Since it was first introduced as a midsize SUV for the 1993 model year, the iconic Grand Cherokee has been a cornerstone of Jeep’s

The new 2011 Grand Cherokee boosts Jeep into premium status. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

lineup, and key to the company’s financial health. So one can imagine Jeep and parent company Chrysler executives holding their collective breath whenever a redesigned Grand Cherokee hits the showrooms. The Grand Cherokee was last redesigned for the 2005 model year and the latest version, the all-new WK2, was introduced as a 2011 model. I recently tried out a Limited trim V6 version for a week, and came away impressed.

While the basic body shape remains unchanged, the new Grand Cherokee’s styling is more unified and — dare we say it? — car-like than the previous generation model. There are fewer sharp edges, and instead all the parts flow into one another, with blacked-out B and C pillars creating a sleek side profile. The front end styling in particular has been cleaned up and simplified. Gone are the round, overlapped quad

New styling is cleaner and more upscale than the outgoing model. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

headlights and awkward chopped-up bumper lines, replaced by squared-off, slightly upswept headlight openings and a smoothed-out, unobtrusive bumper. The result more closely resembles the WJ model of 1999 to 2004 than the outgoing WK model, and that’s a good thing, really. With its big chrome seven-slot grille and stunning inferno red paint, our test car looked dramatic, masculine and upscale — exactly the qualities one imagines Jeep would like associated with the Grand Cherokee.

Climb aboard and the upscale impression continues. Jeep has really picked up the game in the interior department, and the 2011 Grand Cherokee’s appointments are miles away from the rubbery fittings of Jeeps from only a few years back. Instead, our Grand Cherokee Limited featured plenty of quality soft-touch materials, beautiful wood grain trim, supple leather seats

Yipee! Snow to play in and just the right sled to ride on! (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

and all the mod cons one could hope for. Even in base Laredo trim, the Grand Cherokee is a surprisingly well-equipped machine with remote keyless entry, power windows, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel, electronic vehicle information system, Sirius satellite radio with one-year prepaid subscription, and much more.

The Limited trim adds all sorts of luxury touches like heated, perforated leather seating front and rear, auto-dimming side mirrors, HID headlights, automatic air conditioning, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, remote start system, and a heated steering wheel (though a colleague complained that it didn’t actually heat the spots where he most often places his hands). Perhaps most importantly the Limited trim (and the Laredo X trim for that matter) adds an upgraded touch-screen media system with USB input, 30 GB hard drive, backup camera and sensors, plus superb nine-speaker audio. Our test car also had an optional GPS navigation package. Altogether — and despite a couple of nitpicking details like the fact that the phone and power plugs are hard to access, buried deep in the centre-stack’s lower cubby — it adds up to an impressive level of functionality and an air of refined opulence on par with European luxury sedans.

Underpinning

Grand Cherokee handling is good for the class. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

all this luxurious goodness, Jeep has introduced a new base powerplant for 2011. This is the long-awaited 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V6, which develops 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm, and is hooked up to a 5-speed automatic transmission. I found the new V6 to be smooth and plenty powerful, and while a 5.7L Hemi V8 is still offered as an option, unless you’re doing some serious towing the base engine should prove more than adequate. That said, I do have a complaint about the Grand Cherokee’s low-speed performance characteristics. If you are trundling along at moderate speed and give the throttle a gentle prod to get some acceleration ... nothing happens! Mashing your foot firmly toward the floor mat will wake up all the horses and get you moving in a hurry, but anything less than that produces a response so lethargic that it feels like you’ve run out of gas. I’m not sure whether this trait is a function of the engine’s throttle mapping or the transmission programming, but I’d prefer a more linear throttle response. My colleague, who has driven a number of Mercedes M-Class vehicles, reckons this is a leftover Mercedes trait aimed at trying to improve fuel economy — the new Grand Cherokee was, after all, initially developed during DaimlerChrysler days on the same platform as the M-Class.

Throttle characteristics aside, driving the Grand Cherokee is a thoroughly pleasant — and commendably quiet — experience. In Limited 4x4 trim (and all Canadian Grand Cherokees are 4x4s) the Grand Cherokee tips the scales at a hefty 4,850 lbs (2,201 kg),

What a gorgeous interior, and so well made you'll think you're in a European luxury car. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

and you can sense all that weight when driving. But the steering is well-balanced, turn-in is predictable and smooth, the 4-wheel disc ABS brakes do their job without fuss and, thanks to the Quadra-Lift air suspension in our test car, everything remains level and composed — if not exactly sports-car like — when pushed reasonably hard on pavement. Luckily for me, we had a big dump of snow during the week I had the Grand Cherokee, so I was also able to try it out in the kind of conditions it excels in.

While hardcore off-roaders have muttered darkly that the independent front suspension introduced in the WK model has compromised off-road capability and durability, the truth is that the new suspension has introduced all sorts of on-road refinement, yet the Grand Cherokee remains a serious off-road machine with an astounding array of available four-wheel drive technology.

Features are plentiful plus fit and finish superb. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

The Limited trim upgrades the drive system from the light-duty Quadra-Trac I system with a single-speed transfer case to the Quadra-Trac II system with a two-speed transfer case. Our test vehicle was also equipped with Jeep’s Quadra-Lift air suspension which provides load-leveling control and a very nicely cushioned ride, and can vary the ride height up to 10.4 cm (4.1 inches) from the lowest position (park mode) to a best-in-class maximum off-road ride height of 27.1 cm (10.7 inches). All of this technology is adjustable either manually or automatically through Jeep’s Selec-Terrain system. Working with the two-speed transfer case, Selec-Terrain is controlled via a console-mounted panel and offers five different terrain options (Auto, Sport, Snow, Sand/Mud, and Rock, plus neutral for towing), and has buttons for manual ride height selection, low range selection, and hill descent control. Selec-Terrain optimizes the vehicle for different surfaces by adjusting torque-distribution, brake force, traction control settings and ride height, among other things.

In practice, all this technology comes together seamlessly to provide an effortless driving experience no matter the road or trail conditions. During our winter snow storm, I was able to point the key fob through the living-room window and hit the remote start button, and by the time I got my snow boots on and got out of the house the Grand Cherokee had the cabin, seat and steering wheel all warmed up for me. Once on the road, with the Selec-Terrain switch set

Full panoramic sunroof is a nice touch. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

for snow I found the straight-line traction entirely sure-footed, and the electronic stability control did a good job of keeping things orderly around corners (and yes, the laws of physics still apply, but multistage front airbags and side curtain airbags provide a cushion of safety in case you really overcook it). By late afternoon, with the snow plows falling behind their workload, the Grand Cherokee’s advantage was clear — I was one of the few people in my neighbourhood able to navigate our side streets and get where I was going.

If there’s a price to be paid for this four-wheel drive peace of mind, it’s in fuel economy: even with the V6, the Grand Cherokee Limited has an estimated fuel consumption rate of 13.0 / 8.9 L/100km (city/hwy), and my actual consumption was substantially higher. And of course with suggested pricing starting at $37,495 for a base Laredo and

The entire door lifts up or you can pop up the rear window for quick access to the back. (Photo: Simon Hill, Canadian Auto Press)

climbing to $54,445 for a loaded Overland edition, the Grand Cherokee isn’t exactly cheap. Still, given the generous features included in our test vehicle, and the high levels of luxury and technology built into all Grand Cherokees, the as-tested price of $50,245 (plus $1,400 destination charges) for our tester seems pretty reasonable. And with Jeep’s 60-month/100,000km powertrain warranty and 36-month/60,000km basic warranty, owners should be protected from any unexpected expenses.

As an indication of where Jeep is heading, the redesigned 2011 Grand Cherokee leaves a lasting and very good impression — it’s rugged as always, and more refined than ever.

Interior

Exterior

Mechanical

Safety

Dimensions

Misc

(J003) Standard Metallic Paint

(J005) Standard Gloss Paint

(DGJ) Transmission: 5-Spd Auto W5A580

(ERB) Engine: 3.6L V6 VVT

(26E) Quick Order

(AHT) Trailer Tow Group

(WPD) Wheels: 18 x 8 Aluminum Chrome Clad

(AWL) Off-Road Adventure I

(AEE) Mopar Chrome Edition Group

(RSP) UConnect Hands-Free Communication

(2_X) Quick Order

(AWY) Off-Road Adventure II

(AJY) Security and Convenience Group

(GWA) Power Sunroof

(RHB) Media Center 430N CD/DVD/MP3/HDD/NAV

(TP6) Tires: P265/60R18 OWL On-Off Road

(UL) Premium Leather Bucket Seats

(GWJ) Dual-pane Panoramic Sunroof

(EZH) Engine: 5.7L V8 Hemi MDS VVT

(DG1) Transmission: 6-Spd Auto 65RFE

(AHX) Trailer Tow Group IV

(AD3) All Weather Capability Group

(MET) Metallic Paint

(PER) Pearl Paint