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II) via Jeep’s Quadra-Lift air suspension system and Selec-Terrain traction management system. The Grand Cherokee boasts a towing capacity of 7,400 pounds. New steering wheel paddle shifters offer improved driver control both on- and off-road, including Electronic Range Select when using Selec-Speed Control in extreme off-road situations.
Grand Cherokee retains classic seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches, but headlights are slimmer and fog lights are more pronounced. The Grand Cherokee retains Jeep’s classic seven-slot grille and trapezoidal wheel arches, but for 2014 the exterior design has been revised. On all models, the upper grille is shorter in height and the headlights are slimmer, while the lower front fascia has been slightly elevated, with the fog lights raised and more pronounced within the fascia design. The rear has larger taillights with signature LED lighting, a larger and more aerodynamic rear spoiler, and a re-sculpted tailgate for better visibility. Lower rear fascias are now model-specific and dual exhaust tips are standard on all Limited, Overland and Summit models. At the same time, the Grand Cherokee interior also has been redesigned. There’s a new three-spoke steering wheel wrapped in leather, and it has wood sections on Overland and Summit models. All Grand
Cherokee models include standard paddle shifters mounted on the back of the new steering wheel, which frames the new curvilinear gauge cluster that features a 7-inch configurable multiview display. And the center stack has been revised and houses new Uconnect 5-inch or 8.4-inch touchscreens. Controls for the radio and air conditioner are located below the screen and have easily identifiable knobs and buttons. A new leather-wrapped E-shifter for the eight-speed transmission is located on the center console. The MSRP for the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee starts at $28,795.
Grant Miller is the publisher of Community Newspapers. He may be contacted by calling 305-662-2277 or by addressing email to <Grant@CommunityNewspapers.com>.