Hit a curb? No problem? Stuck in a snowbank? Hit four low. It was the perfect car for teenagers with little winter experience. I’ve liked the Grand Cherokee since a friend had one in high school.
It’s also slow to react to inputs, which is a bigger deal today than 10 years ago, when everything was slow. If someone could show me otherwise I’d appreciate it. I can’t get my iPod to hook up and I think it’s because the radio only accepts flash drives and not USBs. I’m not a fan of Jeep’s infotainment system. It keeps me much more planted in my seat. Anyone with a thinner width should opt for that material as opposed to leather. I love suede seats in automobiles, and this is no exception. In my snowy morning drive I found that the power is biased to the rear, when I slid around a corner after giving it a bit too much gas. The big wheels, running boards and black trim give it a brick-on-wheels feel. The special edition Trailhawk is a brawny-looking truck. Not that you need it, but for $10k? Come on. The package costs $10,000 on top of the base price, and that doesn’t even include the V8. This Trailhawk though, doesn’t seem to add up. So if you need a terrific all-arounder so you can park the Ferrari for the winter, you need to consider a Grand Cherokee.ĪSSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I’m not sure how many folks are parking their Ferrari for a Grand Cherokee in the winter, but that’s what I would do. And especially if your daily drive is on the Rubicon Trail or maybe Michigan’s pothole-filled freeways.” Here’s what we said about our long-term Grand Cherokee: “As a daily driver, the Grand Cherokee ticks off so many boxes on the checklist: comfort, looks, quality, sound system, utility, fuel mileage (sort of). The knob-controlled AWD system couldn’t be easier to use. I think I’d be perfectly happy with the V6, as I think most would. Yes, the truck is fast and sounds like a hot rod when you boot it, but the payoff is that I averaged about 11 mpg according to the meter on the dash. I don’t know that I’d bother with the V8. That it’s still based on the Mercedes-Benz ML no doubt helps. There’s an overall sense of control in Grand Cherokees whether around town or on the freeway.
It’s sort of a near-luxury sedan for the woods. This truck is the same: Comfortable ride, solid structure, and will go practically anywhere. I thought it was a terrific combination of composure and go-anywhere capability. I was one of our long-term Jeep Grand Cherokee’s biggest fans.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: What makes this Grand Cherokee a “Trailhawk”? Rubber floor mats? Couple badges? The Jeep website will help: Adjustable suspension, electronic AWD, knobbies (remember those on your dirt bike when you were a kid? Jeep calls them “all terrain,” I prefer knobby), trim on the seats … the works.