Last year marked 25 years for the Grand Cherokee, and I noted in a review that despite its long tenure with us, even on it’s current platform, the Grand Cherokee remains the benchmark in family adventure vehicles. Not having undergone a significant redesign since 2011, the folks at Jeep have traditionally done a great job at keeping the Grand Cherokee not only competitive, but in the spotlight as well.
Recently we had a chance to spend some time with the insane Trackhawk (reviewed here); the world’s most powerful production SUV, and while it’s an absolute blast to drive, it’s not the family hauler most Grand Cherokee customers are seeking. For 2019, the Grand Cherokee is looking to flaunt some of its performance credentials, with SRT-inspired styling now available on a much more family friendly version.
For 2019 there are actually eleven unique trim levels available for the Grand Cherokee, ranging from the entry level Laredo to the six-figure Trackhawk, and everything in between including the off-road focused Trailhawk and the luxurious Summit. New though is the 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited X, a package which takes a reasonably well equipped Limited and adds SRT front and rear fascia, body coloured cladding, 20” wheels, bi-xenon headlamps, and an aggressive sport hood with functional heat extractors.
Our Limited X tester came finished in Velvet Red Pearl, which complements the blacked out grille and emblems, dark wheels, and dark chrome exhaust tips. The Grand Cherokee has aged well, and I do consider it one of the more handsome mid-sized SUVs on the market. Adding these performance minded styling ques only make it better. The only issue with the new Limited X package, from a styling perspective at least, is that you need to get used to answering “no, it’s just a V6” every time someone asks if it’s an SRT – which happens a lot!
The interior in the Grand Cherokee has been a favourite, so jumping into this tester for the Christmas break felt like spending time with an old friend. Controls lie easy at hand, the Uconnect 8.4” touchscreen is as good as always, and perforated leather seats in the Limited X proved remarkably comfortable. I was a bit surprised that even though our Limited X sits fairly high on the trim level hierarchy it did not benefit from the leather wrapped dashboard or door panels. In that same regard, some shiny black plastic trim around the center controls, and hard plastic A-pillar covers are a distraction from an otherwise refined interior.
As expected, the Grand Cherokee interior does deliver practicality in spades, and given that the holidays were upon us and our five-month-old, we had plenty of opportunity to put it to the test. Up front, deep door pockets and generous storage in the center console provide plenty of room for the daily carry items. The second row offers loads of head and legroom for up to three adults, and easily took our rear facing baby seat as well, provided that the front passenger’s seat was positioned reasonably upright or forward.
The cargo area is notably well finished with plush carpeting, well-fitted panels, and touches of chrome trim. One nice convenience is lamps built into the underside of the rear hatch that shine into the cargo area, making loading or unloading in the dark easier. The cargo area itself is wide, and deeper than most competitors. The split second row easily folds flat, and with the one unused seat folded flat the Jeep surprisingly hauled all of our baby gear, groceries, gifts and other holiday cargo without much fuss.
Our tester came powered by the well known 3.6L Pentastar V6, which you can find in just about every other FCA product. It’s been around long enough that any bugs are worked out and it’s a solid, reliable and reasonably efficient engine; exactly what you might want in a family hauler. It is however, not a whole lot of fun, but the good news is that you can opt for the 360 horsepower 5.7L HEMI V8, the larger 474 horsepower 6.4L HEMI V8 in the SRT or the wild supercharged 707 horsepower 6.2L in the Trackhawk version.
The Pentastar is good for 295 horsepower and its 260 lb-ft. of torque at 4,000RPM. It’s adequate, and I prefer it to the turbocharged four-cylinder options in the segment. However, the lack of any real torque low in the powerband, a trait the 3.6L has become well known for, does get a bit frustrating, it also have a tendency to run out of breath quickly when passing on the highway. On the positive end of things, it is smooth and quiet, and mechanically simple enough that I’d expect it to run strongly for years to come. This engine is paired with the eight-speed automatic, which is a very comfortable dance partner that serves its purpose well.
Despite the fact that our tester came with the smallest and most efficient engine option, fuel economy continues to be a weak point for the Grand Cherokee, and the one area where the platform is showing its age. Commuting into the city to work for a week in rush hour traffic yielded a 12.5L/100km average, and adding in some more local holiday related travel pushed the average to 13.2L/100km. With similar V6 equipped SUVs are seeing as low as 11L/100km in similar usage, and the turbo four-cylinders capable of returning numbers below 10L/100km, this is a noteworthy consideration for fuel conscious shoppers.
On the road the Grand Cherokee is a perfect balance between brute capability and luxurious comfort. It’s quiet and well mannered on the highway, absorbs city bumps with ease, and its reasonable dimensions and tight turning circle make it easy to manoeuvre. The steering offers more resistance and road feel than competitors, which is welcomed and adds an extra sense of confidence. While comfortable, the Grand Cherokee is not as silky smooth as some rivals, but offers a truer SUV driving experience. With a slightly choppier ride combined with heavier steering; it may not be everyone’s tastes.
Our tester did not have the available height adjustable air suspension, but as a Limited it does get the Quadra-Trac II 4×4 system with a two-speed transfer case as opposed to the basic all-wheel drive system in lesser models. The Limited also gets Selec-Terrain, which will automatically adjust its behavior to optimize traction and keep you moving. Even on all-season tires a Grand Cherokee makes a very capable light-duty off-roader, usually more than enough to get the family to whatever adventure is on tap; and it’s nice to see an SUV sticking to its off-road roots
Off-roading isn’t the Grand Cherokee’s only little truck-like trick; it also stands out in its towing ability. Even the V6 is rated to tow 3,500 pounds, and it only goes up from there to over 7,000 pounds if properly equipped. All Grand Cherokee models also get the benefit of a trailer sway control system to help keep your load in line.
The Grand Cherokee is priced right where it needs to be, and if you need any confirmation of that just take a look at the number of them on the road. Its starting price is about $10,000 more than a popular mid-sized crossover like the Hyundai Santa Fe (reviewed here), however the Grand Cherokee is much more capable and more premium feeling than anything in the Santa Fe’s pricing segment. It is however, a fair bit cheaper than a premium SUV like a Lexus RX 350 or an Acura MDX, which are just as suitable competitors.
Pricing starts at $40,395 for a basic Laredo, and progressively steps up through the many trim levels to a starting price of $54,690 for a Limited X. In addition to the basic Limited X kit, our tester came with the Active Safety Group ($1,495) adding the full suite of electronic safety aids like adaptive cruise control, pre-collision brake assist and more. It also got a panoramic sunroof ($1,695) and a nine-speaker Alpine sound system ($800). These options push the total price of our tester to $60,775. At that price, the interior refinements omitted stand out, and I would probably consider stepping up to the Overland, which is better equipped for comparable money.
Eight years into this platform the Grand Cherokee stills remains one of my top picks in the SUV segment. It’s a great balance between a rugged SUV and a luxurious family hauler, and as a result feels right at home in just about any situation. Age is starting to creep up on it in the form of fuel economy and interior finish, but its traditional Jeep style, strong heritage and class leading capabilities should keep it at the top of every SUV shopper’s list.
