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Lifestyle On Wheels
An Off-Road Icon
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Ride shotgun with us as we explore the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
By Elaine Rose
he Jeep Grand Cherokee is a unique fixture in the automotive market, in that it is designed to fit almost any budget. It starts with the Laredo trim at just over $32,000. A Car and Driver review states; “the base Laredo offers all the Grand Cherokee’s legendary capability both on- and off-road at a tolerable price.” From there, it goes to the top-of-the-line Trackhawk, with a base price of $86,900, and can easily run into six figures if jacked up with options. The Trackhawk runs on a 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter, Hellcat V-8 engine, the same motor that’s in the high-end Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars. And there are plenty of choices in between. The Grand Cherokee comes in a mind-boggling eleven trim models, so you can choose according to what you want for the engine, tires, interior accoutrements, and technology. And of course, the price you’re willing to pay. T
The Grand Cherokee has been a staple on American roadways for decades. American Motors Corporation started playing with the idea for the Grand Cherokee in 1983. Chrysler kept the concept going when it bought AMC out from a much-deserved bankruptcy in 1987. The first Grand Cherokee was introduced to the market in 1992 and is now in its fourth generation. A redesign is scheduled to debut next year. The Grand Cherokee is Jeep’s flagship vehicle and lies in the small crossover SUV category. It is a five-seater, and reviewers say even large adults will be comfortable in the rear. The area behind the seats has 36.3 cubic feet of storage, a bit smaller than other SUVs in the category, but certainly enough for most families’ needs. The rear seats fold in a 60-40 split and collapsing them entirely provides 63 cubic feet of cargo space. All versions come with eight-speed automatic transmission. The ProTech 1 package — with blind-spot monitoring, rear parking assist, and back-up camera — is standard at all levels. Fuel economy starts at a respectable 18 mpg in town and 26 mph on the open road for the base Laredo V-6 engine and goes down as power and performance increase. Interiors are nicely appointed at all levels, with cloth seats in the Laredo, and adding leather as the price goes up. The Grand Cherokee is assembled in Motor City, and thus has the coveted “Made in America” sticker. “The 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee marks the breakover point between ‘crossover’ and ‘SUV’”, Brian Leon wrote for The Car Connection. “It’s a docile wagon on the street, a mud-plugger when the road disappears, and in some forms it’s a demon on a track.” The base Laredo comes with a 3.6-liter, six-cylinder engine with rear-wheel drive and 295 horsepower. The highly-rated Uconnect infotainment system has a 7-inch touchscreen and is compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The engine power and performance increase with
the trim level. Several four-wheel drive options are available as well. All but the Laredo have an 8.4-inch touchscreen. But which version is right for you? “Regardless of which version you choose, the Grand Cherokee is thoroughly competent and thoroughly enjoyable,” according to a Car and Driver review. With an astounding array of trim lines and options, Jeremy Korzeniewski of Auto Blog recommends test-driving several versions to determine your favorite. Pay attention to details such as wheel size, engine power, suspension, and drive configurations. Reviewers at Edmunds like the Trailhawk (MSRP $44,995), for its off-road capability, but with an upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine. If you plan to stay on paved streets, they say the Limited (MSRP $39,855) will do nicely. Other car experts — many of whom are closet speed demons — fell in love with the souped-up Trackhawk for power that just can’t be beat. You must remember that it’s an SUV and not a sports car, one remarked. “In SRT or especially the Trackhawk trim, the Grand Cherokee has more power, more road-holding grip and superior braking performance than any other SUV or crossover within $30,000 of its price,” Korzeniewski wrote for Auto Blog. But if you don’t need all that horsepower in your daily driving — or if you’d rather not have frequent encounters with state troopers on the Garden State Parkway — a few reviewers say the SRT trim is a great choice. “The 2020 Grand Cherokee SRT can easily take you through a beaten road and cruises comfortably on paved roads,” Pranav Gupta wrote for Car Indigo. “Around the town, it might seem to be an overkill for performance lovers, (and) responsive throttle for powerful passing will keep the day exciting. This highway cruiser and track demon will fulfill your desire throughout its lifetime.” The SRT trim is equipped with a 6.4-liter Hemi V8 engine, capable of delivering 475 horsepower, Gupta wrote. It goes
2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit interior 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee interior
from zero to sixty in 4.4 seconds. A specialized four-wheeldrive system makes it even more exciting. “While the Grand Cherokee SRT specializes in straight-line speed, it goes around corners surprisingly well given its heft (5,195 pounds),” Car and Driver states. With the proper equipment, the SRT can tow more than its own weight, up to 7,200 pounds, Car and Driver noted. That should handle any boat you want to haul to the shore and many camper trailers. The downside is the SRT is good for your local gas station’s bottom line. It gets a paltry 13 mpg in town and 19 mpg on the highway. It should also be noted that all trim lines of the Grand Cherokee get so-so safety scores, especially regarding head-on crashes. But the Grand Cherokee has been around for a long time and shows no signs of leaving the market soon. So, if we’ve piqued your interest, check out the offerings at your local dealer. And if you’re not quite happy with what you see, come back next year after the fifth generation has been unveiled. n
