2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee UT

The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is redesigned, with freshened styling, a new V6 engine, and new features. This midsize SUV seats five.  For a modern SUV that still has the ability to take on dirt and rocks, the latest Grand Cherokee is a smart pick. The new 3.6-liter V6 engine makes a stout 290 horsepower, the interior boasts quality construction, and there is now considerably more passenger and cargo room. Other notable improvements include easier-to-use radio and climate controls and a more inviting cabin design. Ride and handling dynamics are better thanks to a more rigid chassis and a new, fully independent suspension. A new Selec-Terrain feature for the uplevel all-wheel-drive systems allows drivers to choose from five pre-programmed settings to best handle a given road or trail condition. The new Selec-Terrain rotary controller mimics Land Rover's 'Terrain Response', and it's teamed with a first-for-Jeep "Quadra-Lift" air suspension. It can lift the "JGC" to eleven inches off the ground or drop it for passenger loading. There are two off-road-oriented AWD systems available. Quadra-Trac II has an intelligent center diff and a brake-operated traction control system all the way around. Quadra-Drive II adds an electronically-controlled LSD in the rear. Both variants feature a hill descent control that also works in reverse to permit a safe back-out from over-enthusiastic climbing attempts. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Hill-descent control is standard on Limited and Overland and optional on Laredo. Features Chrysler says are slated to arrive later in the model year include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot alert, and Rear Cross Path, a system that activates when the transmission is in reverse; it detects any traffic moving towards the vehicle. Also available is Chrysler's Uconnect multimedia suite, which can include a navigation system with real-time traffic alerts, wireless cell-phone link, and 30-gigabyte hard drive for storing digital-music and picture files.

2011 Grand Cherokee Design

The Jeep Grand Cherokee was one of the pioneering SUVs that ushered in the modern midsize SUV segment in the early 1990s. When it debuted, the Grand Cherokee represented a bigger and better version of Jeep's smaller but still popular Cherokee. The company's designers wanted it to be maneuverable enough for urban duty, roomy enough for family duty, stylish enough to take out on the town, and capable enough to get to the more remote campsites. The 2011 model is about 5 inches longer in wheelbase and 2 inches longer overall than the 2010 Grand Cherokee. Trim levels include base Laredo, mid-level Limited, and top-end Overland. Each offers rear-wheel drive or Jeep's Quadra-Trac all-wheel drive. Quadra-Trac I is a full-time AWD system without low-range gearing. Quadra-Trac II has a low-range gear for off-road use. Jeep offers various off-road option packages that can include skid plates, hill-descent control, front tow hooks, and a load-leveling suspension.

Powering the All New Jeep GC

The new Grand Cherokee offers two powertrains - one familiar, the other all-new. The standard engine is the much-anticipated all-aluminum 3.6-liter 24-valve Pentastar V6, rated at 290 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 pound-feet of torque at 4,800 rpm. To serve its hard-core towing buyers, Jeep will still offer the 5.7-liter Hemi V8 with MDS (multidisplacement system or cylinder shutoff) in both 4x2 and 4x4 configurations. Some models have an air suspension that will raise the body for true off-road adventures while protecting vital components underneath. Jeep's MDS System will alternate between four-cylinder power when less grunt is needed to a full bore, all-systems-ignited hemi when that is desired. With the new V-6 base engine Jeep claims 11% better gas mileage over the 2010 model. The six is EPA rated at 16-23 mpg in two-wheel drive models and 16-22 in 4WD. The EPA said the eight is good for 14-20 mpg in 2WD and 13-19 in 4WD. Jeep claims the V-6 is happy with unleaded regular, and the hemi V-8 with midgrade 89-octane fuel.

2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Cabin

The interior is the Grand part of the name of this Jeep with a more luxurious touch than previous models to the degree that some might forget they are in an SUV. There is wood trim and lots of soft surfaces on the dash top and soft smooth leather seating that would be comfortable enough for cross-country treks. The navigation system and other controls will be of no mystery to anyone who has driven a Chrysler product and easy to figure out for those who haven't. Inside, all-new seats have been sculpted and designed to save space while providing solid side and lower back support. Front seats offer six-way adjustment as well as heating and cooling functions, depending on the option package. The rear seats are wider, offer more bottom cushioning, and give passengers 4 more inches of knee room (thanks to the longer wheelbase). The rear seats will recline up to 18 degrees to allow for more comfort and easier viewing of the outdoors (when optioned with the oversize two-piece sunroof) or the DVD screen. Additionally, interior noise levels have been substantially improved thanks to added interior insulation, glass coatings and exterior aerodynamic engineering. The new center stack and instrument panel are closer to the driver and passenger, so all controls are now within arm's reach. Likewise, the newly formed dual-barrel tach and speedometer readouts have large and readable fonts, and the information center is easily accessible with steering wheel controls, providing plenty of engine, trip and 4x4 system data. Likewise, materials choices and textures work well together with the new layout, and seams and mating surfaces are much tighter than ever seen on any Grand Cherokee, or other Jeep product for that matter. Overall fit and finish quality shows a big improvement.

Conclusions

The present, fourth-generation Jeep Grand Cherokee represents a complete redesign for 2011. Long-standing criticisms, such as the underpowered V6 engine, mediocre cabin materials and the lack of rear seat room, have been thoroughly addressed. In addition to the traditional well-equipped Laredo and luxurious Limited trims there is also the Overland, which tops the range with upscale features such as 20-inch alloy wheels, a power-adjustable/heated steering wheel and a navigation system. EPA fuel economy estimates are 16 city and 22 highway mpg for the all-wheel-drive versions, with 16/23 for rear-wheel-drive models. For the latest updates on this new Jeep, visit the official 2011 Grand Cherokee site.