2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (Video Clip)

Playing bully in a crowded school yard

2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

Ask anybody if they can name a vehicle that can go off-road as well as face any weather. Chances are, they will answer: Jeep. For a lot of people, any high-riding, four-wheel drive truck or SUV is a Jeep. It has become a household name, the same way any facial tissue is spontaneously called a Kleenex. It may seem insignificant, but this is a status a company will do anything to achieve. Any company.

This means DaimlerChrysler's division benefits from an almost eternal popularity. In addition, the Grand Cherokee was once named the most desirable SUV. Its Trail Rated badge, although seemingly useless at first, indicates that you can basically take the vehicle off the road without hesitation. For instance, the base Laredo isn't Trail Rated, but the Limited and Overland models are.

This 2006 Limited model's changes are so insignificant over the redesigned 2005 model, that they aren't noticeable.

The first thing you notice about the Grand Cherokee, is that it looks rather expensive. This is because the rear end seems to be copied from previous Range Rovers. The front end, though, looks definitely like a jeep, with its round headlamps and trademark vertically-slotted grille. The optional $480 chrome wheels improve its appearance. It's not the best-looking SUV around, granted. But it feels respected, and so do you when you're behind the wheel.

2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

Rev that optional HEMI engine, and you get 330 raging horsepower to play with (in the video clip that accompanies this review, I mistakenly quoted 325 horses; my apologies). What is most impressive about this 2,053 kg (4,526 pound) brute is that it takes off like a rocket. You really have to feather that throttle for a smooth and leisurely launch, or else your passengers will start cursing. I haven't yet tried a GC with the 3.7-litre V6, or the 4.7-litre V8 for that matter, but they would certainly make for a much less thrilling ride. The sound of the 5.7 is quite pleasing to the aural senses and it's hard to prevent yourself from unleashing this beast.

Of course, you'll pay dearly for your horsepower addiction; I averaged about 19.0 L/100 km during my week with the HEMI Grand Cherokee. Clearly, the term "fuel economy" does not apply here... "fuel guzzling" or "fuel waste" is better. Oh yeah, the engine is equipped with DaimlerChrysler's MDS system, which shuts down half the cylinders during light driving or highway cruising. There isn't a light or any indication that

2006 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited (Photo: Michel Deslauriers, Auto123.com)

comes on in the instrument panel to encourage you to keep a turtle-like pace and save gas. That would be pretty useful, because I really feel that MDS was on vacation the whole week.

The ride is on the soft side. This SUV is heavy, and feels heavy. The Grand Cherokee's handling limits don't seem to match its straight-line speed, so you will have to be careful when summoning the engine. The suspension is slightly stiffer than in the Commander, Jeep's new flagship, which feels like sitting on a seesaw. Generally, the GC drives well, although I prefer more nimble and lighter vehicles.