2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4
By Donny Nordlicht
Months in service: 2
Miles to date: 4310
A month into the Grand Cherokee's stay with us, staffers have already been impressed with the vastly improved interior materials, not to mention the confidence the Jeep has instilled throughout the winter snowfalls. However, the logbook isn't filled only with praise for the new Jeep.
Having made peace with the fact that the navigation unit in our early-production car was not the more advanced one that is supposed to be in Overland models, we turned our critical eye to the antiquated five-speed automatic transmission. Associate editor Eric Tingwall criticized the spacing of its top three gears, which are too close together, and added: "the transmission is also hesitant to downshift, which is contrary to the calibration of pretty much every other new car that features a smaller, more efficient engine." Tingwall also griped about the pedals being too far to the left, making stop-and-go city driving a chore. Tingwall is six-foot-three, but his sentiment was echoed by copy editor Rusty Blackwell, who is of average height. As Tingwall points out, "this is an ergonomic foible that can really make an owner resent the vehicle."
Blackwell did, however, sing some praises for the Jeep after spending a snowy night with it. "This is a fabulous choice for snowy evenings. Sure, there's the electronic four-wheel drive and its variable modes. But what I'm talking about is that awesome heated steering wheel, the heated seats, and the heaven-sent remote-start system!"
As for the wrinkled leather on the dash that we reported last month? The Grand Cherokee has been so popular during our fierce Michigan winter, we've been loath to drop it at the dealer to see what might be done to rectify the situation. We'll have an update on that front next month.
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 4x4
Base price (with dest.): $42,690
Price as tested: $45,805
Overview
Body Style: SUV
Accommodation: 5-passenger
Construction: uni-body
Powertrain
Engine: VVT Pentastar V-6
Displacement: 3.6 liters
Power: 290 hp @ 6400 rpm
Torque: 260 lb-ft @ 4800 rpm
Transmission: 5-speed automatic
Drive: Four-wheel
Fuel economy: 16 / 22 / 18 mpg (city/hwy/combined)
Chassis
Steering: Electronically-assisted power steering
Turning Circle: 36.7 ft
Suspension, Front: MacPherson strut/ coil spring
Suspension, Rear: Multi-link/ coil spring
Brakes F/R: Power-assisted ventilated disc/disc; ABS
Wheels: 18 x 8.0-inch polished aluminum
Tires: Michelin Latitude Tour
Tire Size: 265/60R18 109T
Measurements
Headroom F/R: 39.9 / 39.2 in
Legroom F/R: 40.3 / 38.6 in
Shoulder Room F/R: 58.7 / 58.0 in
Wheelbase: 114.8 in
Track F/R: 63.9 / 64.1 in
L x W x H: 189.8 x 84.8 x 69.3 in
Cargo Capacity: 36.3 / 68.3 cu ft (rear seats folded)
Weight: 4850 lb
Fuel Capacity: 24.6 gal
Est. Range: 440 miles
Fuel Grade: 87 octane
Standard Equipment
3.6-liter V-6 engine
5-speed automatic transmission
Quadra-Trac II 4WD system
Hill descent control
Electronic stability control
Selec-Terrain system
Quadra-Lift air suspension
ParkView rear backup camera
ParkSense rear park assist system
Trailer tow group
Keyless enter-n-go
Hill start assist
Trailer swap damping
Remote start system
Rain-sensing windshield wipers
Heated front and rear seats
Vented front seats
8-way power front seats
60/40 rear split/fold seats
Dual-zone automatic climate control
Uconnect hands-free phone system
30 GB hard drive with 6700-song capacity
9 premium speakers with 506-watt amp and subwoofer
Sirius satellite radio
Heated steering wheel with audio controls
Wood/leather wrapped steering wheel
Power tilt/telescoping steering column
115-volt auxiliary power outlet
20-inch wheels
Command view dual-pane panoramic sunroof
Power liftgate
Smartbeam headlamps
Bi-Xenon headlamps with auto-leveling
Power heated mirrors with memory
Daytime running lights
Options
Rear DVD entertainment center -- $1495
Rear overhead console
Rear seat video overhead system
Power single-pane sunroof
Advanced warning and adaptive cruise control -- $1295
Blind spot monitoring and rear cross path detection
Adaptive speed control
Forward collision warning
Off-Road adventure II package -- $295
18 x 8.0-inch aluminum polished wheels
P265/60R18 on/off-road tires
Skid plate group
Tow hooks
Trail rated badge
Engine block heater -- $50
Credit: Automobile Magazine (www.automobilemag.com)
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