2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV

Driving Impression

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The Grand Cherokee excels in ride, handling, steering, and off-road prowess. Its smooth road manners make it feel like a crossover that has quick responses and a controlled ride.

With five engines and three four-wheel-drive systems, you can build or choose the Grand Cherokee that works for you. For high performance, both the SRT and Trackhawk offer great grip, impressive handling, and a ride that’s softer than the comparable Dodge SRT and Hellcat Chargers and Challengers. The SRT and Trackhawk hold their own against the best from Porsche, BMW M, and Mercedes-AMG, and they do it for a lot less money.

The V6 engine has strong low-rpm torque to deal with demanding situations, especially off-road conditions. It can tow up to 6200 pounds.

The 5.7-liter Hemi V8 makes the SUV feel almost like the brawny Dodge Charger sedan, including its rousing engine note. But because the V6 is so powerful, we don’t think the V8 is necessary, or worth the penalty in fuel mileage, at 17 Combined mpg for the V8 versus 21 mpg with the V6.

The 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 lacks the punch of the V8, and doesn’t have as much passing power as the gasoline V6, but it has awesome torque for towing and gets 25 mpg. It’s a bit loud while idling and at low speed.

The SRT uses a 6.4-liter V8 making 475 horsepower, and its fantastic handling puts it in the rarified air of the best European SUVs like the Porsche Cayenne. It brakes to a stop from 60 mph in just 116 feet, which is impressive for any vehicle, let alone a 5104-pound SUV.

The new Trackhawk can accelerate from zero to sixty in 3.5 seconds, and does the quarter-mile in 11.6 seconds, stunning times for an SUV. Yet when motoring around neighborhood streets, it’s as docile as any other sport-utility, with little indication of its incredible performance.

Three all-wheel-drive systems are available. Basic Quadra-Trac I has a locking differential and 50/50 front/rear power split, but no low range. It will do the job in snow and mud, but don’t expect it to climb sand dunes.

Quadra-Trac II has the two-speed transfer case that Quadra-Trac I lacks, with an electronic limited-slip rear differential for more traction at the rear wheels. It also comes with hill-start assist and hill-descent control. It can split torque variably from front to rear when slip is detected at either axle, so 100 percent of the power can go to one axle if that’s where all the traction is.

Quadra-Drive II is for the most severe off-roading.

Jeep also adds its Selec-Terrain system to both the Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II systems. It offers Auto, Sand, Mud, Snow, and Rock modes that optimize the electronics of various vehicle systems to provide the best grip over each terrain. Any Grand Cherokee with the Selec-Terrain system and an off-road package gets Jeep’s Trail Rated badge.

We’ve scrambled up a 200-foot climb with a 55-degree incline, using the Selec-Terrain system that controls the speed in increments of one kilometer per hour. The smart electronic controls make for brainless throttle control during off-roading. Although you still have to steer.

Walk Around

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The Grand Cherokee carefully blends traditional with contemporary design, in a shape that is classic SUV. Its looks convey pedigree. It’s very handsome, with an expressive but understated grille that doesn’t carry an excess of chrome. It’s more sophisticated than its luxury competitors, especially the large ones.

The rear end is distinctive and assertive, with LED taillamps and strong details.

Interior Overview

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All Grand Cherokees boast an intelligently designed cabin layout. The upper models are richly equipped, with materials and textures that match luxury rivals, such as real wood trim on the dashboards and doors. A console bin holds illuminated audio ports. Uconnect infotainment systems with simple interfaces rank among the best

Front occupants get wide cushions with satisfying bolstering, except for the base Laredo, which has short, flat seat bottoms.

Grand Cherokee has a roomy interior that holds five grown-ups, with good legroom all around. Six-footers have ample headroom. Big doors open 78 degrees make climbing in and out easy.

Cargo volume with the rear seats up is 36.3 cubic feet. The seatbacks recline 12 degrees, and the flip down with a lever for more cargo space.

Forward visibility is past a hood and over fenders whose slope makes it easier to see the car’s corners. Only the big square sideview mirrors transmit any noise into the cabin, from the wind.

Summary

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The beautiful Grand Cherokee offers more than its share of good things, with virtually nothing bad. It’s hard to go wrong with the powertrains, from the base V6 to Hemi V8 to turbodiesel to even the ridiculous 707 supercharged horsepower. Great 8-speed automatic transmission, impressive brakes, and realistic room for five.

Sam Moses contributed to this review, with staff reports.

Model Lineup

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2018 Grand Cherokee models are Laredo ($30,595), Altitude ($36,690), High Altitude, Limited ($38,195), Overland ($44,995), Summit ($50,995), SRT ($67,395), Trailhawk ($43,295), and Trackhawk ($85,900). Plus that anniversary Sterling Edition. (Prices are MSRP and do not include destination charge.)

Laredo comes with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive ($32,895), new fabric upholstery and 17-inch aluminum wheels, air conditioning, keyless entry, a CD player, satellite radio, rearview camera, and parking sensors. An off-road option package includes skid plates and Selec-Terrain.

Grand Cherokee Limited gets 18-inch wheels, leather seating with a power front passenger seat, heated front seats, a power tailgate, and remote start. Options include adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, navigation, and off-road assistance systems.

The turbodiesel V6 and Hemi V8 engines are available for Limited models and above.

The Trailhawk comes with Quadra-Drive II four-wheel drive, 18-inch off-road tires, red tow hooks, an electronic limited-slip differential, air suspension, Selec-Speed Control, skid plates, and a black leather interior. Trailhawk has front and rear tow hooks, skid plates, 18-inch off-road tires, and an air suspension.

Overland upgrades with Nappa leather seating with ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, leather-trimmed dashboard, 20-inch wheels, and navigation. Two-wheel drive is standard. All-wheel drive ($47,995) includes an air suspension.

Summit ($50,995) features its own wheel and wood choices, a suede headliner, 19-speaker, 825-watt Harman Kardon surround-sound audio, parking assist and a trailer-hitch camera view.

SRT gets leather/suede seats, carbon-fiber interior trim, metallic pedal pads, active noise cancellation, and a leather-trimmed/heated steering wheel. Performance Pages display timers and performance data. Options include a dual-pane sunroof, Luxury package, and SRT Night package.