The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee has been fully redesigned with an eye toward refinement. Its box-like utilitarian lines have been smoothed, and the truck-based design has been replaced by a crossover-style unibody construction based on the Mercedes-Benz M-Class. It can still tackle off-road terrain, and the iconic seven-slot grille clearly marks it as a Jeep, but this latest version of the Grand Cherokee is more sophisticated than its predecessors.
All the Grand Cherokee’s six trims come standard with a new 3.6-liter V6 (280 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800) that is more powerful than the previous base engine and FlexFuel capable. This V6 is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and gets 16 city/23 highway mpg in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) trims and 16/22 in all-wheel-drive (AWD) Grand Cherokees. There is also an optional 360-horsepower 5.7-liter V8, which can tow up to 7,400 pounds, as opposed to the 3,500-pound capacity of the V6.
The Mercedes-based body, power rack-and-pinion steering, electronic stability control, four-wheel antilock disc brakes, and the front independent and rear multilink suspension combine to provide the new Grand Cherokee with a smoother, more polished ride than its forerunners. But if you want to get rough with the Grand Cherokee, the trail-rated Jeep can do that, too, with a choice of three 4x4 systems, multiple off-road packages, and an optional Quadra-lift air suspension that adjusts ground clearance from 4.5 to 11 inches.
The 2011 redesign also provides the Grand Cherokee with more passenger room in the rear seat. The vehicle is 3 inches wider than it was in 2010, the wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer, and the result is 4 more inches of knee- and legroom for second-row passengers.
There are three trim levels for the Grand Cherokee – Laredo, Limited, and Overland – and each is available with rear-wheel (RWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The Laredo’s interior features include dual-zone air-conditioning with air filtering, speed control, eight-way power driver’s seat, four-way power and flat-folding passenger seat, tilt/telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, power locks, power windows with one-touch up and down, power-locking fuel filler door, remote entry, theft-deterrent system, illuminated cupholders, two 12-volt outlets, a removable rechargeable interior lamp, front and rear aimable LED Lights, cargo tie-down loops, and a cargo trim panel with storage net. The Laredo’s exterior highlights include 17-inch aluminum wheels with P245/70R17 on/off-road tires, heated and power-folding body-color mirrors, foglamps, automatic halogen headlamps, bright side roof rails, chrome bodyside molding, rear spoiler on glass liftgate, bright grille, body-color fascia, and deep-tint sunscreen glass.
Move up to the Limited trim and you get all of those features plus some upgrades and additions. The Limited’s interior features heated front and rear seats, memory for the driver’s seat, eight-way power passenger seat, four-way power lumbar support adjustments for both front seats, luxury front and rear floormats with logo, door-sill scuff pads, steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, remote start, a universal garage door opener, security alarm, 115-volt power outlet, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, and a cargo compartment cover. The Limited’s exterior features 18-inch aluminum polished wheels with P265/60R18 on/off-road BSW tires, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, premium door trim panel, bi-xenon smartbeam headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, bright exhaust tip, and heated chrome mirrors with auto-dim, integrated turn signals, and driver’s side memory.
The high-end Overland trim gets upgraded with a navigation system with 6.5-inch touch-screen display, leather seating surfaces with edge welting, ventilated front seats, wood and leather heated steering wheel, leather-wrapped shift knob, power tilt/telescoping steering wheel, 20-inch aluminum painted wheels with P265/50R20 all-season tires, automatic headlamp leveling system, and a rear wiper and washer.
All Grand Cherokee trims come with multi-stage front airbags, front side airbags, side airbags, front and rear side curtain airbags, electronic stability program, four-wheel traction control, brake assist, tire pressure monitoring system, Hill-Descent Control, and Chrysler’s UConnect Guardian service, which includes automatic crash notification, remote door unlock, stolen-vehicle-location assistance, and the ability to call emergency or roadside services as needed.
