2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee - Overland Edition Remembers Heritage Did Chrysler actually realize what it had purchased in 1987 when American Motors (AMC) and its Jeep subsidiary became divisions of Detroit's number three automaker? Whether or not Lee Iacocca and his team had the foresight to project that its newly acquired Jeep brand would spearhead North America's love affair with what we now commonly refer to as the sport utility vehicle, is now beside the point. SUV's are hot and Jeep has one of the genres hottest line-ups. This year the stylish Liberty replaced the die-hard Cherokee, enhancing overall quality and on road drivability over the old model, while still honoring the legendary Jeep name with commendable off road capability. Amid all the excitement surrounding the new Liberty , Jeep had discreetly incorporated refinements to the 2002 version of its larger sibling, the Grand Cherokee. Most of the improvements are subtle and include new rain-sensitive wipers, tire pressure monitoring, side curtain protection and adjustable pedals. To keep interior temperatures cooler, a new thermal expansion valve has been added to the evaporator within the new models air conditioning system resulting in a 5-10 degree difference. The Laredo and Limited models also get new wheels, with the entry model receiving the 16" aluminum rims found on last year's Limited and the 2002 Limited rolling on new 17" alloys.
2002 Grand Cherokee Road Test