Pentastar to the rescue
The new Grand Cherokee is not all about fresh sheetmetal and fancy wheels. It's also about an all-new engine that will make a huge difference in the HEMI's take rate. Previously, the GC was available with a pathetic 3.7L V6 and a lacklustre 4.7L V8. Both did little for the truck except lower the retail price; fuel consumption was so poor that opting for a HEMI made sense. Imagine that...
The 5.7L HEMI V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque is still on the menu, however the real star of this show is the 3.6L V6. This mill features dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and variable valve timing (VVT). Two huge steps up from old.
Why this engine is so good is because torque exceeds 90 percent of its peak from 1,600 to 6,400 rpm, so it's always “on”. It is smooth, quiet and refined, and even at engine speeds above 6,000 rpm, it doesn't want to rip itself out of the engine bay.
The standard 5-speed automatic transmission merits the same compliments as the Pentastar. Together, they almost define comfort and proficiency in their segment. Truly, the Grand Cherokee has become regal.
As for fuel consumption, Jeep states that the GC will do 8.9L/100 km highway and 13.0L/100 km in the city as well as offer up a driving range of over 1,000 kilometres, thanks to its 93.1L tank. After having travelled over 1,700 km in a week, we managed an average of 12.5L per 100 km. Although there were four of us on-board, 90% of the distance covered was done on the highway at speeds between 110 and 130 km/h. We expected better.
As it stands
At the moment, the mid-size SUV/CUV segment is bustling with new products. The likes of the new VW Touareg, Ford Explorer and the year-old Toyota 4Runner all offer an impressive array of capabilities, versatility and appeal.
As of yet, I have not driven the Explorer so it is, for now, excluded from my conclusion. Last year, I had crowned the 4Runner king, this year and as you read these lines, a new king takes over and it is the Grand Cherokee. Pricing starts at $37,495.
The new Grand Cherokee is not all about fresh sheetmetal and fancy wheels. It's also about an all-new engine that will make a huge difference in the HEMI's take rate. Previously, the GC was available with a pathetic 3.7L V6 and a lacklustre 4.7L V8. Both did little for the truck except lower the retail price; fuel consumption was so poor that opting for a HEMI made sense. Imagine that...
The 5.7L HEMI V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque is still on the menu, however the real star of this show is the 3.6L V6. This mill features dual overhead camshafts (DOHC) and variable valve timing (VVT). Two huge steps up from old.
Why this engine is so good is because torque exceeds 90 percent of its peak from 1,600 to 6,400 rpm, so it's always “on”. It is smooth, quiet and refined, and even at engine speeds above 6,000 rpm, it doesn't want to rip itself out of the engine bay.
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| The 5.7L HEMI V8 with 360 hp and 390 lb-ft of torque is still on the menu, however the real star of this show is the 3.6L V6. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
The standard 5-speed automatic transmission merits the same compliments as the Pentastar. Together, they almost define comfort and proficiency in their segment. Truly, the Grand Cherokee has become regal.
As for fuel consumption, Jeep states that the GC will do 8.9L/100 km highway and 13.0L/100 km in the city as well as offer up a driving range of over 1,000 kilometres, thanks to its 93.1L tank. After having travelled over 1,700 km in a week, we managed an average of 12.5L per 100 km. Although there were four of us on-board, 90% of the distance covered was done on the highway at speeds between 110 and 130 km/h. We expected better.
As it stands
At the moment, the mid-size SUV/CUV segment is bustling with new products. The likes of the new VW Touareg, Ford Explorer and the year-old Toyota 4Runner all offer an impressive array of capabilities, versatility and appeal.
As of yet, I have not driven the Explorer so it is, for now, excluded from my conclusion. Last year, I had crowned the 4Runner king, this year and as you read these lines, a new king takes over and it is the Grand Cherokee. Pricing starts at $37,495.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
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